DECAMPED IN PYJAMAS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 212, 7 September 1945, Page 4

DECAMPED IN PYJAMAS

PRISONER’S ESCAPE FROM HOSPITAL (P.A.) Auckland, Sept. 6. A sequel to an incident at the Auckland Hospital on August 2, when a prisoner receiving medical attention decamped in his pyjamas, was the appearance before Mr. J. Morling, S.M., of Roy James Whelan, aged 35, labourer, charged with escaping from lawful custody. 1 Senior-Detective Trethewey called evidence to show that accused, who had been arrested the previous evening on a charge of theft, was under guard at the hospital on August 2. lie was kept in a portion of the institution known as the “cells.” Early in the afternoon he was taken Io the X-ray department on a trolley by male hospital attendants and accompanied by a constable. Accused, who was dressed in his pyjamas, was left in a passage-way awaiting his turn to be X-rayed. A few minutes later he jumped off the trolley and disappeared from view. Owing to some curtains (lie constable on duty did not see which way he had gone. Accused was seen in Grafton Road and then in Park Avenue, where he vanished between two houses. Evidence was given by Constable Fell, of Takapuna, that he saw accused at Milford on August 21 and arrested him. Accused pleaded not'guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.