PRISONER ESCAPES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 98, 25 April 1912, Page 8

PRISONER ESCAPES.

* HABITUAL 'CRIMINAL. About 3 o'clock this afternoon a pri&oner named' John Lewis, escaped frois the Mount Cook prison works. He was ! working in the brickyard and escaped by climbing the wall. Lewis was recently released from the N-ew Plymouth prison, but 'was only two days a. free man. -when he again came before the Courts. It will be remembered thai the Chief Justice made oome (pointed comment on his exploits. Tne escapee is about 36 years of age, sft Sin in height, and of dark complexion. Parties are out ■endeavouring xo recapture him. ■ WHAT THE CHIEF JUSTICE ,SAID. Addressing the prisontsr, when he was sentenced, _on 17th April, the Chief Justice said : — "You are one of those people who come before the Court from time to time and make one feel that it is difficult to know what to do with you. . After having been declared an habitual criminal, you wero ' released by the Prison Board on 27th March. On 28th March you came to Wellington, and on 29th March yon committed this offence. Conduct like this makeo one despair of .dealing- with people like you. You have»only been in the Dominion, since 1903,.and since then have been convicted five times of theft, once- of forging and' uttering, 'and once of breaking .and entering and theft. You have Deen sentenced, during that time (since 1903) to eight years' imprisonment, and you were granted six months' probation. If you think that you can go on for ever like. this you are quite mistaken." Prisoner interjected, that he had no charge of breaking and entering against him. His Honour : "Itis no use going into past charges. You committed this offence after having been declared a 'habitual criminal and released. You are sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with 'hard labour. When the twelve months are up you must go back to New Plymouth, and serve there until •the board releases you-*-that may be * never."