JUMP FROM A TRAIN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2194, 19 May 1908, Page 4

JUMP FROM A TRAIN.

AUCKLAND PRISONER MAKES SENSATIONAL ESCAPE.

The following particulars of the escape -of a prisoner briefly recorded in Saturday's issue are taken from the New .Zealand ‘•Herald”: A most daring escape from custody was made last ovening by a notorious criminal named William Smith, who was undergoing a twelve years’ sentence for burglary and attempted murder. Smith, while being brought from the Waiotapu prison camp to Mount Ellen gaol by a warder, got away from his custodian, sprang from the express while it was travelling at lull speed, and disappeared in the bush. It appears that Smith, alter serving a portion of his sentence at the New Plymouth gaol, was recently transferred to the Waiotapu camp for reasons that are best known to tho authorities. Subsequently it was decided to bring him back, and Wardor Richards was despatched to Waiotapu for the purpose. The warder brought Ins prisoner down by tho express tram from Rotorua, or, rather, lie brought him part of the wav. Smith was not wearing tho regulation prison garb, ibut was attired in an ordinary tweed suit, and it is believed that lie was not handcuffed. He escaped Irani the warder between Itunciman and Drury, under the pretext ol going to the lavatory on the train. At the time of his leap for liberty the train was travelling at its top speed, and it is estimated that it was rushing through the country at the rate of no illy 10 miles an hour. Smith was seen by several passengers to hurriedly clamber over the iron railing that encloses the open platform at the end ol the carriage, and hurl himself from the oscillating train on the permanent way on the west side. It is not known whether he was injured by his desperate effort to regain his liberty, but in view of tile great pace the train had on at the time, the probability is that lie was. Warder Richards did not report tho escape at Drury, which was tho noxt stopping place,' but came on to Otahuhu, 1-1 miles further down, and reported it there. His reason for adopting this course was that he thought Smith was concealed on the train, and by the time he had searched all the compartments, Drury had been passed. Erom Otalmhu the warder returned to the scene of the escape to search for the prisoner. .The police officer in charge at Otalmhu station also went out in the direction of Papatoetoo to search for the escapee. Up to the time wo went to press no trace had been discovered of Hie missing nun. All the police from the district stations are out searching for him, and as many of the metropolitan police force, mounted men, and detectives as could bo spared were despatched to the scene. An active and systematic search of the whole countryside has been instituted and is vigorously proceeding. Tho escaped man Smith, who is also known under the alias of Archer, is a most dangerous criminal, wiio was captured red-handed two years ago ‘by Constable Coppell in Newton while attempting to break into a store in Karangahapo Road. When the constable went to arrest him, Smith tired point-blank at him with a revolver, and bolted. The constable pursued, and Smith turned round and fired at him again. Undeterred by the murderous ruffian, the plucky officer rushed him and overpowered him. For this attempt on tho constable’s life Smith was sentenced to ten year’s imprisonment, and got another sentence of two years for tlm attempted burglary.