WAIKERIA ESCAPEE

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1927, 28 October 1926, Page 4

WAIKERIA ESCAPEE

SMITH BROUGHT BEFORE COURT. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. A young man, Le'onafrd Edward Smith, was brought before Messrs S. IT. iDunkley and B. iMdGe'chfie, J.sP., on Wednesday morning and charged, that being convicted of tin offence hie escaped fro'm custody on September 30*th. „ Reginald Coles, warder at Waikeria. said tha|t' when he was in charge of a gang including prisoner clearing scrub aft title back pkrt of the property, on SepLip.tabelr 30th, ia|t. lunch time the internees sat down about stale (heaps of ti-tree. At about 12.30 witness missed the accused and another internee named 'Murphy. He gave the alarm and notified the The remainder of the .parity were taken straight back to the main 'building and locked up. Neither of 'the escapes garfc. any indication of their intention to es'cape. When' itlie two men got away his party was disorganised. Witness took parit. in the searcih, which lasted for several days. Smith was arrested on 'October lrit, in the morning, but Murpliy eluded capture for several days. Arthur James Ray, farm manager at Waikeria, said he knew accused. As a result of the escape of accused and Murphy, witness Itook part with other members of Wailceiria’s dtaff and the police in the search. On October Ist, at about 7.15 am., witness saw Smith near the railway at Te Kawa, and when he came clog's;!' witness captured him. Smilth whs about eight miles from Waikeria, an'd travelling southward. He was wearing prison clothes and was ‘taken back !to Waikeria. As a result of the escape all .routine wtork at Waikeria was suspended for several days, while the search proceeded. Had had no dealings with Smith prior to lriis escape, but knew him by sight. A. Jordan, acting .superintendent at Waik'eria, said iSciiilßh was admitted : to Waikeria on March 23rd, 1926, for two years’ (Borstal treatment. Hje enumerated the charges proyen agaiinst ac- t cused. Until the end of iSeptember Smilth had been (employed at various jobs about the fiairm. He wa s allowed a certain amount of liberty, and was I‘Jrusited to do work at times without strict supervision. His conduct was fairly good. Witness received news of tlhte escape; at about 12.30. on September 30th, and in consequence all work at (the institution ceased so that officers could be despatched in pursuit of 'tike two men. All the inmattes had to be lo'ckMca up. /Smith was arrested next morning, but his companion evaded capture for several days. The general effiac.t of these escapades was bad on the other inmate's; they were unsettled; very constdefrably. Discipline was affected, and routinte work curtailed. Smilth had previously had amjp'le! -opportunities to escape had he so desiried. Since his recapture, Smith h'aidl expressed his reglret for his part in the escapade, and on Tuesday last he banded in a wriltften .statement, saying he toad acted “on the spur of the mo'ment,” and would give no furtht'r trouble. Witness believed ISmtith was. sincere. )In 'addition to the 1 entire Waikeria staff the Te; Aw'amutu police w'ei(£i engaged for 'several days in the search. Witness' knew the eiscape had had a disturbing effect upon the settlers, in (the district. 'Constable P. J. Doy;l e stated that in response to notification flrom the avj'bbrities at Waike'ria he and Donstable Hooker joined in the 'starch for (the Itwio escapeest The search lasted for s'e-\(;lral 'days in rough weather, and a. grelat deal of country was covered. All-night watches were kept. The escape had greatly alarmed some of the settles’ homes for mile's around. Such escapades weire very troublesome to the auVhobltiesi. Constant police supervision was necessary while escaped prisoners were aft large. Witness was preseinlf soon after Smj/th was recaptured, and to him Shiith said he “wias 'a fool for trying to escape, and he would plead guilty wlhen charged •with the offence.” Smith, when dluly cautioned, said lie' had nothing |to say/except that he was gui'llty of the offlejn'ce. 'The 'Court t'Jbefeupta''eommit'ted him to the Supreme Court "at 1 Hamilton for sentence. - ' The police explained the 'Supreme* 'Court silt's at IHlanf.lton' nleixjt / month, and meantime 'Smijth could remain in t'he custody of the Borstal officials at Waikeria.