PRISON CAMP ESCAPE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 14

PRISON CAMP ESCAPE

CAPTURED MAN IN COURT LONG SEARCH INVOLVED SEVERAL OFFENCES ADMITTED [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON. Tuesday Recaptured on July 28 after eight days' liberty from the Rangipo prison camp, near Tokaanu, Charles Mitchell Newman, aged 23, was charged before justices of tho peace at Hamilton today with escaping from custody. Also preferred against him were fivp charges of theft and two charges of breaking and entering with theft. The total value of the property alleged to be stolen was £l3 lis Gd. It was missed during the accused's period of liberty from the houses of Waaka Wairehu, Joseph Rawhiti, Henrv Gilbert Horsley, Roera Ngahana, Michael Takaiwa, Wanaki Rangi and Kahu Te Kurru. Archibald Banks, officer in cliargo of the Rangipo prison camp, said accused was serving a term of three years' detention imposed at Christchurch, where he was convicted on three charges of house-breaking and theft. On July 20 ho escaped from a working gang and was recaptured only after a long search.

Henry Gilbert Horsley, solicitor, Wanganui, said he had a summer residence at Turangi, near Tokaanu. When ho visited this house on August 4 ho found that it had been broken into. Goods of a total value of £5 9s 6d were missing. He later visited the police station and identified these articles. William Butler, police constable stationed at Tokaanu, said accused was recaptured on July 28 at Western Bay, 22 miles from Tokaanu. Nearly all the stolen property was then recovered. Accused was found to be in possession, of a rifle and ammunition stolen from Mr. Horsley's house. However, he had not attempted to use .it to evade arrest, and stated that he had taken it with the intention of shooting game for food. He had not intended to use it against anv person. Detective-Sergeant J. Thompson read a statement made by accused, in which ho admitted the offences with which he was charged. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges and was committed to the Supremo Court at Auckland for sentence.