GAOL FIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 3, 5 January 1938, Page 5

GAOL FIGHT.

ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE.

TWO WARDERS ATTACKED.

POLICE TO THE RESCUE.

SYDNEY, December 31

Two prisoners made a desperate attempt to escape from Dubbo Gaol. One- of them locked one warder in his cell and, it is alleged, assaulted a second, knocking him to the floor in a dazed condition. He then released his companion, and they mp.de their way into the exercise yard. Dubbo police, however, recaptured them in the yard and returned them to their cells.

The men were awaiting trial on charges of robberies in Sydney and the country. A third prisoner gave the police and warders great assistance in recapturing them.

About 4.30 p.m. Senior Warder Killen and Warder Watson, who were the only officiate on duty, were carrying out the routine inspection of the cells. Wateon entered the cell occupied by Lyle Coulter, who, with a man named Dennis, had been placed in the gaol to await trial. Killen remained at the door. Coulter, it is alleged, suddenly made a dive through the door, slammed it aftei him, bolted it, and, seizing a yard broom, is stated to have attacked Killen, knocking~him dazed to the floor. Released Companion. It is alleged that Coulter then unlocked Dennis' cell. By this time Killen had staggered to his feet. It is stated that Coulter, seeing this, again attacked him, knocking him to the ground practically unconscious. Both prisoners then ran down the gallery and out the door into the exercise yard. They attempted to bolt this door also, but the lock had jammed. Had they succeeded, they could probably not have been prevented from winning free of the gaoL I

Killen, although shaken, quickly] recovered, released Watson, and rushed to secure a rifle. Hie wife, seeing him bleeding profusely from a wound in the forehead, ran to the telephone and put through an urgent message to the Dubbo police. Prisoner Gives Aid. Keith Vincent Bull, who is serving a six months' sentence, was on light duty in the kitchen. He to the assistance of the warders. In the meantime, two constables arrived post haste from Dubbo police station, and, with batons drawn, rounded up Coulter and Dennis and returned them to the cells.

Killen, who suffered severe abrasions to the forehead, refused to be inter-' viewed.