DANGEROUS CRIMINAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23332, 26 October 1937, Page 3

DANGEROUS CRIMINAL

ESCAPE FROM ASLYUM WANTS CHANCE “TO GO STRAIGHT” <From Our Own Correspondent i SYDNEY, Oct. 15. , An intensive search is proceeding throughout New South Wales for Leslie George Warburton, described as a dangerous criminal, ”ho escaped from the Parramatta Mental Asylum on Friday night or early on Saturday morning. It is believed that he improvised a key that gave him freedom. Warburton, known to the police as a vicious young gang leader, was sentenced to three years in 1934, on each of seven charges of armed hold-ups. He also stood his trial in 1935 for the murder at Waverley of a Russian shopkeeper, Paul Drasdoff, who was shot dead in his shop for no apparent reason. Warburton was acquitted on that charge. Warburton was recognised as the leader of a gang of young gunmen. It was revealed at his trial on the hold-up charges that Warburton had frequently been incarcerated in mental asylums previously, and that at the age of seven he had attacked his sister with a knife. He was subsequently transferred to t Parramatta Mental Asylum, having shown marked tendencies to insanity while in gaol. Dr Sampson, medical superintendent of the asylum, stated that Warburton was transferred from the criminal section of the mental hospital to the ordinary section last January. Warburton had been in the criminal section for three years. During that time he was quite tractable and had given no trouble. Warburton left a note for Dr Sampson, expressing his intention of “ going straight.” He said that he would try to avoid capture, and get away to start a new life. He pleaded for the superintendent’s leniency if his desperate plan failed and he was returned to the institution.

Although in a closed ward, Warburton was given a fair amount of freedom during the day. “But for his antecedents, he would have been allowed even greater latitude,” Dr Sampson said. “He often told me that when he was released he would turn over a new leaf. I really think he means well, but he has a difficult task ahead of him, and I doubt if he can keep to his good intentions. I sincerely hope he can.” Warburton’s chance of evading capture is regarded as slender, Every policeman in the State has his description, and is on the lookout for him. He is a skilled motor mechanic.