ESCAPE FROM PRISON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19940, 8 May 1928, Page 10

ESCAPE FROM PRISON.

LIBERTY FOR OVER A YEAR. DETENTION FOR SIX MONTHS. PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC. Pleading guilty to a charge of escaping from the Auckland prison in December, 1926, Samuel Arthur Purlney, aged 35, had nothing to say :n the Police Court yesterday. Chiet-Detectivo Hammond: Pudney has been declared an habitual criminal. He was serving a sentence of two years' reformative detention when he escaped. He was recently arrested in Masterton, where he was employed on a farm. He had almost finished his term when he escaped. In passing sentence of six months' imprisonment. the magistrate, Mr. F< K. Hunt, said the public had a right to bo protected from such men. THREE BORSTAL INMATES. OFFENCES WHEN AT LIBERTY. SERIES OF THEFT CHARGES. [BY TELEGKAFH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] INVERCARGILL, Monday.'' Three inmates of the Borstal Institution, Herbert Harris Keith Maxfield, Charles Newman and Thomas George Flanagan, appearec in the police Court to-day to face charges of having escaped from custody and other charges arising out of their unlawful acts during the time they were at liberty. Newman was charged on three counts of breaking, entering and theft, and converting a horse to his own use. Maxfield's list was four charges of breaking, entering and theft, three of converting cars to his own use, two of presenting loaded firearms, one of theft and one of discharging a firearm with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Flanagan had preferred against him two charges of breaking, entering and theft, and one of theft.

Newman pleaded guilty to ail indictable charges, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Maxfield pleaded guilty to all indictable charges save that of discharging a firearm with intent to do grievous bodily harm. After hearinc: the evidence, the magistrate said he would give Maxfield the benefit of tho doubt and dismiss that charge. Flanagan pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence.