GAOL BREAKING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7190, 7 January 1902, Page 3

GAOL BREAKING.

SENSATION AT WANGANUT,

Wanganui, January 0. A sensational case of gaol breaking occurred this afternoon, when four wait-ing-trial prisoners made their escape from the local gaol. The hard labour gang were away, working on Cook's Gardens, the gaoler was engaged at the Court, and only two warders were left in charge of Stir: institution. From what can be gathered, it appears that at about 3 o'clock Warder Steele called the prisoner?, wlio were out in the yrrd, to come in. They obeyed him, "but no sooner had they entered the door fhan two of them—McDonald and another assaulted the warder, knocked him down and then shoved him into one of the cells immediately banging the sprint lock door. Having got Steele out of the way, the desperate men next turned their attention to acting-Warder Redmond who was overpowered and hurried into another cell. Darin? the scuffle Steelo dropped his keys and one of the other prisoners not implicated in the escapade unlocked the gaol door and ran across to Cook's Gardens to notify the warders what had happened. Steele, findiii" himself trapped, broke the window of the cell and shouted until he attracted the attention of a p-isoncr who was employed outside. The man. hearing the noise, ran over to the gaoler's house and informed the matron The matron immediately came across bringing with her the gaoler's key*. She sew several prisoners standing about the door, and from them she learned what had occurred. Sin then re/eased the pent-up warders. Stecle's keys were subsequently found on (he door of the store room, where iho escapees, no doubt in search of arms and plain clothes, had visited, but had not suceeedwl in opening. Previous to the warder's release a long sentence prisoner had telephoned to the police station and given the alarm, l.pon hearing what had occurreu. the gaoler and every available man of the police force immediately started m pursuit. All the surroundin" country was thoroughly searched, but the escapees had the advantage of a good start and the rough country in which to hide, lhree of the men are supposed to have maue for the open country seawards behind therai-eeoiirse, and one of them is sn pposed to have been seen crossing the river in a canoe- in the vicinity of Putiki. The. names of the four men are—McDonald, waiting trial for alleged burglary at Bnnnythorpe ; Moore, waiting trail for cattle stealing at Feilding ; Ihtirston and Howard, waiting trial for robbery from the person at Wanganui.