VAIN BID FOR LIBERTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19321, 7 May 1926, Page 10

VAIN BID FOR LIBERTY.

RECAPTURE OF PRISONER. HARDSHIPS IN THE OPEN. VIGILANT SEARCH PARTIES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] NATIONAL PARK, Thursday. Charles Henry Whitehead, the prisoner who escaped from the Waiknnc prison camp on Sunday afternoon was rearrested at Otuku Pa at 9.30 o'clock last evening. The organisation of the police and prison officers who were engaged in the search gave the prisoner little chance of getting away from the district. They continued their quest day and night in their endeavour to locate the missing man. The searchers must have suffered considerably as there has been continuous rain since the irnan escaped and the weather has been bitterly cold. At about 9 o'clock on Wednesday night the prisoner came out of the bash and made for Otuku Pa where he was promptly arrested by Messrs. Bank and O'Neil, two prison officials, who were searching in that locality. Mr. Glynn and Constable Shearman conveyed the man to Waikune. The prisoner must have suffered fearful hardships for three days in the bush as ho was known to have no food or " swag " with him. On Tuesday night snow fell. FOOD SOUGHT AT MAORI PA. NATIVES ADVISE OFFICIALS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TAUMARTTN UI, Thursday. The escaped prisoner was recaptured last night at Otuku Pa. The Maori settlements had been visited previously by the police and the inmates were on watch for the missing man. The prisoner had been in hiding in the bush on the banks of the Whakapapa River. He was driven into the open owing to his suffering from hunger and exposure. He made for the Maori Pa and asked for food and shelter. The Maoris being prepared for such a visit offered to accommodate him and he thought he was safe. Two prison officers were summoned and they arrested him at the pa. The man appeared before Mr. W. J. McWatters, J.P., this afternoon and was remanded to Auckland.