BID FOR LIBERTY.

North Otago Times, Volume CIII, Issue 13651, 19 August 1916, Page 6

BID FOR LIBERTY.

PRISONERS ATEMPT TO BREAK , GAOL. SENSATIONAL INCIDENT AT WELLINGTON. (Tor Press Associntion.) WELLINGTON, August 17. ■Several ])i'isoni'i's iii the Terrace Gaol savagely attacked a warder a few days ago, placing Mni hois do combat temporarily. Securing his keys they hail passed two or three doors when they were detected by another warder, who gave the alarm, and' in the nick of timo the would-be escapees were over-power-ed nwl placed in tlieii; cells The men will appear at the Mngislrah's Court to-morrow, The incident occurred with dramatic, suddenness on Saturday afternoon.' Three oC the men concerned have long sentences, one of tliem being reported, to be a "lifer." The fourth was only' in for a short .period, but was induced, by the others.to join in a conspiracy to secure freedom, The four were engaged with other prisoners in the workroom where manufacturing operations are carried on, When the outbreak occurred, the others looked on without interfering. 'As far as can be gathered, at a preconcerted signal a rush was made on the warder, who was supervising operations, and he was struck a heavy blow on the head with some improvised weapon, so that he fell senselqss to the tlo(fr, His keys, were then'.taken from him, and a rush made downstairs to the outer door. A key was fitted into it, but it was also locked on the outside, so that the prisoners were [foiled. Back upslairs again they tore in desperate anxiety, and after passing., through the inner door endeavoured to get across,to another part of tlia gaol, from which they hoped to make, tin exit, but the door they had to get through was also double-locked, communication from the other side being necessary, All this, of course, could not -take, place without indications of 'tumult,. •and sounds nf disorder were heard in other parts of the gaol. As'the men, were searching- rnijinl (for other avenue? of escape, a number of warders suddenly hroke in, and speediiy overpowered the culprits, placing them in special cells. ' . The desperate attempt to secure, liberty did not occupy much time, and tlicwarder who had been attacked soon recovered consciousness without showing signs of any serious injury,