ESCAPE OF PRISONER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 10

ESCAPE OF PRISONER.

DASH FROM HOSPITAL.

NO TRACE OF FUGITIVE.

WIFE ARRESTED IN DOMAIN.

CASE OF WOMEN'S CLOTHING,

A long-term prisoner from Mount Eden Gaol who had undergone an operation in the Auckland Hospital escaped from cus- ■ tody in the Wallace Wards at an early hour yesterday morning. The missing man, Roy George Cudby, aged 29, had previously escaped from the Wellington Hospital and remained at ' liberty for two years. When ho was rearrested in Newmarket at the end of last year ho made a dash for freedom by climbing through a window at the Is'ewmarket police station. No definite trace of Cudby was found yesterday. Shortly after his escape from the hospital his wife was arrested by detectives in the Domain in possession 'of clothing in an attache case. It is the opinion of the police that Cudby's escape was well planned. He was transferred from the prison to the hospital on January 27 to have his left eye removed. It was sightless and causing him trouble. lie was placed in Ward 26 and the operation was performed on Sunday. Since then Cudby had been recovering. A Warder Eluded. During the whole time that he was in hospital the prisoner was guarded by a warder from the gaol, three men watching him in eight-hour shifts. On Tuesday evening Cudby left his bod and was later found under a bed in another ward. He was returned to his own bed, and ' for a lime afterward appeared to be sound asleep. About 3 a.m. he asked permission to go to the lavatory, this / being granted. The warder in chargo remained outside the door. When Cudby failed to emerge after a period the warder became suspicious, and • after calling on the prisoner to emerge went outside to see if the window was intact. Cudby then escaped through the I door, ran across the ward, which is on the first floor of the Wallace block, and escaped through the window of a small ante-room which led on to the roof of the dispensary, from which he had an easy jump to "the ground. Cudby was wearing only a singlet and pyjamas, his clothing having been removed when he was admitted to hospital. The warder immediately sought the assistance of the hospital attendants, and a search was instituted in the grounds of the hospital and the Domain, which the

Wallace Wards adjoin. The . police -were also notified, and detectives and constables were soon on the scene. No trace of the missing man could be found, but the warder and attendants found Mrs. Cudby in the Domain in the vicinity of the hospital, and she was detained until the arrival of Detectives Bowman and Wilson, who arrested her on a charge of vagrancy. According to the police, she was found in possession of a small attache case in which were a complete outfit of women's clothing, a razor, , mirror, powder and rouge, and also a note. It is alleged by the police that the clothing was for Cudby in order to enable him to escape recapture by masquerading as a

/' woman. After the arrest of Mrs. Cudby. dclo'c-. fives searched her home in Ponsonby, and a note scribbled, it is believed bv Cudbv, on a small piece of paper was discovered. Extensive Search Made.

During t.be day extensive investigations were made by both the detective and uniform branches, but no definite trace of the missing man had been discovered late last night. The police received information that a man was seen walking down Khyber Pass Road toward Newmarket about 4 a.m., but the k informant, who did / not see the man very closely, could only state that he appeared to be wearing white trousers and could give no description of the remainder of his clothing. The missing man is sft. 9jin. tall, and is of thin build, with thin features. Ho has light brown hair, while his left eye is now missing, the remaining eye being grey. It is not known whether he has obtained any clothing, but no thefts of clothing, food or money from houses or other premises have yet been reported to . the police. The police have no clue as to whether Cudby is remaining concealed in Auckland or is making his way from the city.' He has relatives in the North, and it is possible he may make his way there, -"while he is well known in Wellington, where he was previously sentenced, and be has friends there. Ho was in .Auckland for a sufficiently long period before his recapture here to have made friends. Two Earlier Escapes.

Cudby was originally sentenced at Wellington on January 31, 1929, to a l/rin cf reformative detention on a theft charge, and escaped from the Wellington Hospital, where he was also undergoing 1 treatment for eye trouble, on April 26, 1929. lie was at liberty for over two years, during which time lie was married, /before he was rearrested in Newmarket on November 27, 1931. As a result of bis escape and the consequent lack of attention to bis eye, he losl the use of / it W hen lie was rearrested he was , taken to the Newmarket police station . and placed in the sergeant's room. He escaped by clambering through the win- / dow, but was apprehended shortly afterward by a detective who pursued him in a laundry van. )' When his room was searched detectives found a sevon-chamberal revolver loaded in five chambers. :v quantify of ammunition and a number of keys! It was later stated in Court that there was no evidence to show that accused had carried the revolver about with him. / When Cudby was brought before the Supreme Court on December 14 ho faced live charges, including escaping from custody and breaking and entering, and was sentenced to a term of three years' hard labour, Mr. Justice Smith remarking that -/ bis record was a bad one. The term was to commence at the expiry of the Wellington sentence. A charge of being idle and disorderly in that she possesed insufficient lawful means of support was preferred in the Police Court yesterday morning against , Hie m'ssimr man's wife. Marie Ludby, aged 22. 'I he police made an application , for a week's remand and accused was remanded in custody.