PRISONER WHO LEAPT FROM EXPRESS: COURT CHARGE Mr. Charles Nelson Pember, Mr. A. E. Crook, and Mr. Percy Gardiner, who captured the escaped prisoner, at Caerwent last night. HID IN TREE AFTER DASH FOR LIBERTY Eye-witnesses' Stories of Wanted Man's Recapture THEFT ALLEGATION A Glamorgan man who made a dramatic escape from custody while being brought from London by train yesterday and was recaptured after five hours of liberty, was remanded in custody by the Cardiff magistrates to-day on a charge of theft. He appeared in the dock with his right arm in splints and heavily bandaged and with bandages around his left wrist. He had made a spectacular leap through the window of the London express on the Newport side of Severn Tunnel Junction. He was recaptured hiding in a tree near Caerwent after a hue-and-cry in which police and civilians from over a wide area co-operated. "I'm the bloke who jumped from the train," he told his captors. He was driven by car to Chepstow Police-station and thence to Cardiff to face to-day's charge. ======================================= "I Grabbed Him By the Leg" He had to be assisted into the Cardiff Police-court by two police officers. He looked pale and worn out. When he was placed on a chair In the dock his head slumped forward, and he took little interest in the proceedings. The court was crowded. The charge against him was of stealing in the dwelling-house of a Cardiff man a gold ring valued £5, the property of the man's wife, and 5 shillings. Chief Detective-inspector Lewis, who went into the witness-box, stated that at 10.40 a.m. to-day he saw the accused at the Law Courts, Cardiff, and read the warrant charging him. After being cautioned he replied: "I plead guilty." Court-inspector Francis then applied for him to be remanded in custody for one week. The Clerk (Mr. Hayward), to the accused: "Have you any objection to being remanded in custody?" Accused: "No, none whatever." He then left the dock again with the aid of two officers. The magistrates were Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Smithfield. The accused man - official photographs circulated by the police. VOICE FROM TREE "You'd Better Stand Back" South Wales Echo special representatives telephone the following accounts of the circumstances in which the fugitive was recaptured last night. Late last evening two Caerwent men named Pember and Percy Gardiner were walking along the road towards Caerwent village, and when near the by-pass on the old road to Caerwent, heard a noise in a tree in the Vicarage field. Presently someone called out to them. Pember asked who he was, and what he was doing up the tree. The man replied: I am the bloke that jumped from the train. Haven't you seen it in the newspapers? Pember and Gardiner helped him to the ground and detained him whilst another man went to Caerwent to telephone to Caldicot, two miles away. In a few minutes Police-constable Crow arrived on the spot and took him into custody. The officer obtained a car, in which the accused was driven to Chepstow Police-station. The man had a dislocated right shoulder and one of his hands also was injured. He was wearing a sports coat and grey trousers. He was able to walk, but was evidently suffering considerable pain. He would not say anything about why he jumped from the train. There was a remarkable element of luck about the capture of Jones. Mr. G. A. Crook, licensee of the Coach and Horses Inn,Caerwent, said that at about 10.45 last night three young men, Percy Gardiner and William Hayward of Crick, and Charles Pember, of Caerwent, were strolling down the old road at Caerwent talking in loud tones to each other. "Get a Ladder" Suddenly they were astonished when, in reply to one remark which was made, an answering shout came from the elm tree which stands just off the road in a field near the Caerwent Vicarage. "Immediately," proceeded Mr. Crook, "the young men came back to the village and told me and Mr. George Price, a steam-roller driver, and we went down to the spot. As we approached the tree I heard a man shout, 'You had better stand back.' "For a moment I considered the possibility that the man might be carrying a revolver," said Mr. Crook, "but then I thought that even if he did have a gun there was a probability that he would miss us in the dark, so we continued on our way until we reached the foot of the tree." Even then they could not see the man for he was at least 20ft. up the tree and was exceedingly well hidden amidst the branches and leaves. But in the next minute he shouted down to them, saying, "You'll have to get a ladder if you want to fetch me." Crook and Price talked to him for some minutes pointing out the absurdity of his staying in the tree all night and told him that if he went to sleep he would certainly fall from the tree and injure himself. [They did not then know that he was a fugitive from the police.] Eventually their persuasion bore results, for the man started to descend the tree. "As he neared the ground," said Mr. Crook, "I grabbed his leg and with Mr. Price and several other men we escorted him across the field. Gardiner telephoned for the police and we kept him from escaping again until Police-constable Crow, of Caldicot, arrived. "He said he had a wife in Cardiff and seemed worried about her." No Finger Missing The man, said Mr. Crook, was in a very exhausted state and craved a drink of water. So great was his thirst that he gulped down three cups of water without hesitation. He told his captors that he had hurt his arm and ankle, adding that he received these injuries when he jumped from a train. He also said that the police were after him because he had stolen £7. This was the first intimation they had that he was wanted by police. When Police-constable Crow arrived the man admitted that he was the wanted man and offered no resistance when he was told to get into the car to be taken to Chepstow police-station and thence by road to Cardiff. His injuries were officially stated to-day to be an injured right elbow and ankle and scratches on both hands. No finger was missing.