PRISON BREAK

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 30, 5 February 1941, Page 9

PRISON BREAK

THE MEN ON TRIAL

MANY JURYMEN CHALLENGED

COURT VISITS GAOL

(Dy Teleernph—l'ress Association )

AUCKLAND, This Day,

Liberal use of the right to challenge jurymen was exercised by prisoners who were charged in the Supreme Court today before his Honour Mr. Justice Blair that on October 1 they es.caped from the Auckland gaol by violent means and that they rendered three warders incapable of resistance.

The accused included John Henry Silva. against whom therr had been a charge of attempted murder of a warder, but on the suggestion of the Judge the Grand Jury had thrown out the attempted murder charge. Silva pleaded guilty to the two remaining charges.*

The other accused, Allan Roy Duff, Bryan James O'Jlehir, Randall Smith, and David Watson, pleaded not guilty. Duff was represented by counsel, Mr. W. Noble.

Smith exercised the right to challenge jurymen to the number of six, Watson challenged five, and Duff challenged two—every second juryman called being challenged.

Before the hearing; commenced the jury, counsel, and Judge visited the k.'.0l to view the cells and layout of the buildings at the point of the alleged escape.