PRISONER'S ESCAPADE

Evening Star, Issue 19951, 22 August 1928, Page 9

PRISONER'S ESCAPADE

FIVE HOURS OH ROOF At Waltou Prison, Liverpool, recently A prisoner, aged about 20, from the mental observation ward, climbed a drain pipe and gained access to the roof. Ha defied all efforts to recapture him for about five horn's, choosing as bis “retreat” the domed cupola on (ha roof of tho highest building. Ho discarded his bools and his clothing with the exception of bis trousers, and proceeded to entertain tho large crowd which had gathered outside tho prison walls. Warders brought out a fire hose aud turned it on to the man in the hope that tho drenching would induce him to -lesoend. Ho took no notice, and tho use of the hose was discontinued for (ho time

The man displayed remarkable agility, and warders, m order to move about with equal speed, removed their bouts also. Ho clambered up aud down lofty chimneys, spouts, and ventilators, but seemed to concentrate -his attention chiefly on tho largo cupula 18ft high. Ho sat upon the ball at tho lop of it and waved his arms aud legs with complete indifference to danger. Ho juggled with some metal rods and balls taken from the tops of ventilators, and waved ami threw kisses to the crowd. He also .climbed tho tallest chimney stack, scraped his hands down inside, aud appeared to black his face, after which lie took tho top off one of tins chimneys shaped like a crown, and, striking a dignified attitude, crowned himself. Later the fire hoso was turned on lie man again. The wet roofs made it difficult for him to-move about with bare feet as tho slate became slipper}', and three or four warders, armed with ropes, then w-t out in pursuit of the man, and closed in on him from several directions. The man threw a large slate at one of the warder*, but missed him. After being chased over the roof by wardens he was eventually persuaded to give himself up. He was in sa exhausted state, and, being unable to use the ladder, w-as lowered from the roof by a rope. ■