BRIEF LIBERTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24536, 19 March 1943, Page 2

BRIEF LIBERTY

PRISONERS ESCAPE CAUGHT AT OTAHUHU WEARING CIVILIAN CLOTHES Only part of a day's liberty lyas gained by two Maori prisoners who escaped from the Auckland gaol yesterday morning. They were recaptured at Otahuhu last evening. The men were: —Hugh Simons, aged 32, who is serving a sentence as an habitual criminal, following convictions on charges of breaking and entering and theft; and Sam Repia, aged 23, who is serving a sentence of three years for theft. During the morning the two men were working in the prison quarry and were operating a drilling machine. They eluded a sentry and were found to bo missing at 10.."JO. The alarm was raised and a report was received that the two men had been seen near tho boundary of the Auckland Grammar School grounds. Later their prison jackets and undershirts were found in the school grounds. A widespread search was instituted immediately. A'short time later reports were received by the police that two houses in the Remuera district had been entered and clothing was missing. At about G p.m. Detectives Mahood and Butler and Constable McLean were at Otahuhu, accompanied by Superintendent W. T. Leggett, from the Auckland prison, and the two men were seen in the main street. They were dressed in civilian clothes and wore recognised by Mr. Leggett. They offered no resistance when they wcro arrested.