ESCAPED WITHIN PRISON

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30880, 13 October 1965, Page 19

ESCAPED WITHIN PRISON

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, Oct. 12. The Parramatta gaol, one of the first major prisons built in Australia, has for long been regarded as a maximum security institution, but now New South Wales prison authorities are not so sure. They are still fairly confident that the prison is escape proof, but now they nave ample proof that prisoners can disappear inside it. A few weeks ago a 20-year-old prisoner serving time for breaking and entering was being marched between cell and bathroom. He said he had forgotten his towel and was sent back to get it. He disappeared. Two-day Search A general alarm was sounded both inside and outside the prison, but it then took dozens of searchers nearly two days and nights of continuous searching to find him. I Like the Mount Eden I

“escape” of the convicted murderer, Angelo La Mattina, some years ago, the prisoner had gone to earth within the prison. Although naturally pleased they found their quarry, the warders were not altogether happy with other discoveries they made. They found a vast network of underground drains, cells which had been used years ago for storing whale oil for lighting purposes, fresh-water

drinking wells and many curious passages which could have proved ideal L hiding all sorts of things—and people—away. The prison was built by convict labour during the 1840 s and took its first inmates in 1848. Although various bits and pieces have been built on and some alterations made, most of the prison has been unchanged since it was built.

From what authorities can discover, the original plans to the underground works, which have only just been found again, had been destroyed for security purposes when the gaol was first built. Now, steps are being taken to ensure that security at the prison is stepped up just in case any other adventurous prisoner at Parramatta gets an urge to hide himself away.