ESCAPED!

NZ Truth, Issue 685, 27 July 1918, Page 6

ESCAPED !

j Two- Murderers Make a Bolt NOMAN KEALS AND TOETA KAI NUKU. Another Getaway from Avondale Asylum. (From "Truth's" Auckland Rep.) "When that elusive customer, Joseph Thomas Christie, quietly slipped away from the Avondale Mental Hospital m May last without having the "common decency" to inform his guard as to hia future movements, it was only to ba expected that any inmate of the institution who entertained a thought of escaping m future would find it no easy task to perform; but this has not pi'oved the case, and on Sunday evening last TWO CONVICTED MURDERERS, who were inmates of the Avondale Mental Hospital, followed Christie's example, and departed. In this instance, the inmates were Norman Edwin Keals and a Raratongan named Toeta Kai Nuku, and just how they managed to get away is not clear. It is 'not important either for that matter, but what is essentially important is that two murderers did escape, and it will be surprising indeed if somebody Is not required to answer one or two very awkward questions. The public did not fear any serious harm resulting from Christie's return to freedom, for It was given out that Christie was a harmless sort Of chap, and would injure no one physically — and, fortunately, this proved to be true; but when two men, convicted of murder, are at large residents would not care about accepting any assurance from Dr. Beattie or the police. People would feel much safer and more contented if they knew that such men were out of harm's way. As mentioned before, it is not clear just how Keals and Nuku escaped, but It is said that about a quarterpast seven on Sunday evening: last BOTH KEAL.S AND NUKU were In the reading-room, and an attendant had them under observation. The observation must have ceased then because less than fifteen minutes later, when the time arrived for them to be taken to their cells, it was discovered that the men were missing. A hurried search failed to locate them, and the police were at once communicated with and a scour of the country undertaken, but on Monday there was no trace of either Keals or Nuku. When they disappeared each man was wearing a moleskin jacket and other clothing, which would easily be identified. Norman Edward Keals is 34 years of age, and the police description of him is: Native of New Zealand, about 6ft 71n m height, fresh complexion, light brown hair, bluish hazel eyes, and light brown moustache. ! At the time of his escape Keals also had . a stubbly beard. Toeta Kai Nuku is a Raratongan, about 28 years of age, powerfully built, about sft 9ln m height, skin a copper color, has a flat nose, a scar over one eyebrow, and wears a silky moustache. The crime for which Keals was sentenced to death, a sentence subsequently commuted to imprisonment for j life, Is known as the Onewhero tragedy, which occurred on the night of February 8, 1915. The details, as brought out In evidence at the trial m the Auckland Supreme Court on May 29 following, showed that. Keals had gone to the home of his brother, who happened to be away from Onewhero at the time, had entered the house by a door and shot Mrs. Keals, hia sister-in-law, as she lay asleep m bed, the bullet entering the victim's head. Keals then took the infant babe from the j room, carried the child outside and CHOKED IT TO DEATH. He then proceeded to a spot somewhere about a mile from the house and burled the body of the infant. -By this time a young woman, Sophie Hunter, who was employed at the house, and who had been awakened by the shot which led to the death of Mrs. Keals, had learned of the tragedy and aroused the neighbors. Mrs. Keals was conveyed to Auckland, bujt died m -]the Auckland Hospital two days later. After the tragedy Norman Keals succeeded m eluding the police and others, comprising search parties, for four days, when he was then discovered by two Maoris hiding m a tree not far from the house. When captured Keals confessed his crime, and also pointed out the place where he had burled the body of the baby. On May 29 Keals stood his trial for murder at the Auckland Supreme Court, and a verdict of guilty was returned. Keals, who was represented by Mr. J. C. Martin,was sentenced to death, but this was subsequently commuted to imprisonment for life. He was then placed m Mount Eden Prison, but a few months ago was removed to the Mental Hospital. The crime for which Toeta Kai Nuku was responsible was perpetrated at a whare, .seventeen miles from Mangapeehi, on July 28, 1916. Nuku, who was then living with .Maoris, had gone to the whare where Kenneth Livingstone, a shepherd, lived, and set fire to the whare.' Livingstone, who was then attending to some fencing on the sheep farm, together with Charles Frederick Macfarlane, saw the smoke from the fire and returned to find the cause. When near the whare Livingstone was SHOT DEAD BY, NUKU, who was secreted m some scrub. Nuku then went after Macfarlane, but did not succeed m getting a second victim. The next day Nuku was arrested, and on September 5 was brought to the criminal sessions of the Hamilton Supreme Court. Dr. Beattie, superintendent of the Avondale Mental Hospital, where accused was then located, said accused was suffering from an attack of mania, dangerously homicidal, and the trial of Nuku, on the charge of murder, was postponed till March 6, 1917, when, at Hamilton, the jury found that accused committed the murder of Livingstone while m a state of Insanity. Mr. Justice Cooper then ordered that Nuku be placed m the Avondale Mental Hospital, and detained m strict ■ custody during the pleasure of the Minister for Justice. NUKU RECAPTURED AND KEALS BAILED UP. , As we are going to press, news has been received that the police have captured the Rarotongan, Nuku, near the township of Henderson. Mr. Muir, the hospital manager, who was by himself, engaged m the search, saw the . two escapees crossing the road into some scrub. He fired two shots, into the'air, and called upon the men to surrender. Nuku threw up his hands m response to this invitation, but Keals dashed into the scrub. He has taken refuge m a forty-acre patch of gorse, which is surrouhder by the police, who are, however, not m sufficient strength-to enter the gorse, a.nd, stlon&.rei^fofcjjmeiits have"'.b.e'en &ep;cV *for."" It"' isligxjjegt'ed that the secpi\'d.. jmurder§r, 2YilJ. a^e;..?aptured almost iin-' . ■/';,•> Tt:'T.n')-::j Krn--.--.---j l/juiiir -\\?>ii< &*#><• .■:[.