AN ELUSIVE TRIO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20961, 26 February 1930, Page 10

AN ELUSIVE TRIO.

‘ BARS OF CELL FORCED. TRAINING FARM ABSCONDERS. DESPERATE BID FOR! LIBERTY. (Pek United Peess Association.) PUKEKOHE, February 25.. A sensational escape was effected by three ’absconders J from the Weraroa Training Pam from tW Pukekohe lock-up shortly after mid-day to-day. The three youths—Dennis Ronald Bissett, Eric Alfred Chapman, and John Henry Wilson —with two others. cleared out from the Weraroa Training Farm about midnight on Tuesday' last, their escape being aided by a key which one of the party had manufactured. It is understood that they borrowed a Jewett motor car from a nearby farm, and when half .a mile along the road they were chased by the farm attendants in another car. , When racing along the road the car driven by the fugitives broadsided in loose metal. The car stopped and the occupants jumped out, making good their escape in the darkness. The five split up into two parties, three coming north and two going elsewhere. The trio collected a wardrobe en route, and are believed to have boarded a truck on a goods train at Palmerston North labelled- New Plymouth, They left the train at Lepperton Junction. They then walked as far as Mount Messengers, where they got on board a motor transport and reached Piopio. They gathered food at various stages of the journey, and supplemented this by, directing attention to orchards. At Piopio ihey “ borrowed ” a Dodge motbr, car, and drove /to Te Kuiti, and thence to Hamilton ‘and Whatawhata, where they obtained more food. They replenished the benzine supply by syphoning'from the tanks of ..cars left unattended on the roadside. *The party Ipft for Onehunga, where they spent practically the" whole of yesterday. In the afternoon they left for ,the King Country, but on arriving at Pokeno they discovered that the benzine 'was almost, exhausted. They entered garage and lifted three cases of benzine. Mr M‘Robbie observed 1 the act, and> went full speed to Mercer to inform the police. He passed the trio on his journey, and accompanied Constable Olson -back, and the trio were arrested. ‘

They spent the, night in the lock-up and appeared at the Pukekohe Police Court this, morning charged with the theft of three cars and benzine, the, property of W. C. M'Robbie, As other charges are pending they were remanded to appear on March 6. The trio were placed in the Pukekohe lock-up shortly before mid-day-and were to be taken to the Auckland prison by the 12,30 p.m; train, In the rricantime they forced the bars of the cell ‘door and escaped. The police are scouring the district. , '