PLOT BY PRISONERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19626, 3 May 1927, Page 12

PLOT BY PRISONERS.

attempt to escape:. , FRUSTRATED BY WARDERS. SIGNALS FROM A MOTOR-CAR. An ingenious, well-planned scheme by three of the most desperate long-sentence prisoners to escape from the gaol at Bathurst, New South Wales, was frustrated by the vigilance of the gaol officials on a recent evening. The prisoners, occupying adjacent cells, had planned to secure possession of a keythat would open one of the cell doors. The scheme was that one of the prisoners would then call a warder, and while die latter was engaged in conversation, the prisoner with the key should open the door of the cell, overpower the warder, rob him of his keys, release a number i'f accomplices, escape through a hole in the roof prepared., for the occasion, and then decamp in a motor-car, which would be waiting for the prisoners outside. One of the warders, while inspecting one of the upstairs cells when the prisoners were at work, discovered, neatly hidden in a corner of the cell, a length of twisted wire about 18in. long. He acquainted the governor of the gaol of his find, and he was instx-ucted to replace the wire and keep the cell under surveillance. The occupant of the cell had been employed within the gaol as an electrician, and had recently installed additional lights. In carrying out the work lie had occasion to cut a manhole through the ceiling at one spot, and it is believed that this probably was regarded by him as likely to facilitate escape. The guard was doubled., and the development of plans was watched intently. At eight o'clock on the evening in question a prisoner in this wing knocked and called for the warder, who, responding, fully armed, noticed that in the door of the suspected cell a key had been ingeniously inserted by means of a wire, and that violent efforts were being made by the occupant to open it. Sufficient leverage could not be obtained with the wire to turn the key, which was removed by the official. A posse of armed police was secreted outside the gaol to await the arrival of expected accomplices. A long-sentance man, having served his time, had been released a few days previously, and it was believed that he would make arrangements for the rescue of his friends. Exactly on time the watchers were rewarded by observing; the headlights of a motor-car flashing signals from a point about a quarter of a mile from the gaol. Unaware of the frustration of their plans, the accomplices, approached the gaol with all lights extinguished. Nearmg the institution, and in the absence of return signals from the gaol, the motorist accelerate*! speed and raced past the gates of the institution without stopping. Efforts to stop, the car proved futile, though several shots were fired. The car carried no number plate. It was afterwards discovered that a supply of civilian clothes had been stolen from the tailor's shop in the gaol and planted at a convenient spot. As a result of an inquiry the thres prisoners were punished, and transferred to Parramatta Gaol, where discipline is more severe. The governor of the gaol said it was the first time in his knowledge that such a happening had occurred iii Bathurst Gaol.