SHORT PERIOD OF LIBERTY

Southland Times, Issue 23502, 7 May 1938, Page 6

SHORT PERIOD OF LIBERTY

INMATE OF BORSTAL ESCAPES RECAPTURED IN CAR AT GORE An inmate of the Invercargill Borstal Institution enjoyed a few hours of liberty yesterday afternoon after a daring escape and was recaptured in a car at Gore later. A youth_ 16. years of age, he had arrived at the institution only a week previously from the North Island. The prisoner had been employed at work inside the building and soon after one o’clock went outside the back of the institution. He quickly made his escape by discarding his shoes and climbing a drainpipe beside the stone wall and dropping down on the outside. He was soon missed and a search was made. A warder noticed the missing youth getting into a powerful car parked in Victoria avenue outside the infirmary. The car disappeared from sight and the police at all stations were notified to keep a watch for the car and its driver. Several hours later, Sergeant J. Abel, of the Gore police, saw a <ar answering to the description of the stolen vehicle disappear into a side street in the town. On givin" chase in his car he quickly captured the youth who offered no resistance. The prisoner was returned to Invercargill later in the afternoon. He will probably arnear in the Children s Court charged with escaping from custody and with converting a motor-car to his own use.