FOUR YEARS’ LIBERTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21102, 12 August 1930, Page 7

FOUR YEARS’ LIBERTY.

PRISONER SURRENDERS. COMMITTED FOE SENTENCE. (Special, to Daily Times.) < CHRISTCHURCH, August 11. After four years of:liberty Leo Sylvester Hannan, who escaped from, Rangipo prison camp, in the Auckland province, gave himself up to the police. Hannon, who appeared before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., this morning, charged with escaping from custody at Tokanui on July 12, 1926, said that he- had been worrying, and wished to' clear the matter up. He § leaded guilty, and was committed to the upreme Court for sentence. William Thomas Leggett, superintendent at the Papahua prison, said that he knew the accused as an escapee from the Rangipo prison. He was committed there on March 18, 1926, in the Auckland court. The sentence was sis months’ hard labour and 12 months' reformative detention. Hannan escaped on July 12,, 1926. Constable Edwards produced two statements made by the accused to the Christchurch police. Hannan stated: "On or about March 18, 1926, at Auckland. I was charged at the Auckland Magistrate’s Court with damaging a safe, and for that offence I was convicted and discharged. 1 was also charged with the theft of beer from an hotel, and was 'Convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour and 12 months’ reformative detention. 1 was confined to Mount Eden prison for about two and was later sent to'Rangipo prison, where I remained for six weeks. I was feeling unwell after the latter period, and decided to escape. One morning at breakfast time ‘I escaped from the camp and travelled into the country. Usually I Remained hidden in the day time, and travelled by night. 1 went to the Hanraki Plains, and remained there for six montlie, doing draining work; After six months in the Thames district 1 went to Wellington, where I worked for three months, later coming to the South Island, and working in various places. I have not at /any time since my escape committed any offence. 1 assumed the name of Herbert White, and 'Jater Herbert Ross; 1 -have been worrying about this matter, and am now making this voluntary statement to,clear the matter up.”In a statement made to the police at Dunedin the ; accused said that he had lived at upright life,since he escaped. The company he got into; was responsible for his trouble, together With drink. He had now learned a lesson, and intended to go straight. "Itour Worship,” said the accused, "I would just like to say that I wanted to clear the matter up, so I gave myself,up to the police. I am not of a criminal nature. The whole trouble has been due mainly to drink.”

“There is not very much in that,” replied the magistrate, “ because if you are a man at all you can leave the drink alone.”

“ I have overcome that weakness now, your Worship,” said the accused. Hannan pleaded guilty, and y waa committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.