BIDE ON COW-CATCHER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18641, 23 February 1924, Page 8

BIDE ON COW-CATCHER.

MENTAL PATIENT; AT - LARQ|; CAPTURE AND - SECOND : ESCAPE. j • -:v ... >•/> HARD TASK FOR THE POLICE, vpi 3gMB An escapee from the Auckland Mental Hospital 'caused considerable excitement : |*|f at. the Newmarket and Ramuera ruilwayvSpl stations and at Green Lane yesterday mom< HHs ing before lie was finally captured aftef a struggle in Sunnyvale Road, Grci;n Lane. The patient, who is reported to hav#'b%l escaped from the institution on \Vednns« ;||§t day, first attracted attention by foiggii peculiar behaviour at the New,' ; :!ff§| market station shortly after 8 a.m. After jumping on the cow-catcher of % Jp; shunting engine which was standing in the yard he ran across the rails aijfllflll jumped on the cow-catcher of an outwas-fj bound Papakura train which, it is stated, was then travelling at about 10 miles aq :'-i hour. Fortunately he managed to hol4l||jl on, otherwise it is probable that he : woukj have been killed. ,' - The railway officials at Remuera sU. 3|sjj tion were informed and on the arrival of the train the unwanted passenger 1 j taken in charge. The police were com* municated with, but before a constable I arrived the patient escaped from tiht o'-« room in which he had been placed, ajyj ran down the railway line toward Gretof Lane, followed by Constable Wrigut, whgW<s was joined by a railway employee. Th«'' escapee left the line and went along afe the back of houses in Sunnyvale Road. ' When he sighted his pursuers he jumped a fence and ran round a house. Tlia i| constable gave chase, being assisted by • '*"<■ j a letter-carrier and a resident. Aft<?| -'"f; J an exciting pursuit among the houses ■■$&$& they caught up with the fugitive, wh» was captured only after a violent struggle. VV He was subsequently returned to thq f|§|f institution.