PRISONERS IN HOSPITAL

Evening Star, Issue 20982, 22 December 1931, Page 8

PRISONERS IN HOSPITAL

CASUAL POLICE MEASURES ALLEGED THE ESCAPE OF WILSON (Bpiccufc to tub Star.’] AUCKLAND, December 22. In tlie course of an editorial tlia 'Herald ’ says: “ The extremely casual fashion in which prisoners are placed in public hospitals for treatment has again been illustrated by the escape from the Auckland Hospital of a man whose record as a dangerous criminal should have warned the authorities against any relaxation of surveillanceThe official attitude seems to be based upon the assumption that even a prisoner sentenced to a long term of hard labour will not sacrifice the comforts of a hospital for the illusory liberty of flight from pursuing wardens and the police, and that there is no need either for a guard or for a warning to the hospital staff. It is even possible, as was recalled recently, for a prisoner to obtain his formal discharge from a hospital and enjoy spurious liberty for nearly three years before ho is found by the police. In spite of that warning official carelessness has again permitted the escape of a prisoner. There is clearly a need' for a review of the system, or lack of it, which makes a public hospital an open door for long-sentence prisoners, and having permitted escape gives the fugitive a generous opportunity to find a safe refuge before the general public is warned to look out for him.” [Thomas William Wilson, aged twenty-six, escaped on Sunday night from Auckland Hospital, to which he had been removed on Thursday from the prison, suffering from an internal trouble. Nobody saw him go. He was in bed at 10 o’clock, and about 10.30 a house adjoining the hospital grounds was entered, presumably by the escapee, and a pair of grey trousers and a black and white cheek coat stolen from’ a balcony room, where two young men were sleeping. Wilson was serving a sentence of five years, imposed at Dunedin by Mr Justice Kennedy for his part in the Rossiter outrage, and the robberies at Dawson and Co.’s and other premises, involving goods worth £4,791. It is_ averred'that during his period in hospital Wilson was not guarded. To all intents and purposes ho was merely an ordinary patient, the hospital authorities not even being aware that he. was a dangerous criminal serving a long termHe was taken to the hospital from the gaol in the prison van and left there. All that the hospital authorities knew was that he was entered on the books as “ Thomas William Wilson, prisoner.” On Sunday Wilson was visited by friends. After tea he seemed to be as usual, and at 9.30 p.m. he was still between’ the blankets. However, . a few minutes later he left his bed wearing only a' shirt, and with a towel wrapped round, his loins he went towards the lavatory/ and that was the last seen of him.] Immediately it was found that he had! escaped the prison and police authorities were notified.]