WANGANUI CAR STOLEN

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1932, Page 9

WANGANUI CAR STOLEN

PRISON ESCAPEE SUSPECT

CHARLES BENNETT STILL FREE.

FUGITIVES GOOD FOOD SUPPLY.

The theft of a bottle-green Model A Ford touring c ar, numbered 79-064,-from Wanganui fate on Tuesday night has led the police to believe that the Hautu prison camp escapee, Charles Bennett, took this method to escape from the city. It is understood that the car was taken before midnight, although its loss was not discovered until about 4 a.m. yesterday. There was a good supply of benzine in the car and, if it were Bennett who stole it, the fugitive is believed to be well supplied with food. Bennett has now been at liberty for two and a-half weeks. His companion, Edgar W. Allen, was captured by Detective J. Walsh (Wanganui) and Constables J. J. Fitzgibbon (Waverley) and Christmas (Wanganui) at the Waverley racecourse a week ago to-day. Allen lield up the pursuers with a rifle while Bennett made good -• his escape. Although closely pressed by the pursuit on the Thursday night and Friday, Bennett escaped by train from .Waitotara in the early hours of Saturday morning. Thefts in Wanganui over the weekend were believed to have been committed by the fugitive, and close police searches were carried out in the city on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Prior to their location at Waverley, Allen and Bennett were estimated to have travelled over 700 miles in stolen automobiles.