PRISON BREAK FAILS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 258, 28 July 1945, Page 9

PRISON BREAK FAILS

Would-Be Escapee Falls

From Wall

(By I’eleigriLpli.— it-ess Assueintiun.i AUCKLAND, July 26.

A daring attempt by two prisoners to escape from Auckland jai] shortly alter 11 o’clock last nijit was frustrated when one of them. Herbert Harris Keith Maxfield, fell several feet while sealing a stone wall and injured both legs. The other prisoner, Randall Reginald David Smith, who is serving n life sentence for murder, is stilted to have abandoned his attempt to go any further and notified the warders when he saw that Maxfield was incapacitated. Aiaxiield was taken to iAuckland Hospital and Smith was taken haek iuto custody. Both men have featured previously in escapes from Auckland Prison. The prisoners had been, in their separate cells some hours before they broke out, and no information was available today as to how the men imide their way out of their quarters, though if is known they left by the doors. After they got outside an attempt was made to scale the high stone wall. Maxfield lost his grip and fell several feet, injuring both ankles. He was unable td walk and Smith is believed to have called the warders as soon as his companion fell. The wall is in a confined area and had the prisoners been able to climb over it they would still have had to scale the outer wall before they were clear of the prison. It is understood there wore three warders on duty nt file time. Two .were patrolling each wing and the third was on duty in the oiiice. M’hen file warders saw the extent of Maxfield’s injuries to his feet, an ambulance wns called and lie was taken to Auckland Ilospilal. where his feet were manipulated and set in piaster. A prison warder has since been guarding him iu a cell at the hospital. It is expected he will he able to return to prison within a few days.

It is possible some person outside the prison had a'part in tlie planning of the attempted escape, and some ground for this belief is given by the fact that early on M’ednesday evening the small wooden premises of tlie Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society in Khyber Pass Road, a short distance from tlie prison, were broken into and a search made for men's clothing. It is not known whether anything was stolen. The intruders entered by breaking a window at the back of tlie building.