MAORI ESCAPEES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 140, 16 June 1931, Page 8

MAORI ESCAPEES

TRAILED FOR MANY MILES CAPTURE IN EMPTY HOUSE | Per Press Association. ] ROTORUA, June 15. After trailing two escaped Maoris from Te Puke, where they picked the lock of a cell on Thursday, a police party ran them to earth at Dr. Raynor’s house at Lake Rotoiti late last night. They were captured hiding in a small room, and were brought to Rotorua shortly after midnight. The two men, Wi Pori and George Aukaua Kopeta, stole a car at Rotorua last Tuesday and made for Paengaroa, where they entered a store and stole a safe and goods. They were arrested a few hours later on a lonely road near Te Teko with the stolen goods in their possession, and were remanded at Te Puke Magistrate’s Court later. They escaped at midnight. The Rotorua police believed that the men w ? ere making for Rotorua, and a close watch was kept and the trail picked up at Okere, where the two slept in a bach and decamped after damaging the fittings and stealing an overcoat.

The police picked up the trail on Sat urday on a foot track leading from Mourea to Rotoiti, and followed on Saturday night to a house belonging to Dr. Raynor on the shores of Lake Rotoiti. The house was unoccupied Yesterday at daylight the Maoris took to the hills, where they watched the road for signs of pursuit. They expected to see a police car, but a private motor was used and the trackers were able to reconnoitre the position. At nightfall yesterday the Maoris returned to the house to spend the last night before pushing on for the bush country of the Urewa. They could not travel fast owing to one being lame, and through need for care in avoiding detection. They ransacked the house, tearing the bed linen and curtains and packing up the best rugs and blankets to carry to their next hiding place. Wardrobes were opened and the contents of drawers were thrown about the house. They also sampled boxes of expensive cigars and drank every bottle of champagne and wino in the house.

After dark the policy party, accompanied by the traffic inspector, left Rotorua by car for Rotoiti. They crept through the tangled scrub across country to the house. The night was dark and heavy rain was falling, making rhe journey difficult and at times dangerous. The searchers were afraid to show £ light for fear of frightening die Maoris, who were then in the house preparing for an early start. Finally the building was surrounded and three policemen entered, leaving four men outside. The Maoris were discovered hiding in a small room and were arrested without difficulty. Both were thoroughly frightened and they were brought to Rotorua and placed in the lock-up. Handcuffed together, Wi Pori and George Ropeta stood in the dock at the Magistrate’s Court this morning to answer a charge of being incorrigable rogues in that they escaped from Te Puke lock-up. Senior-Sergeant Carroll asked for a remand till to-morrow as both accused had been arrested only a few hours previously and several other charges were pending. The Magistrate, Mr Paterson, S.M., agreed. Numerous charges are now to be answered by the two, including the theft of a car, breaking, entering and theft from Paengaroa store, escaping from custody, and breaking and entering at Rotoiti.