MATTHEWS AT LARGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16497, 6 August 1921, Page 10

MATTHEWS AT LARGE.

BOARDS CUT WITH KNIFE.

MAY BE MAKING FOR NORTH.

(Pep- Press Association.') DUNEDIN, August 6

Fifty police and attendants have been all night on an unsuccessful search for Matthews. It is believed that he had outside assistance. At any rate he gained possession of a knife, with which he removed two four-inch boards from his cell, thus squeezing through to the cellar, a drop of nine feet. Matthews thence proceeded to the exercise pen, gettin- there a pair of boxing gloves, a bathing suit and tennis shoes. There are some significant circumstances. Matthew § always slept on a kapoc mattress on the floor. For the last few days, on the plea of neuralgia, he stayed in bed, so the mattress was not disturbed. It was under the mattress that the boards were removed. A warder visited Matthews at 1.5 a.in., and on returning fifteen minutes later found the nest empty. About a. fortnight ago a rope was found on top of the exercise pen, which Matthews himself could not have secured. About that time there was a rumour in Dunedin that he had escaped . When he got away Matthews had a ginger beard two inches long. About 4.30 a .m. yesterday, Dr Thomas, of Palmerston, when motoring through Merton, saw a man run off the road ahead of him.

There is a suspicion that Matthews is making for the north.