ESCAPEES FROM MILFORD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 16, 20 January 1892, Page 8

ESCAPEES FROM MILFORD.

A SINGULAR STATEMENT,

(EY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Invercargill, bhis day. At the Police Court, Middleton and Mc Guire, two Miiford escaped prisoners, wero dealt, with by Messrs Feldwick and Todd, J.P.'s.

Both pleaded guilty. Middleton made a statement to allow ho had cause for clearing out. He said the food at Milford was . unfit for man to livo on any length of, time,- The potatoes were rotten and much of the meat stinking, through being left in. the : sun. The flour-was bad, and there were no medical comforts in case of sickness. One prisoner lay unconsciouin a whare for ten da3'S without medicine and died. T ne man was unable to 'move and sandflies sucked his blood away. The sight was "sickening. The gaolor pooh-poohed the idea that he was ill, and said nothing was tho matter with him. Ho left because he thought the same treatment would be meted out to him. .1 McGuire.niade no statement. Sergeant McDonnell x-ead a long list of previous convictions against Middleton for larceny, burglary, horse-stealing and escaping from prison, and six against McGuire, tho last being for burglary. Ho also stated tho latter got a remission of one torm for saving a fellow-prisoner, George Tilbot, from drowning ad Ripa Island. The Bench dealt with the case under the Police Offences Act. They said that Middleton's complaint ought to havo been made to the visiting Justices at Miliord, when an inquiry would have been held. ' Middleton had a long record of crime, and they sentenced him to two years' penal servitude. McGuire, who stood in a more favourable light, got one year. Both sentences are cumulative on tho present.