LEAP FROM TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20866, 7 May 1931, Page 10

LEAP FROM TRAIN.

PRISONER'S DARING ESCAPE. MAN SUSPECTED OF BURGLARY. NO TRACE YET FOUND. When he was being brought under escort to Auckland to answer a charge of breaking and entering, a man who was arrested last week in the South Island made a daring escape from the north-bound Main Trunk express shortly after it left Frankton Junction at 4 o'clock yesterday morning. At a late hour last evening ho had not been recaptured. The prisoner is Augustus William Sullivan, aged 38. He was arrested at Kaikoura last Saturday by a detective and appeared before Mr. E. Page, S.M.. at Wellington on Tuesday, charged with breaking and entering the dwelling of Catherine Fanny Mortensen at Epsom, Auckland. He was remanded to appear at Auckland yesterday. During tlio journey Sullivan was guarded by a constable from Wellington. Shortly after the train loft Frankton Sullivan asked to be allowed to go out to tho carriage platform, and permission was granted. As soon as lie reached the platform he threw himself off tho .train, which was travelling at a fairly fast speed. The constablo was unable to pursue the man, partly on account of the speed of the train, which soon left Sullivan far behind in tho darkness, and also because he had certain jewellery with him that he could not leave. The express did not stop until it reached Mercer, where the constable communicated with the Hamilton police immediately on arrival. A search was at once commenced for the man, who had not been traced last evening. The missing man is sft. Bin. in height, and has auburn hair, and a fresh complexion. At the time he escaped was wearing a blue serge suit, a giey oveicoat, and rubber-soled shoes.