FUTILE DASH FOR LIBERTY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13172, 4 September 1913, Page 5

FUTILE DASH FOR LIBERTY.

(Per Press Association.)

INVERCARGILL, last night. Running along Tweed street footpath shortly before 10 o'clock this morning, an individual, carrying his hat m his hand and wearing a, jacket, made out of an ordinary grain, sack, and a .pair of white trousers,, icreated some excitement among residents living m that quarter of the town. The strange rig-out aroused the suspicion pf Sergeant Bingham's son, and, on. being informed, the sergeant set off m pursuit on a bike. He overtook the fugitive and placed his hands, on his shoulders, asking where he was making for. -The prisoner, not knowing that he was once again m the clutches of the law, replied that he was going up country.

The sergeant explained his mission; and the prisoner returned with him to the police station. The escapee was one of a gang .working on the reclamation- works. His name is John ISdward Blonquist, and he lias a lengthy list of convictions against, him^-eighteen m number— for theft, assault, vagrancy, etc., m various parts of New Zealand. On July sth last he was sentenced to six months' hard labor and three years' reformative treatment on a charge of assault with intent to do actual bodily harm.