DASH FOR LIBERTY

Southland Times, Issue 21193, 20 September 1930, Page 7

DASH FOR LIBERTY

TWO ARRESTED MEN. ESCAPE FROM OUTSIDE POLICE STATION. (Pct United Press Association.) Wellington, September 19. Two men under arrest and under the escort of a constable made a successful dash for liberty at the doorway of the Taranaki Street Police Station about haltpast ten on Thursday evening. A stern chase ensued, but the wanted men were quicker on foot and soon disappeared under cover of darkness. Mr B. Sutherland, of Karori, owner of the chain of “Self-Help” grocery stores, received shortly after ten o’clock on Thursday evening a telephone call from a person unknown, advising that the Courtenay Place shop would be broken into during the following hour. On receiving the information Sutherland’s son immediately informed the police and . proceeded into town in his car. In the meanwhile,, the manager of the shop had been communicated with and he, in company with Sutherland junr. and a police constable, made an inspection of the premises. There appeared to be no signs of the work of any intruders and while a further inspection was being made footsteps were heard in a lane behind the shop to which access is gained from Tory street. Three men were seen to be there and although they began to make off when they were aware that their presence was noticed, the constable was well on the alert and secured two men while the third made a successful escape. They were not deprived of their liberty long, however, for a second and determined effort freed them from the constable’s power when almost at the police station. It was understood this evening, that the wanted men have not been recaptured. One explanation of the telephone call is that one member of a gang of thieves may have turned traitor on his friends and out of spite or malice decided to inform Sutherland of the plans. Alternatively, it may have been a ruse to lure Sutherland away from his Karori residence so that access could be gained to it. The. presence of the three men may have been merely accidental and they may have had no intention of breaking into premises in the vicinity.