HOW MURDOCH ESCAPED.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 30

HOW MURDOCH ESCAPED.

Now that Wellington has been in a state of excitement during the past few days concerning the escape of Detective Kirby from justice, the following facts relating to the escape of Constablo Murdoch will be of interest, and may afford the polico somo valuable suggestions as to obtaining a clue to Kirby's whereabouts. Murdoch was charged with being the father of a child, and ordered to contribute 7s Gd per week towards its support. He appealed against this decision, but on tho case going "to the higher Court judgment was °given against him, and he was ordered to pay tho costs. This he did not do, and a warrant was ordered to be issued for his arrest, At this time Murdoch was a constable stationed at Mount CookPolice Station, but had been suspended pen .ling the result of tho case. It was from tho Police Station

1110 FIRST MADE HIS ESCAI'E, and finally got away. Tho story, now published for tho first time, wo aro assured is quite correct, and shows how easily a man may escape capture by using a little tact and ingenuity. If one man can do this kind of thing, why not another ? While in the Mount Cook Police Station, Murdoch was visited by a friend on business. This friend brought him a rope, by which means ho lowered himself to the outside. Tho friend waited upstairs until Murdoch got to tl o ground and away. Tho friend then came downstairs, and, after engaging ono of the policemen on duly in conversation for a while, left, taking tho rope with him. Murdoch went to a house in Taranaki street, whoro ho remained for a day. His friend, hearing that the polico wero on tho scent and wero going to visit this house, immediately procured a false beard and an overcoat. Murdoch changed his abode to a house near Wellington terrace. While on his way HE MET IN - THE STREET A I'OLICEMAN whom he knew well, but who did not recognise him. "Goodnight!" said Murdoch, and walked on. 110 remained in this house for three weeks. The house was splendidly situated for the purpose of hiding, being surrounded by high trees. His friend could go and visit him, and the chances of being seen were slight, Murdoch used to sit on tho back verandah in the evening and smoke the sweet calumet of peace perfectly undisturbed. This kind of existenco, however, became monotonous, and Murdoch longed for a stroll in tho open. This ho decided to havo, and consequently he donned the aforementioned disguise and went for a stroll on the Terrace and then up to tho Catholic cemetery. Here ho saw two men, whom ho took to be members of tho police, making for tho cemetery also. Thinking ho was being shadowed ho hid himself among tho tombstones, and when all was quiet ho retraced his steps homeward. His friend was watching tho movements of the polico. He found out tho vessels leaving port which wero constantly watched, and also those which wero not, Among the latter was a sailing vessel which was about to leave for Kaipara, Arrangements wero at once made for Murdoch to take passage by this vessel, and he was to bo on board between 2 and 'i o'clock the next morning. GETTING DOWN TO THE WHARF was considered to bo a somewhat easy matter as the polico wero short-handed at tho time, a number of men being sent to the country on account of a Native disturbance. When passing tho gaol on his way to tho wharf, it is said that Murdoch remarked, " I wonder if I shall run tho gauntlet safely, or will I bo in thero tomorrow." This was between 2 and :i o'clock a.m. Murdoch proceeded along Webb street to Tory street, and then to tho reclaimed land and on to the wharf. Several people whom ho knew were passed on tho road, but he was not recognised. Tho boat left the wharf next day, but had to come to an anchorage in the harbour, whoro she remained for four days windbound. Una fine Sunday morning a favourable wind sprang up, and the little vessel glided out of the harbour. They bad not proceeded ! far when a collision with another vessel entering the harbour was narrowly averted. It was not till throe weeks afterwards that thoy reached Kaipara, head winds being responsible for the delay. Tho vessel, it is said, had to anchor for a week under Kapiti, owing to the unfavourable nature of the'weather. On arrival oil Kaipara Heads, Murdoch's equanimity was much disturbed when ho perceived A TUG COAT AT FULL SPEED mailing towards tho vessel. But his fears wero allayed, as the tug was only bringing a message from tho agent of tho vessel to the master. At this time a ketch was leaving Kaipara bound for Australia with a cargo of timber. She was at once hailed, and Murdoch was placed on board. The voyage across to Australia was an uneventful one till Hearing the coast, when tho vessel was in imminent danger of L'oingon to the locks, but a breeze sprang Tip and released her from her perilous position. , Murdo h did not waste muchtimeon the Yictuiian side of Australia, but at first opportunity took passage to Western Aus- ' tralia. On arrival at Perth an incident took place which might havo had an unpleasant ending. Murdoch was walking alon" one of the principal streets of Perth, when he met a man whom ho at ono time arrested in "Wellington. The man recognised him, and stopped him. After a little conversation they parted, and Murdoch did not allow tho grass to grow under his feet, but immediately made tracks for tho back country.

After a short lapse of time he returnod to Perth, and set sail for fields and pastures now. He is now said to bo doing as well as can be expected. The last words that Murdoch said in Wellington wore to the effect that the charge brought against him was groundless.

The policemen stationed at Mount Cook were falsely accused of aiding Murdoch in his escape, but from tho foregoing story, which is given by one intimate with all tho details of tho escape, it will bo seen that such was not tho case. It may bo added that Murdoch had lots of friends and sympathisers, ready to assist him with money or otherwise. But the offence charged against him was not of tho dotestable character of that charged against Kirby.