EIGHT MONTHS MORE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 107, 9 May 1927, Page 11

EIGHT MONTHS MORE.

PRISONER WHO ESCAPED.

"NEXT MAM VOL FAT

DIAUT."

MAGISTRATE'S WARNING.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day.

Patrick Joseph Clemenger was charged to-day with escaping from Paparua prison. He was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, additional to the sentence of two years' reformative detention which he is serving at present. Prisoner, who pleaded guilty, asserted that he had not been physically fit to work in the gravel pit from which he escaped. The officer had not given him a "fair go" to get used to the tools. Hit family was in distress, his wife had had nothing since his imprisonment at the latter end of February, and on the spur of the moment he made an attempt to escape. ,

The superintendent of the prison said accused had been sentenced to two years' reformative treatment. He was troublesome at first, but afterwards behaved himself.

This is the third escape from prison within a short period," continued the superintendent. "The men ara given much freedom of action, they are under no armed guard and can get away almost at any time."

The Magistrate: This man was more or less under a system of honour, was he not?

The superintendent: No, but some men are. He gave me a promise that he -would do the right thing. After reading accused's written statement the Magistrate told him that be was a very foolish young man. "There has been too much of this sort of thing," he said, "prisoners who attempt to escape will have their terms ho increased that the next man will pay dearly."