JUMPED FROM TRAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20982, 10 March 1938, Page 8

JUMPED FROM TRAIN

ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY By Telegraph —Press Association WELLINGTON, March 9. William Charles Norman, aged 40, charged before Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M,, with escaping from custody while on a warrant of commitment of a person accused of an indictable offence, was to-day committed to the Supreme Court at Palmerston North for trial. Evidence was given of the accused’s being committed at Otaki for trial in the Supreme Court. From the time of his committal, he remained at the Otaki Police Station until 9 a.m. on February 25, when he left under escort for Wellington. He is alleged to have jumped from the train. He was under arrest again by evening. Describing how he went up to Norman, who was standing at the back of a house having a cup of tea, Detective Hogan said he disclosed his identity, and asked Norman if he had hurt himself when he jumped off the train. Norman replied, “Yes, I hurt my head. It has been bleeding.” Witness took Norman’s hat off. and noticed his head had been cut in two places. Norman then said, “I did not jump off the train. I fell off.” He declined to make any other comment. When asked how he would plead to the charge, the accused said he kne* nothing about it, and the Magistrate directed this to be taken as a plea of not guilty. Papers were placed before the accused to sign, but this he did not do. saying he could not remember his name. “If he does not want to sign, he won't sign, but he will be committed all the same,” said Mr Hewitt.