HID FOR A MONTH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 104, 4 May 1937, Page 12

HID FOR A MONTH

A PRISONER'S ORDEAL

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, April 15.

Sought for a month all over New South Wales, a supposed escapee from the Emu Plains Prison Farm, 40 miles west of Sydney, .-was hiding all ■ the time within the prison grounds. He surrendered to the Governor (Mr. Ryan) and told him how he had secreted himself in a cornfield. He had lived on raw corn and scraps from the pigtroughs. Bearded, bedraggled,' and emaciated, the forlorn "escapee" was taken to hospital.

The prisoner, Arthur Edward Semple, 28, vanished on March 8, a few days before he was due for release, and was thought to have escaped to visit a sick sister. During the intensive search for the supposed escapee, several civilians reported that they had: 6een him.

Mr. Eyan said that he was leaving the farm at night for his home when he was accosted by Semple, who was so changed in appearance that Mr. Ryan did not recognise him, although he knew him well.' Mr. Ryan was astonished when Semple said: "I 1 am Semple, the escaped prisoner." Mr. Ryan asked him where he had been during the weeks he was at liberty, and he was amazed when Semple replied that he had never left the farm. He said that he had lived on corncobs during the day, and in the middle of the night had walked over'to the tins which contained the discarded food from the prison camp and had picked out scraps of food. Semple said that he had subsisted that way until he had decided to give himself up. He was feeling weak and depressed and overwhelmed by his pitiable plight.

Mr. Kyan tcok Semple into the prison kitchen and gave him a warm bath and a good meal. A doctor was sent for, and he ordered Semple to be transferred immediately to hospital. When Semple was asked why he had escaped, he had replied that he had thought he had cancer in the mouth and that he was afraid that he would infect other, prisoners if he remained. When Semple was examined by the doctor there was nothing to justify his fears.

Semple was convicted on March 27, 1529, of rape, and he was sentenced to death, the sentence being commuted to imprisonment for ten years. Semple was sent to Emu Plains in October, 1934, and he was regarded as a model prisoner.