THE RECAPTURED PRISONER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18512, 24 March 1922, Page 6

THE RECAPTURED PRISONER

PLUNKETTS ARRIVAL IN DUNEDIN. Arthur Dominic Plunkett, the one-armed prisoner who escaped from Dunedin Gaol with Allan Aitchi&on on Sunday, November 6, 1921, was recaptured by the police on Wednesday afternoon at Cnatto Creek, Central Otago, and arrived in Dunedin last night by the Central Otago train, under the escort of Constable O’Connell, of Clyde. Plunkett appeared before Mil Justice Chapman on Friday, November 4, 1921, and pleaded guilty to forging and uttering, by which means ho had obtained a sum of £499. Counsel for the accused s;aid that the prisoner was 22 years of ago, and had lived all his life in this district. When quite a boy lie had lost one arm, and the family had somewhat spoilt him. He had got into two snia.ll scrapes when a boy. Then Tie drifted the country where he diet rabbiting, and later took to drink. His people were very anxious to do something for him._ Counsel suggested detention for reformative treatment. The Crown Prosecutor said there was a good deal more behind this than appeared on the depositions. Prisoner had obtained by forgery the sum of £499. and as far as he (the Crown Prosecutor) could gather, lie had forged, in all, eight documents. None of the money had been recovered, but had been spent on drink and a motor trip round Central Otago. His Honor said prisoner was a * young man, and he proposed to give him a chance, though not in a form he would like. The best thing he could do for him, in his own interests, and in the interests of the public, was to send him for detention for reformative purposes, and he proposed to do that. Prisoner would be sentenced to four years’ detention for reformative purposes. Two days later, Sunday, November 9, Plunkett and Aitchison escaped some time between a quarter and half-past 11 a.m., as the men were seen in the yard after 10 minutes past 11. Aitchison was recaptured exactly a week later, but Plunkett remained at large till Wednesday last. Plunkett will appear before the CityPolice Court this morning to answer a charge of escaping from custody.