ESCAPEES SENTENCED

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 29, 3 August 1923, Page 10

ESCAPEES SENTENCED

DISCIPLINE.AND FOOD AT MOUNT

EDEN CRITICISED.

(BI TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, 2nd August. In the Supreme Court to-day, Bichard Hayes, Charles Ki*;, Eric Burnett, and I^urence Egmont Windsor, who escaped from the Mount Eden Gaol on 6th July, and were recaptured within four days, ■appeared before Mr. Justice Herdman. Each, man was handcuffed, and King vainly appealed to his Honour to have the irons removed. Each prisoner had evidently prepared his "brief," and exhibited sheets of paper with notes thereon. When asked to plead, all four replied, "Guilty, under extenuating circumstances."

"A T°t guilty" his Honour summed up then- plea, more succintly and in proper legal manner.

It was apparent that Hayes had been appointed spokesman of the quartette, for he questioned Chief Warder Glynn regarding the discipline and food at the prison. His Honour at length stopped mm, saving that complaints could be made to th e Department. Hayes addressed the jury, endeavouring to justify the escape by recounting grievances. 4V6t v of guilty wa.s "toned. A further charge against three of the accused was proceeded with—that of breaking, enterine. and theft from a dwelling. Burnett had already confessed to the crime, explaining in a statement that the four broke into the house, discarded their prison clothes, and donned new apparel. The other three pleadjll?^ F ullty to breaking and entering and theft, but admitted receiving. They ■»er a gLven every latitude by his Honour, and subjected some "of the witnesses to tedious and apparently pointless examination. A verdict of guilty was returned

_ All four were sentenced to two years' imprisonment for escaping, and two years for breaking and entering, the rV™ el\°. eS be "concurrent, starting from the expiration of the term of imprisonment now being served.