Escaped Prisoner Parnell Captured

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 May 1948, Page 5

Escaped Prisoner Parnell Captured

(P.A.) Rotorua, May 2 The escaped prisoner from Mt. Crawford Prison, Wellington, John Leslie Parnell, aged 30, was captured early th's morning by a police party at Taupo, following an intensive allnight scouring of the district. He is in custody at the Rotorua Police Station.

About 8.30 o’clock last night information was received at the Rotorua Police Station that a new car which was reported missing fron a garage at Te Puke had been found parked on the Kaimanawa Road, halt a mile from Taupo, by A. Reid and R. Ward, of Taupo. They informed Constable D. J. Wilson, who returned with them to Kaimanawa Road. As they approached the car, a man disappeared into heavy scrub. Inside the car was a gallon can of petrol. Reid notified the Rotorua police, while Wilson and Ward remained at the ear in case the man was returning. A Rotorua police party of five travelled to Taupo to join the other party. All roads leading out of Taupo were blocked and a search begun in the area for Ihp man. In efforts to escape during the search he took two cars, but abandoned them when he found the roads sealed. About 3.39 a.m., while making for Taupo on a bicycle, he was apprehended by De-tective-Sergt. A. J. White, of Rotorua.

The captured man will appear in the Rotorua Police Court on offences alleged to have been committed by him in Rotorua.