PRISON ESCAPEES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 208, 1 August 1928, Page 3

PRISON ESCAPEES.

APPEARANCE IN COURT. AUCKLAND, July 30. Frank Bailer, aged 26, and John Leslie Buckley, aged 25, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court dock to-day on trial for offences committed after their sensational escape from Mount Eden Gaol of May 25 last. They were charged with the theft of clothing valued at £3 on May 26; unlawfully converting a boat valued at £8 to their own use; and stealing a sail, blankets, cooking utensils, lamp-and foodstuffs worth a total of £7. They were further charged with stealing food and a tent valued at £lO on May 27. Buckley alone was also charged with breaking and entering on June 28 the dwelling of Margaret Patterson and stealing jewellery and a suitcase of a total value of £33; on June 30 he was charged , with breaking and entering the house of Professor Algie, Remuera Road,, and stealing 40 gramophone records, a string of pearls, a wristlet watch and £1 5s in money, of a total value of £3O 15s. Further,,he was charged with breaking and entering the house of Isabella Wliitelaw and stealing seven frocks and an electric iron of a total value of £33.

Neither had anything to say, and both pleaded guilty. On the indictable charges they were committed to the Supremo Court for sentence; on the summary charge of converting a dinghy to their own use each was convicted and discharged. To two ladies who described the manner in which their houses had been entered, Buckley offered his apologies. “I’m sorry, lady, for all the trouble I caused,” he said. After Professor Algie had given evidence Buckley asked if an order could be made for the £1 13s found in his possession when he was recaptured to be handed to the servant girl employed at the professor’s house. “She seems to be the poorest of the people whose houses I ransacked and I understand it was her money I took.”