PRISONERS AS “GUESTS”

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 May 1931, Page 8

PRISONERS AS “GUESTS”

COMEDY OF FRENCH PRISON. "parts, March 21. The escape from ' the prison of Evreux of a convict named Delannoy, lias lead to some curious revelations concerning life in certain, provincial p 'Rons in France. Delannoy walked out of his cell, and after opening two doors in the corridor, climbed to freedom over the outer prison wall, which is eighteen feet high. The climb was comparatively easy with the aid of a rope, one end of which, it is believed, was held by someone outside the prison wall. It would appear that some of the warders at Evreux were accustomed to treat their prisoners as guests of the Republic rather than as convicted criminals. On occasions when a warder took a few hours off duty, he left the keys in the cell door. It was understood, of course, that the prisoner might 1 stretch his legs- up and down the in the absence of the warders, but he was certainly not expected to walk out of prison. Delanney did; and he did it so easily that one of the warders is now to answer a charge of culpable negligence in Delannoy’s escape.

The convict is once more under lock and key, and the other inhabitants of Evicaux prison have been brought to realise Chat they.are not in an hotel but in gaol.

The whole affair has led to a demand for the tightening up of French prison regulations.