ESCAPE FROM GAOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21641, 6 November 1933, Page 9

ESCAPE FROM GAOL

REFUGE IN GIBRALTAR SPAIN'S TOBACCO KING FRONTIER SAFELY CROSSED AIDED BY AN OFFICIAL By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 5, 5.5 p.m.) MADRID. Nov. 4 Senor Juan March, Spain's "tobacco king," a very wealthy man, has been in gaol for 18 months awaiting trial on a charge of obtaining a Moroccan tobacco monopoly by bribery during the Monarchist regime. Ho continued to conduct his huge business from an office in the prison. Ho had his own chef to cook his meals. The warders yesterday discovered that Senor March had escaped and two warders were arrested and charged with permitting him to do so. A commission so far has failed to substantiate the charges. The news of the escape caused a sensation in Madrid, and the Premier, Senor Barrios, immediately announced sovero measures against those directly or indirectly responsible for the escape.

Senor March to-day arrived at Gibraltar in a motor-car. Ho had passed the frontier unrecognised. He is staying with Spanish monarchists who have lived in Gibraltar since the establishment of the Spanish republic. The Spanish Government may confiscate Senor March's propprtv, which is valued at more than £5,000,000. It is mostly in the Balearic Islands. It is reported that the Government has ordered an inquiry into the escape, which was aided by a prison official who accompanied Senor March to Gibraltar.