AN ESCAPEE

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 17, 20 July 1921, Page 6

AN ESCAPEE

COMMITS THEFT AT LOWER HUTT

THEN MAKES FOR INVERCARGILL.

On 2nd Junq laat a young man. named William Henry Grant, who was serving a sentence of three years' reformative treatment at the Point Halswell Prison, made off after finishing work for the day. He disappeared altogether for some time, but was recently unearthed at Invercargill. Grant appeared before Messrs. I. Salefc and W. Teasdale, J.P.s, in the Magistrate's Court to-day, to answer, a "charge of escaping from legal confinement. Ho was also charged that on 7th June he committed theft from the dwelling of Bichard Edward Morrison, Lower Hutt, of a £1 note, 18s in silver, and a quantity of jewellery and other articles, of a total value of £20.

Chiof-Delecfcive Ward conducted tho case for the police-; accused was not represented by counsel. • Chief-Detective Ward said that on 2nd June the accused escaped from Point Halswell Prison, later paid a visit to Lower Hutt, and stole the articles mentioned in the charge. He then proceeded to Invercargill, where he was arrested.

Jeremiah Charles Scanlon, gaoler, who is in charge of the Point Halswell Prison", said that accused had been m custody since 21st December, 1920. Ho waa undergoing a sentence of three years' reformative detention.

Charles Weybourne, a warder in tho employ of the ■ Prisons Department at Wellington, said that on 2nd June last he was in charge of a gang of six prisoners, one of whom was tho accused. The prisoners were engaged on building construction, and they ceased work about 3.30 o'clock. Witness saw the accused about that hour,, but at 3.40 he .was missing. An unsuccessful 1 search wa9 made. Witness also missed his hat.

Detective-Sergeant Andrews said that on 15th July lie charged the accused with the offence, and the latter made a statement admitting' that he had escaped from Point Halswell prison.

Edward Richard Morrison, a casing maker by occupation, who resides at Fitz-herberfc-street, Lower Hutt, said that during week-clays both himself and his wife woro absent from the house. The window* were never locked. On Tuesday, 7th June, witness called homo about 12.15 p.m. and when he left for his work again everything appeared to bo in order. On returning home, witness found that-the clothing and drawers in the front room had been disturbed. The front window was open. Under tho bod. the witness found a pair of well-worn boots. Witness knew tho accused as a bread carter at Lower Hutt , .'■'.■■

Dotective-Sorgeant Andrews deposed that accused had made a statement admitting the theft of the articles.

Accused pleaded guilty, and was commit ted to the Supreme Court for sentence.