A BID FOR LIBERTY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17251, 19 August 1916, Page 7

A BID FOR LIBERTY.

SENSATIONAL OCCURRENCE AT WELLINGTON GAOL. WARDER SANDBAGGED. [Per .Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 18. ' Sensational evidence was heard at the Magistrate's Court- to-day, when George Crowther, Hector M’Lcan, Cliarles Hazeclline and John Oamphell Birch, the four prisoners who made an attempt to escape from the Terrace. Gaol on Saturday last, were charged with intent to commit a crime in that thev did, bv violent means, render •Charles Edward Spitta.il* a warder, incapable of resistance. The evidence showed that M’Lean attacked Spit-tall while the latter was attending to the radiator in the room in which the clothes are made. : One of the other prisoners also assisted him,, and Spittall was rendered unconscious. When ho came to he was hound And gagged, but- he managed to crawl on his hands and knees to the electric -warning boll. . Assistance oame,. and the prisoners wero recaptured in tho storeroom at the point of a revolver. They bad opened one door and had forced open another, but. they still had: two doors to force before- regaining ■ their liberty. The assault was evidently committed with sandbags, two of which wero produced in Court. .Y The prisoners pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial.