RECAPTURED GERMAN PRISONERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 7

RECAPTURED GERMAN PRISONERS.

GOLD IN THEIR POSSESSION

AUCKLAND, January 2. Tho Star to-day publishes the follow tag:--

There has been considerable speculation regarding gold found in the possession of the German prisoners who escaped from Motuihi Island, and who were recaptured. Von Luokner had about £101)0 in German gold when lie left Germany. He succeeded in changing a portion ot it into British gold. When disaster overtook the See Adler he divided the money among two parties, each taking £SOO. Thus he had £SOO in his possession when he was first captured- This was taken from him by tho authorities, who still have it in their possession. There is still to be explained £123 odd found in the possession of the prisoners when they were recaptured. There is little doubt that this money was supplied by Von Egidy, a. Samoan planter. The money was in gold, in addition to which there was about £2O in New Zealand notes and silver and about 133 German marks. This money Von Egidy did not carry on his person. Ho had placed it among tho clothes in his truik. Although the authorities searched him, tho only cash they discovered on him was £3 or £4, which was found in his pockets. When he was sent_ to New Zealand the money cam© with him in a trunk, and remained there, as far as can be gathered, during the seven months that he was interned on Somes Island. When ho was transferred to Auckland his trunk, still containing the money, was sent with him. When tho escape was planned Von Egidy handed this money over to Von Luokner, who later divided it among the party till they got away, when they handed it back to Von Luokner, who put it into a bag for safo keeping. When Von Luokner saw that recapture was inevitable he again distributed tho money—£42 in English gold, and the remainder (£80) in German gold.