ESCAPE OF PRISONER

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1935, Page 7

ESCAPE OF PRISONER

LEFT express at huntly

INCIDENTS AT MORAL RECALLED. TRANSFER FROM NEW PLYMOUTH. PROBATION LICENCE CANCELLED. While being transferred from the New Plymouth prison to Mt. Eden gaol, William Brewer, aged 51, escaped from the express near Huntly early on Saturday morning, says a Press Association message. Only meagre details of x the occur--rence were available last night, but information received by the Daily News from Auckland was that there was no trace of the prisoner. A declared habitual criminal, Brewer left New Plymouth by the 7.10 express on Saturday night in the care of an Auckland warder, his transfer to Mt. Eden being necessitated by the cancellation of his licence. A telephone message from Auckland stated that Constables Walton and Craigie, Huntly, who were apparently the only police searchers, travelled between 300 and 400 miles on Saturday and Sunday in a thorough search of the district involving inquiries at numerous farms. It is understood, however, that they discovered no hint of the man’s ■whereabouts.

Brewer was serving concurrent sentences of three months’ imprisonment for Offences arising out of a taxi ride from Auckland to Mokau at the end of April. The cost of the trip was £l5 and Brewer was charged at New Plymouth with obtaining credit by. fraud for the amount from the driver,, H. E. B. Robson, and, further, with the theft of a dog worth £2 at Rangiriri. His use of obscene language at Awakino on April 30 was the actual cause of his arrest by Constable Powell. He admitted this and was sentenced to imprisonment, and the next day he decided to plead guilty to the other charges as well. It was explained during the Police Court hearing that as the journey from Auckland was a long one the taxi driver decided to take a companion with him in addition to Brewer. On the way Brewer called at several houses and on two occasions he brought out a dog and placed it in the car. He consumed a quantity of liquor throughout the day and when near Awakino he became abusive and used bad language. He wanted to fight the driver. His behaviour at Mokau caused his: arrest. It was Only shortly before this that he was released from prison on- a' probationary licence.

When Brewer escaped from the train on Saturday he was wearing a grey suit, grey felt-hat, tweed overcoat, soft collar and tie and black boots. He had a presentable appearance.