ESCAPE FROM PRISON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18458, 23 July 1923, Page 8

ESCAPE FROM PRISON.

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ROPE OF KNOTTED BLANKETS DROP, FROM WATCH TOWER, '■■;'' V' \ 11hi.<i' nut ■ "_ *"• '-I *:'■•. DISAPPEARANCE IN DENSE FOG. A daring escape from the Mount Eden Gaol wis made early; on Saturday morning by a prisoner 'named Frank Ballar. The man . let ■, himself [down : from the top ;of a watch --tower ; by means of knotted blankets; crossed to the outer wall, and jumped to the which, at that point, was fairly soft. The height from the ground to the top of the watch tower is about 50ft. The alarm was given almost ; immediately, but Ballar was I favoured by a thick fog,, and upto an J early hour this morning bad not been reI captured. ' .■ ■ ■'"'■'! Ballar had been released from his cell about '6.30 a.m., as ib ..'vis part ot ms duty -to help in serving breakfast to tho other prisoners. Seizing an opportunity when he was not under observation, he slipped away, making for the old, unused watch tower. Marks in the ground showed where he had jumped down, and his footsteps were traced for some distance. The prisoner ran a great risk of being seen, as the spot where he made his escape is omy a short distance from two warders' houses. The blankets by - which he let himself down were discovered I hanging from the wall. ' The next information in regard to Ballar* s movements ishows that he entered a house in Liverpool Street on Saturday evening and effected & change of clothing, leaving his prison garb on the premies. The suit he took was of grey j tweed. He was chased from Liverpool i Street by. the occupier of the house, who j called upon another man to help him, but the latter did not do so. Ballar kept i ahead of his pursuer, and in the vicinity of Myers Park he vanished, and the chase had to be abandoned. ; The; escaped man is 21 years of age, and is/sft. 7iin. in height. He has a fresh complexion, inclined to be freckled, fair hair, and blue eyes. He carries a ! scar on the right side of his face, and there are others on his ** left foerarm, thumb, and middle finger* Ballar was sentenced at Gisborne in June to tHree months* hard labour fat theft, and three months for escaping cuS T tody, to be followed by three years' reformative treatment. The escaped man is a taxicab driver. Own era of motor cars are warned to be , careful not to allow any opportunity of their cars being stolen.