ESCAPE FROM GAOL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 263, 4 October 1940, Page 6

ESCAPE FROM GAOL

PRISON ADMINISTRATION

MINISTER ANNOYED

(By Telegraph. —Special to Standard.) AVELLINGTON, Oct 4 Question time in the House of Representatives became lively yesterday afternoon when two Opposition members raised points relating to prisons administration, and criticised the nlv of ■ Dr. AlcMillau (Minister in Charge of Prisons) who in turn was called to order by Air Speaker lor including in his answer matters of con- “ What steps does tlie Alinister propose to take to prevent a recurrence of the dastardly assault ° n ,X , ' ar . <ie li s A l * the Auckland gaol recently, asked M W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo), who also wished to know if prisoners are in to-, turo to be allowed to wear civilian clothes in working hours, thus intensifying the difficulty of the police in recapturing escaped prisoners. Dr. AlcAlillan replied that the re cent prison break from Mount Eden was being investigated by the authorities. and if it was revealed that there had been any relaxation of the customary vigilance, the necessary remedial steps would be taken. The routine.prescribed over the 7nai3t decade had been observed at Alount Eden. When the Alinister touched on the reference to prisoners being permitted to wear civilian clothes he remarked: “It is to be regretted that the hon. gentleman did not state his facts accurately—an omission which will occasion no surprise to members.” Air Speaker: Order ! Expressions of opinion of that sort are really not in place in a Alinisterial statement. Air S. G. Holland: Provide them with a motor-car as well, and they won’t want to steal one. The Alinister pointed out that the escaped prisoners wore prison clothes, but that rather increased the danger to lives and property as an escaped prisoner of bad character would desperately need private clothes v and would commit burglary with violence to get them. Finally, Dr. AlcAlillan criticised newspaper editors for their comment on the incident, declaring that it was interesting to observe the irresponsible way in which editors with the utmost abandon were apportioning the blame, and making the most dogmatic statements in regard to the regrettable occurrence. POINT OF ORDER.

Air Broadfoot raised a point of order. His question, he said, was to ascertain if it were a fact that prisoners in future were to be allowed to wear private clothes. Mr Speaker: The Alinister has replied. Air Broadfoot: His usual dirty reply. The Prime Alinister: Perhaps he is not satisfied with the length of the Minister’s reply. Air Broadfoot: I am not satisfied with your Alinister. He gave notice to ask the Minister of Prisons for a return showing the length of term served by persons convicted of murder and sentenced to death when the sentence has been commuted by the Executive Council to life imprisonment, presumably for mitigating circumstances. “If sentence of death is to be commuted in every case of persons convicted of murder,” concluded Air Broadfoot, “will the Alinister consider the application of the cat of nine-tails as a deterrent?”

Mr Speaker commented that a member in asking for a return should not add notes. Mr W. A. Bodkin gave notice to ask the Minister if it were a fact that young lads sentenced to reformative detention were permitted to associate in prison with criminals of the worst type as evidenced by the recent Auckland escape, and Air Broadfoot gave notice to ask the Minister for a return showing the length of term served by persons convicted of murder and duly sentenced to death when the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment through presumably mitigating circumstances. If the sentence of death were to be commuted in every case of persons convicted of murder, would the Minister consider the application of the cat of nine-tails as a deterrent.

SEARCH FOR PRISONERS.

HID ON LARGE PROPERTY

EVIDENCE OF THEFTS,

Per Press Association

AUCKLAND, Oct. 3,

The four prisoners, who made a sensational escape from the Auckland Prison early on Tuesday evening, are still at large. It is thought likely that the prisoners, after dashing from a car in Crowhurst Street, Newmarket, at 6.15 on Tuesday evening, made their way along the railway line and climbed up. a clay bank to gain the rear of Mrs West’s house in Ayr Street, from whose property an overcoat, a cardigan, a pair of "socks, and a tomahawk were stolen, and that till early this morning they remained in the vicinity of the foreshore between Judge’s Bay and Hobson Bay. Large numbers of police thoroughly searched this locality all day yesterday, without finding any trace of the fugitives, who evidently watched the proceedings from their place of hiding. There is good reason to believe that last night the escaped prisoners camped on Air Alartin Wilson’s property of 17 acres, and that they lay in hiding not many yards away from a large circular 6ummer-house, in which two constables were keeping vigil for the fugitives. FORTUNATE DISCOVERY.

It was because of a discovery made by Air Wilson at 8 o’clock last night that a number of police were rushed to his place to search for the prisoners. “After listening to a radio message at 8 o’clock, warning owners of all cars to remove the keys from the ignition switches, I went out to my garage to take my switch key out,” said Air Wilson this morning. “I did not take a torch with me, and I did not have a match. The garage doors were open. 1 went into the garage and was surprised to find that the key had been removed from my big sedan. Then I got a further surprise to a find a large, brand new axe lying on the rear seat of the car. This was my own iaxe and it had been taken from the toolshed in the garage. I immediately telephoned the police and a posse of men was sent out. Two of them stayed all night and waited in the summer-house at the back of the garage, but they saw no sign of the prisoners.” This morning shortly after 6 o’clock about 20 detectives and constables in the charge of Sub-Inspector Hall arrived at Air Wilson’s house and made a close search of the property, which affords good cover in some long grass. Under a tree on the top of a steep cliff above the sea in Hobson Bav the police found three pairs of trousers, two pairs of prison socks, and a tomahawk. The nearby grass had been stamped down, indicating that the prisoners had spent some time there. The

prison clothes were wet through. Two overcoats were found to have been stolen from Air AVilson’s garage. It is possible that other articles of clothing were also, taken.