JUMP FROM A TRAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1915, Page 6

JUMP FROM A TRAIN.

ESCAPE OF A PRISONER. THE MAN BEFORE THE COURT, An habitual criminal. John Alexander Angus, was on the mail train on Tuesday I night travelling to New Plymouth in charge of a constable to take up la is |(uarturs in the New Plymouth gaol, I but the approach of his destination brought thoughts of tile jov of freedom and while the train was travelling at a good ipeed after leaving Inglewood the prisoner left his guard, who was at one end ol the carriage, and running to the other end lie went on to the platform and jumped from the train into the darkness and storm of the night. The constable saw the man escape, but the tiain was travelling too fast to ensure safety in alighting, so the constable travelled on to l.epperton Junction. Here lie communicated with the constable at lnglev.ood. and he returned to Inglewood, but the dark and wet night added to the dillicultics 0 f the search. Next morning the prisoner was arrested by Constable l.ongbottoni, of luglewood. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, -before Mr. A. Crookc, S..U* Angus was charged with escaping from custody. Henry MVyiurray, gaoler at the Xew Plymouth gaol, said Angus was convicted at Wanganui of theft in 1!HK) and was declined an habitual criminal and was ■sent to the New Plymouth gaol. Jn September, litiri. he was released on probation. but for a breach of his probation he was sent back to prison in Decernbei. 1!>1.1. I le was again released on probation in July, Mll-1. and in October, HJU. Angus committed a breach of his probation and was wanted by the police i until lie was arrested at Whangarei a j few days airo.

Constable O'Xcill, of Auckland, said he was escorting Angus from Auckland to the Xew Plymouth gaol for a breach of his probation license. When the train was about eight chains north of the (nglenood station the accused was in the lavatory at the end of the carriage washing-his face, and witness was standing with him, 1 hen witness went into tile lavatory and Angus went into the carriage. Witness was about two minutes in the lavatory and when lie returned to the carriage he saw Angus disappearing through tiie door at the other end of the carriage. Witness followed immediately and found Angus had disappeared from the platform. Witness went on to f.epperton Junction in the train and on arrival there he immediately telephoned to the stationmaster at Inglewood, who informed the constable there of the escape. Witness then returned to Inglewood on a bicycle. With Constable Longbottom witness searched Inglewood and the. vicinity for the accused until about midnight, but they found no trace of the prisoner.

Accused: What time did you go to bed that night?

Witness: T did not go to bed at all that night, but I remained in my bedroom for about two hours.

Accused: Did the publican at the hotel where you stayed tell you that he and I went up U> your room at six o'clock in the morning to look for you? Witness: The publican did tell ine that you and he went up to my room about six o'clock in the morning, after the publican had threatened to send word to the constable. Accused: Did he tell you that I went to the police station to wait until you came back?

Wliness: Xo, he did not tell me that. The publican said he sent you to the police station and went outside and watched where you went.

Constable Lougbottom, of Inglewood. stated that after he received word that tile prisoner had escaped he made enquiries at the railway and about Inglewood for the prisoner. About ten o'clock witness was joined by Constable O'Neill, and they searched until about midnight., but they found no trace of Angus. About G. 45 o'clock the following morning witness arrested Angus a.short distance from the police station. On being arrested Anpus said that, lie. intended to give himself up. Cross-examined by the accused, witness said the accused was about thirty yard? away from the police station when lie was arrested.

The accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the .Supreme Court for trial.