BOLT FOR FREEDOM

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 187, 6 May 1931, Page 11

BOLT FOR FREEDOM

Prisoners’ Daring Feat

ESCAPE FROM COURT

Handicapped by Handcuffs

PREVIOUS BOLD BIDS

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Auckland, May 5.

Handcuffed together, two young prisoners made a sensational escape from tlie Supremo Court this morning after they had been sentenced to eighteen, months iniprisonmnt by Mr. Justice Smith. They were caught by a constable at tlie foot of Parnell Rise within five minutes.

Their names are Kenneth John Evans, aged 21, and Thomas Douglas Forsyth, aged 25. While awaiting sentence the two accused sat on a bench near the windows in the upstairs court and were talking in an undertone, probably planning their escape. They had ample time to study the lay-out of the grounds, for the court did not sit until after 10 o’clock, and they were kept waiting for fcome time.

■ After they had been sentenced they were, marched—handcuffed together, with a warder from the gaol in front of them and a warder behind—down•stairs into a corridor which leads to the cells. At the foot of the stairs there is a side door which leads Into the court grounds. The door was open. The warder in front turned sharply to the right to lead the way to the cells, when, like a flash, the two prisoners shot through the open door. Down the steep green bank which faces Anzac Avenue they raced, and like hurdlers in perfect unison they leaped over the iron railing and dropped nearly six feet to the pavement below. With perfect timing, never once out of step, they dashed down Constitution Hill and along Beach Road. Warders, policemen and detectives combined in the chase. When the men got to the foot of the hill they turned along Beach Road in the direction of tlie railway station, but they had not gone far before they caught siglß of Constable Marley on his beat. They turned back and raced along the foot of Parnell Rise, but they had not gone far before they were overtaken by Constable Marley, who had commandeered a passing motor-car. That was end of their liberty. , n When the men were being led back to the Supreme Court they passed a motor-car parked on the roadside, and one said to the driver: Where the did you get to with the car t ' It was suggested that the escape had been carefully planned, and that. the men were to be helped to make their escape by the driver of the car. Both accused have previous convictions, and both have escaped from custody before, ■ ■ ; This morning they were sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment on two charges of breaking and entering and one charge of theft of a . moto s' c * r ’ This was the third time that lorsyth has escaped from custody. He had previously broken away from the Hautu prison camp and Mount Eden Gaol. Evans was associated with Jorsyth when the pair recently made a sensational escape from Mount Eden Gaol. At that time they leaped into a car parked near Mount Eden Road and were fortunate enough to find the key ' in the switch and drove away to freedom. Some time later they were caught in the King Country.