ESCAPED PRISONERS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17832, 3 August 1923, Page 9

ESCAPED PRISONERS.

HEAVY SENTENCES IMPOSED. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TZLEGKAMS.) AUCKLAND, August 2. At the Supreme Court, Richard Hayes, Charles King, Eric Burnett and Lawrence Egmont Windsor, who escaped from the Mt. Eden gaol on July 6th, and were recaptured within four days, appeared before Mr Justice Herdman. Each was handcuffed, and King vainly appealed to his Honour to have the irons removed. Each prisoner had evidently prepared his "brief," and exhibited sheets of paper with notes thereon. When asked to plead, all four replied, "Guilty under extenuating circumstances." * "Not Guilty," his Honour summed up their plea more succinctly, and in proper legal manner. It was apparent that Hayes had been appointed spokesman of the quartet, for he questioned Chief Warder Glynn regarding the discipline and food at the prison, his Honour at length stopping him by saying complaints could be made to the Department. Hayes addressed the jury, endeavouring to justify the escape by recounting grievances. A verdict of guilty was returned. A further charge against three of the accused was proceeded with. This was of breaking, entering and theft from a dwelling. Burnett had already confessed to the crime, explaining in a statement that the four broke into a house, discarded their prison clothes and donned new apparel. The other three pleaded not guilty to 'breaking and entering and theft, but admitted receiving. They were given- every latitude by his Honour and subjected some of the witnesses to tedious and apparently pointless examination. A verdict of guilty was returned and all four were sentenced to two years' imprisonment for escaping and two years for breaking and entering, the sentences to be concurrent, starting from the expiration of the terms of uynrisonment now being served.