SENSATION AT TRENTHAM

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 40

SENSATION AT TRENTHAM

MILITARY PRISONERS ESCAPE. GUARD OVERPOWERED AND MAULED. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 10. Four prisoners in .the military detention camp at Trentham, awaiting their trial on charges of desertion, made their escape by sensational means on Tuesday night. The names of tho men concerned Larkin, Robert Ernest Larkin, Alexander Arthur Walker, and Geo. Henry Ho . man. It appears that about 10 o'clock on Tuesday night the men in question suddenly attacked and bound' and gagged the sentry, and then made good their escape. The military and civil police were promptly notified, and kept a sharp look-out. but up to the present have no£ been able to effect any arrest. The guard is stated to have been badly mauled. The escapees are officially described as follows:—-

John Larkin, 26 years of age, height sft of stout build, with broad, powerful shoulders, fresh complexion, dark hair, brown eyes, born in New Zealand, labourer by occupation. Robert Ernest Larkin, 22 years of age, height 6ft, stout build, fresh complexion, dark hair, blue eyes, large nose, born in New Zealand, labourer by ocoupation. Alexander Arthur Walker, 25 years of age, height sft B£in, medium complexion, brown hair, grey eyes, strong in build, born at Mataura (Southland) motor driver by occupation, last address "Tapanui, Otago.'* George Henry Holleyman, 26 years _ of ago height sft lOin, fresh complexion, dark brown hair, hazel eyes, telegraph linesman by occupation, last address King street, Dunedin. The Larkins, who are brothers, are both of powerful build, and have already earned notoriety. They will be remembered as having stowed! away a few weeks ago in the bunkers of a steamer leaving for Sydney. They were discovered during the passage ana* their passage money was deducted from the £SO to £6O found on them on the vessel's arrival at Sydney. They were not permitted to land and were brought back to Wellington, their passage money again being deducted from their funds. In Wellington they were handed over to the police, and were charged under the War Regulations with having left the country without a permjfc. They were tried in the Magistrate's Court, found guilty, and sentenced to one month's imprisonment, with hard labour, and ordered to be handed over to toe military authorities on tho expiration of their sentence as deserters. They served their terra and were handed over some days ago xo the camp authorities, who were arranging for their trial by a district court-martial.

ONE MAN RECAPTURED. WELLINGTON, January 12. Tho Minister of Defence states that ono of tho four 'Trentham escapees (not one of the Larkin brothers) has beori recaptured. It appears that jt is not true, as stated at the time, that the sentry was knocked on tho head and gagged. It is understood that ono of: tho prisoners asked tho sentry to . allow him to go outside. To this tho sentry consented, and tho man opened tho door suddenly, when the edgo of the door eaught tho sentry a heavy blow on the forehead, knocking 1 him down and rendering him senseless. The opportunity thus afforded was too good to be missed, and the men decamped. The sergeant of tho guard will be court-martialled for not carrying out the camp standing orders by keeping the door of the hut looked.