ESCAPED PRISONERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19584, 14 September 1925, Page 10

ESCAPED PRISONERS.

BRASTINC AND O’BRIEN RECAPTURED. TRACKED TO LONELY HILLTOP. (Pee United Peess Association.) AUCKLAND, September 12. Since Brasting and O’Brien escaped from the City police Station cells m company with Hanson, who was recaptured shortly afterwards, a human not has been gradually dosing in upon them. To-day they were tracked to their biding place on the top of a kill near Pakuranga, known aa Pigeon Mountain, and Constable Kennedy, of Howick, handcuffed them, with the assistance of three civilians, soon after 1 p.m. When the escape of the three crminals was discovered, the telephone and telegraph wires began to operate. Evory police officer for miles around was warned, and a special search plan was instituted. Chief Defective Cummings took charge, and within a few hours his men had picked up the scent. Dovonport, Takapuna, Onehunga, and Howick were the districts that were set down for special investigation, but the detectives quickly ascertained that Brasting and O’Brien had made off in the direction of the last-named centre. Working with eJeotrio torches, a large body of detectives began to comb the beach and the rough, open country near Pakuranga. To keep the escaped men inland was the object of the police, und, working on a system, they felt confident that they were getting hot. Thoir surmise proved correct, since Constable Kennedy reported that be was certain the two mern wore in the vicinity. Under Chief Detective Cummings, Detectives Robinson, Sullivan, O’Brien, Meiklejohn, and Nalder worked hard throughout the night. With the dawn there was no sigh of the wanted men, but the police had found certain signs, unmistakable to the trained eye, that led them unerringly on towards Pigeon Mountain. The hill was encircled, and the net began to close in. Three civilians reported that they had seen smoko on the top of the mountain, and this confirmed the theory held by the police With Constable Kennedy, the three civilians went up the hillside, making for the point where the smoko had been seen to rise. At 1 p.m. Constable Kennedy saw the two prisoners. As yet they were unaware that their pursuers were so close. The pair wore quietly reading a newspaper, having taken cover in a depression near the top of the hill. From this point they had a fine look-out over the surrounding- country, but they were apparently tired of watching, and more interested in the trend of affairs back in the city. When the constable and the civilians came upon them no resistance was offered, and the gyves were snapped on without ado. The two men, who had been sitting together, were dressed in rowing jerseys, and were well supplied with blankets. Other evidence went to show that they had thought themselves secure for a while on the top of Pigeon Mountain, and they had evidently intended to camp there till the hue and cry had abated. Hanson was recaptured on the night of his escape somewhere along the waterfront. All throe men are now in Mount Eden prison. STORY OF RECAPTURE. PRISONERS’ PLANS FRUSTRATED. ATTEMPT TO FLEE IN SMALL BOAT. (Pee United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 13. The doings of two men since their sensational escape compose an astonishing story of resourceful daring and frustrate! plans. A desperate attempt to flee the country iu a small row boat fitted with an auxiliary engine received aid and connivance from more than one friend and abettc ard was only defeated by the astute foresight and vigorous interveutoin of detectives. Having made good their escape abotjt 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday the prisoners immediate aim seems to have been to lay hands on a boat and put to sea. Both men are accustomed to the water, Brasting especially being a good yachtsman and resourceful in the handling of any kind of boat. During (he first two days of their liberty the prisoners were known to be in hiding at North Shore, as cunningly placed police pickets intercepted messages that passe! between them and their accomplices. The knowledge possessed by the ■detectives of thoir movements constituted, in fact, a remarkable feature of the pursuit from the time it commenced until the final scone iu the drama at Figeon Mountain. From the message that came into the possession of the police it became evident that a dash would be made from some point on North Shore between Dovonport and Birkenhead, the object being (o call in at one of the bays or inlets in the neighbourhood of Tamaki River for the purpose of obtaining the food and provisions nece,ssary for a sea voyage. A close watch was sot on Rangitoto Channel and Waiheko passage lost the fugitives should elude the trap (hat was being prepared for them and gain the safety of the open sea. The precaution proved unnecessary, however, as the prisoners did not change their minds. Just when dusk approached on Friday evening the two men put off stealthily and slipped down the harbour under cover of the gathering darkness. It was hoped by the police that they would fall into tlie trap set for them, but they chose for a landing place a beach that ha! not been patrolled, and the pursuers waiting iu another inlet were balked of thoir pray. On landing the first act of the prisoners was to break into a number of Bucklaud Beach cottages at present vacated for the winter. By this moans ihey secured a leather trunk containing a quantity of clothing and blankets that would bo valuable on a prolonged sea voyage. The trunk wan carried to the boat, and was recovered by the police when they took possession of the vessel later in the evening. One of the cottages in the neighbourhood, whoso occupants are in actual residence, is the house of Mrs Laird, who is at present living there with her two children. The family was at supper about 9 p.m. when one of the children heard a noise, ami called out that there was someone in the house. Mrs Laird jumped up, and was just in time to see the figure of a man dash out of the door. Very much perturbed, she made an investigation of every room, bub found nothing missing but a bag of chocolates. The search for food had failed. By this time alarm had been given, and the watchers were in hot pursuit. The fugitives made for Figeon Mountain, which is a tree-topped eminence commanding a magnificent view of the harbour and surrounding countryside. Though hotly pressed, they gained their objective, and were completely lost in the thick crowth. As the night was far advanced, and it was expected that (bev would try to make a dash for the more open country, a cordon ■was placed round the bill, and a watch was set at Tamaki Bridge to prevent their escape should they succeed in getting through the ring of watchers.. It proved to be an all-night vigil, in which the rain and a cold wind added to the discomfort of watchers, who were also obliged to dispense with meals. Constable Kennedy, in particular, went without food for a day and a night. The fugitives were evidently ensconced in a hollow or dip at the very summit of the hill, and we.ro not seen all night. The lights in the neighbouring cottages and occasional glimpses of a pocket torch would acquaint them that they wore rurrounded, and deter them from making a sorlie. Day broke, and the prisoners still lav low. It was expected that they would show themselves when their position seemed hopeless, hut no sign was given of their intention to surrender. The morning was half gone when a wisp of smoke curled nn from the summit, and as this was taken to be an indication of the fugitives’ intention to make themselves eomfortablo and hold out, -the watchers decided to close in on the summit. The signal was given, and the watchers crept stealthily mi the hillside, the cordon narrowing as it approached the summit. All the men were alert, and prepared to meet violence, hut thev could have spared themselves any anxiety. Their men were taken completely bv surprise. Constable Kennedy was the first, to reach the ton, and on looking into the hollow he saw the two prisoners siting down engaged in rending a copy of Friday's New Zealand Herald containing an account of their escape from the cells. Bcih men submitted quietly to arrest. They were hungrv and exhausted from exposure and lack of sleep. Tlie attire of the men when recaptured was different from ihat in which thev escaped. Thor wore white woollen ierseys open at tlie neck and white yachting caps.