PRISONER RE-CAPTURED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 14

PRISONER RE-CAPTURED.

‘ESCAPE FROM TRAIN". SMITH SUBMITS QUIETLY. REGRETS CONSTABLE’S DEATH. AUCKLAND, February 25. When Smith and James Moyne were on their way to appear at Rotorua to answer a charge of theft of benzine they were in a special compartment reserved for them and their escort, Sergeant Hammond. Entering Newmarket Tunnel Smith was permitted to enter a convenience without the handcuffs, Constable Johnson keeping one foot in the panel of the door. Smith gave the constable’s foot a terrific kick, locked the door smashed the window, and jumped out of the carriage. Information was conveyed to Auckland station, and two police cars and several hired motor cars, filled with police, were rushed to the Domain adjacent to the tunnel, and every point was guarded. The search was continued all night, and the police were kept informed from time to time of the route taken by the fugitive, and of the fact that he "had changed into a dark tweed suit. About 7.30 last night Smith asked Mr Brown, proprietor of the motor garage at Pokeno; to drive him to Paeroa. Brown recognised Smith as the escaped prisoner, and conveyed the information to the police, in the meantime keeping the car held up on the pretence that the engine needed adjustment. The police surrounded the building, and one cf them’ entering recognised Smith who surrendered quietly. He had secured a partial change of clothing, and had £l2 in money. There was a scar on his right hand, and he had abrasions on his right knee and shinbone. The prisoner was brought to Auckland last night Smith appeared in the Police Court this morning charged with having escaped from custody, and was remanded to March 4. “It was unfortunate about the death of the constable,” he said. “If I had known such an accident might have happened I would never have got away. However, it is done now, and what’s done can’t be undone. I’ve made this bed myself, so I suppose I will have to lie in it.” It will bo remembered that a search party of police were trapped bv trains in the Newmarket Tunnel, Constable Bogg, who was one of the party, sustaining injuries through being struck by a train that resulted in his death.

CORONER’S INQUEST. AUCKLAND, February 24. The Coroner (Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M.) hold an inquest this morning into the circumstances of the death of Constable Begg, killed in the Parnell tunnel yesterday, while engaged in a search for an escaped prisoner. Sergeant Angland said that when the five men of the search party entered the tunnel it was quite clear. There were two sets of rails. When the party was about twothirds of the way through, a train from the city entered on the left hand, rails, and while this train was passing the men, another train entered from the Newmarket end. Witness shouted a warning to the others, and lay flat on his stomach in the water channel till tho train passed It waa then found that one of the trains had knocked down Constable Begg, who was severely injured and unconscious. Ho was taken to the hospital, w’heie he died. Constable Hook 6aid that he saw Constable Begg standing, and called to him to stand back. Witness jumped close to the wall, and deceased was thrown against him by the engine. The Coroner returned a vfrrdict of accidental death while in tho execution of his duty.