FOUR YEARS' LIBERTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20640, 12 August 1930, Page 10

FOUR YEARS' LIBERTY.

ESCAPED PRISONER WORRIES.

SURRENDER TO THE POLICE.

WORKED IN VARIOUS CENTRES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. After four years of liberty Leo Sylvester Hannan, who escaped from the Rangipo prison camp, in the Auckland province, gavo himself up to the police. Ho appeared before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Polico Court this morning, charged with escaping from custody at Tokanui on July 12, 1526. William Thomas Lcggett, superintendent at the Paparua prison, said ho knew the accused as one who had escaped from the Rangipo prison. He was committed there, on March 18, 1926, in the Auckland Court. The sentence was six months' hard labour and 12 months' reformative detention. Hannan escaped on July 12, 1926. Constable Edwards produced two statements madefy the accused to the Christchurch police. Hannan stated: —"I was feeling unwell and decided to escape. Ono morning at breakfast time I escaped from the camp and travelled into the country. Usually I remained hidden in the day time and travelled by night. 1 went to the Hauraki Plains and remained there for six months, doing draining work. After six months in the Thames district I went to Wellington, where I worked for three months, later coming to the South Island and working in various places. I have not at any time since my escape committed any offence. I assumed the name 'Herbert White' and later 'Herbert Ross.'

I been worrying about this matter and am now making this voluntary statement to clear the matter up."'

In a statement made to the police in Dunedin the accused said he had lived an upright life since he escaped. The company he got into was responsible for his trouble, together with drink. He had now learned a lesson "-and intended to go Straight.

"Your Worship," said the accused, "I would just like to say that I wanted to cfear the matter up, so I gave myself up to the police. I am not of a criminal nature; the whole trouble has been due mainly to drink." "There is not very much in that, because if you are a man at all you can leave the drink alone," replied the magistrate.

"I have overcome that weakness now. Your Worship," said the accused. Haonan pl.eaded guilty and was com mitted to the Supreme Court for sen tence.