ESCAPED PRISONER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23592, 28 February 1940, Page 13

ESCAPED PRISONER

THREE CHARGES FACED THEFT AND CAR CONVERSION A prisoner who escaped from the Mount Crawford prison at Wellington on February 6. and was arrested by the Rotorua police, appeared in the Police Court, before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, . S.M., yesterday, on three charges relating to the escape. He was Robert Clarence Clarke, labourer, aged 21 (Mr. Aekins). and he admitted charges of converting a motor-car valued at £225, of stealing clothing and money valued at £9 3s 6d at Wellington on February 6, and of converting a motor-car valued at £lB4 at Hamilton on the following day. Detective W. H. produced a statement made by accused , after his arrest. In it he admitted escaping from the Wellington prison and taking a car from the street. He drove to Wanganui after stealing clothing and money,' and there bought a change of clothing. From Wanganui he was given a lift m a transport lorry to Hamilton,- and there converted another car- to go to Rotorua.

Detective-Sergeant McHugh said accused had a Jong list of convictions. The magistrate said he would not add to accused's sentence, and ordered him to come, tip for sentence if called on within five years.

Accused, it was stated, was already serving a sentence of one year's hard labour and five" years' reformative detention.