ESCAPE FROM LOCK-UP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 75

ESCAPE FROM LOCK-UP.

FLIGHT IN MOTOR CAR. AN EXCITING CHASE. AUCKLAND, January 19. An audacious bid for liberty by the two prisoners, George Huia Brewer and George Curtis Colcord, who escaped from the Hamilton police cells in the early hours of Tuesday morning, was frustrated yesterday when both men were re-arrested in the vicinity of Henderson by Constable Smith, and brought to Auckland. The escape from custody at Hamilton was made between the hours of 5 and 5 o’clock, at which hour the watch-house keeper discovered that two floorboards in the cell had been prised up, and a hole scooped under the wall large enough to allow the passage of a man. Shortly after 5 o’clock it was reported to the Hamilton police by Mr S. R. Handley, of Hamilton East, that a two-seater racing model Ford motor car had been removed from his garage. The police stations throughout the district were immediately communicated with, and a watch was kept on all roads. Nothing was seen of the fugitives all day, although it was thought they had headed for Auckland. This was confirmed by reports from the Titirangi district. Increased vigilance was kept up after dark on all roads. Shortlv before 10 o’clock Constable Smith, of Henderson, was driving toward Glen Eden in a motor car, and, when about a quarter of a mile from the Henderson police station, he was passed by two men in a vehicle identical with that stolen, and travelling in the opposite direction. They were travelling at about 40 miles an hour, but, as the constable was unable to turn his car quickly, a motor cyclist, who was standing nearby under took, on request, to follow the other car which v’as fast disappearing. Shortly after passing the constable’s car the motor cyclist saw the other vehicle slow down, and one of the passengers jumped out. He disappeared into some scrub by the side of the road, but the car continued on. By this time the constable had also given chase and shortly drew level. As he drew alongside the driver pulled up and leaped out, making across a paddock skirting the road. As it was impossible to give chase in the dark Constable Smith immediately made his way to a house in Henderson where it was thought Brewer was to be found, and in a back room he located Colcord. The man was immediately arrested and later brought to Auckland, where he was placed in the cells at the police station. A search party left Auckland for Henderson early yesterday morning, and a wide area was covered during the day without success. A telephone message was received at the Henderson police station shortly after 6 o’clock last night that a man answering the description of Brewer had been seen in the vicinity of the Te Atatu road. Constable Smith, who happened to be at the station, set out on a renewed search, and some little time later came upon Brewer in a patch of scrub. As soon as the man saw the constable he signified his intention of giving himself up and surrendered without showing any opposition. He was also brought to Auckland last evening. Colcord appeared before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday on a charge of escaping from custody. On the application of Senior Sergeant Edwards he was remanded for a week. Brewer will appeal- on a similar charge this morning.