ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17872, 29 August 1921, Page 4

ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY.

LEAP FROM MOVING TRAIN.

OFFENDER STILL AT LARGE.

A daring escape from custody by leap-' ing from a moving train, either in or near the Parnell railway tunnel, was effected by a prisoner, George Caffrey, on Saturday shortly after 1 p.m. The escapee, who is a quarter-caste native of Norfolk Island, was being escorted by a constable on the express to Wellington for trial on two charges of theft when his break for liberty was made. Shortly after the" train left Auckland station the prisoner, who was not handcuffed, obtained permission to go to the lavatory while the constable waited outside. At the entrance to the tunnel the constable, becoming suspicious, forced the door and found the window open and the compartment "empty. The train did not stop until it arrived at Remuera. From thus station the constable retraced the distance, but failed to find any trace of tho escaped prisoner or any mark on the embankment to indicate where he had alighted. No one was to be seen in the vicinitv. and the constable had to communicate with th 0 police station to enlist the aid of a large party to assist in the search.

The escaped man, aged 26, is of an active upright build, about 6ft. in height In appearance he resembles a quarter! caste -Maori or a half-caste Niue Islander with dark 6kin, long, frizzy, black hair and large brown eyes. He was wearing a dark brown suit, a grey cap, and I kbakj garbadine raincoat.