PRISONER'S ESCAPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 31, 7 February 1928, Page 5

PRISONER'S ESCAPE.

WARDER STRUCK DOWN. RUNAWAY TELLS HIS STORY* GRANT BEFORE THE COURT. Sentenced to three years' imprisonment by Mr. Justice Stringer in July last, a young man, William Henry Grant, was in the open spaces again in less than six months. But it was not because of any concessions on the part of the prison authorities, but rather because of a sensational escape made by Grant in the early hours of the morning of December 7 The story of Grant's breakaway was told at the Supreme Court this morning, when Grant appeared before Mr. Justice Reed charged (1) with intent to escape from lawful custody lie rendered Warder John Booth incapable of resistance; (2) assaulting Booth so as to cause actual bodily harm; and (3) assault. Grant, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded not guilty. The evidence disclosed that Grant had, while in prison, been employed in the bakehouse, and had, up to the morning of December 7, been of good conduct. That morning Warder John Booth was on duty, and when passing Grant's cell about 1.45 a.m., he was suddenly struck on the head. Dazed, he recognised Grant, who had emerged from the cell. Booth then became unconscious, and was found later by another warder, when Grant's escape was also noticed. The alarm was quickly given, and next day the prisoner was captured in Williamson's Avenue, Grey Lynn. Sighted in Ponsonby. On the day following prisoner's escapa Constable Moore caught sight of Grant in Ponsonby Road. Grant turned into Pollen Street where the constable lost sight of him, but making a search in the vicinity the constable discovered the prisoner in an outhouse on the Church of Christ grounds. Grant made a blov at the and then bolted down Williamson Avenue. Constable Wilson then appeared on the scene and with Constable Moore quickly caught Grant and handcuffed him. Prisoner iu a statement from the dock said that he considered there had been neglect of duty on the part of those at the prison. " On the night of December 7 he was not locked in his cell, but was in a place with only a thin piece of wire between himself and the yard. It was absurd to allege that he had picked up a cumbersome trestle and struck Warder Booth with it. There was no necessity to strike the warder as the latter did his rounds at half-hour intervals, and it was more reasonable to suppose a prisoner making an attempt at escape to do so while the warder was in another part of the building. Prisoner's Story. "Now," said prisoner, "I will tell you what happened. I commenced work on the door about one o'clock in the morning. I had some sacks and a trestle and hid behind some masonry near the bakehouse. I saw Mr. Booth go through and estimated I would have twenty minutes without interruption. There is an automatic control near the gate, so I placed the trestle against the wings of the control. I was standing on the trestle when Booth came along and seeing me said: 'What's up there!' I was a bit nervous, because I knew Booth had a revolver. It has been my unfortunate experience to see three men shot, so I was not feeling very securc. At the time I was hanging on the iron gates. Then I dropped and fell upon Booth who struck his head on the iron gate. I then climbed the wall and . dropped outside. For three hours I then crawled on my hands and knees." Concluding his story prisoner said he had been sentenced to an additional two years for escaping, to which he pleaded guilty. But he asked the jury to believe his story that he did not deliberately assault Booth.

The jury retired just before one o'clock.