FATALLY WOUNDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18862, 10 November 1924, Page 9

FATALLY WOUNDED.

CHRISTIE DIES IN HOSPITAL.

ESCAPE FRUSTRATED.

SHOT BY GAOL WARDER.

NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL CAREER.

The notorious criminal, Joseph Thomas Christie, who was shot by a warder while attempting to escape from Mount Eden gaol on Friday, succumbed to his wounds on Saturday morning in the Auckland Hospital.

Christie's end was consistent with his life. He took the slender chance and by a combination of bluff and daring all but succeeded in effecting another dramatic escape from prison. From particulars now available it appears that the warder had Christie covered with his rifle from the time the prisoner topped the wall and dropped to the ground until he reached a corner round which he would have been beyond the warder's range and observation. It was only when every other method of stopping the prisoner had been exhausted that the shot was fired.

Christie was confined in what is termed the stone yard, a strong enclosure inside the eastern walls, where the prisoners are employed making concrete blocks. Sheds for holding material are placed along the walls of the yard. The yard is guarded by armed warders, one at each end, who occupy elevated platforms from which they can view the interior as well as the walls of the enclosure. In addition, a warder remains in the yard in charge of the prisoners.

Warder's Warning Ignored. On Friday, about 4.30 p.m., Christie was observed by the sentry at the western end of the yard on the roof of the shed at the eastern end. The prisoner had a piece of scantling which he placed against the corner of the wall. He clambered up the scantling and reached the top, only to find himself covered by the rifle of the sentry at the eastern end at a distance of about twenty yards. Undeterred by the sentry's challenge, Christie dropped to the ground outside and dashed for the cover of some bushes. He was still covered by the sentry, who called to him to go back, Christie signalled that he would return, evidently with the idea of bluffing the sentry. To reach the outside corner of the wall meant a dash of about ten yards and the desperate man took the chance. As ho reached the corner the sentry fired for the fleeing man's legs. He, was shooting downwards, and one of the pellets lodged in the lower portion of the back. Christie was also wounded in the elbow and the upper part of the leg. The wounded man was conveyed to the gaol infirmary and attended to by Dr C. H. Tewsley, who had been summoned. Subsequently the prison surgeon, Dr. D. N. W. Murray, took charge of the case and at 11.30 p.m. ordered Christie's removal to the Auckland Hospital. An inquest was opened before Mr. ±. K. Hunt, S.M., on Saturday and adjourned till to-day. Early Bent Toward Crime. Christie's tragic death at the ago of 29 closes a career that was early shaped toward criminal channels. His education and personality were such that notwithstanding his criminal record he succeeded in convincing the authorities on more than one occasion that he was insane. He started on his criminal career at an early age, specialising in safe-blowing and in the theft of motor-cycles. Toward the end of 1913, when serving a sentence in Mount Eden Gaol, Christie made his first breakaway from prison. His period of freedom on that occasion was brief. He was recaptured on the day of his escape. Subsequently he was pronounced insane and was transferred to the Mental Hospital. He escaped from that institution and for some time made the Wellington district the scene of his activities. Convicted of theft at Wellington and declared an habitual criminal he was sent by train to Auckland. When nearing his destination the elusive prisoner effected a dramatic escape from the train, but was recaptured some days later at Balmoral Road. Christie was again committed to the Mental Hospital and for a time conformed to the regulations of the institution. He finally broke away in 1918 and managed to cross to Sydney. Associated with two other New Zealand criminals he engaged in a number of burglaries in which safeblowing figured prominently. Christie was captured when the trio were carrying out a burglary at the Balmain Cooperative Stores and served a sentence for the offence.

Swim from Steamer to Shore.

At the conclusion of his term in gaol Christie was placed on board the Manuka to return to New Zealand. When the vessel arrived at Wellington Christie made a characteristic and dramatic escape, getting away unobserved and swimming to the shore. He immediately returned to Australia and made Melbourne his headquarters. Convicted of an offence in that city he was sentenced to two years* imftnsonment but was there pronounced nsane and transferred to the Kew Mental Hospital. He soon escaped from that institution and was nest heard of in New Zealand. Last year he was being escorted by the police from Wellington to Lyttelton and on approaching the wharf at the latter port jumped overboard. He swam to the breakwater, nearly a mile away, but was recaptured as he landed. He was convicted on a charge of breaking and entering at Dunedin last November and sentenced to a term of 15 years' imprisonment. He had served 'just one year of that sentence when he met his death.