ATTACK ON WARDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19976, 19 June 1928, Page 9

ATTACK ON WARDER.

BLINDFOLDED AND GAGGED. TWO NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS. PLAN OF ESCAPE FAILS. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY, Juno 12. A daring plan of escape was conceived bv two of Melbourne's most desperate criminals who were serving indeterminate sentences. While waiting in the underground cells of the Melbourne Law Courts for their appeals to be called on, they attacked a warder as he entered their cell. They blindfolded him and trussed him up with a towel and two handkerchiefs, and threatened to murder him there and then if he did not keep quiet. The warder concerned was A. 11. Bennett, from whom the prisoners took the keys of the cell. The two prisoners had not gone far when Warder Bennett, by a superhuman effort, removed a gag and his muffled cries for help were heard by another warder who was attending to a third prisoner. This warder called to his comrade, and receiving no answer, grew suspicious. He found the other warder in a semi-conscious condition, suffering sonsiderably from the rough treatment he had received. A further examination revealed that he was not seriously injured. The audacity of the scheme of escape is its most remarkable feature, but the record of the prisoners was such that it did not surprise the authorities. The cells in which the attack was made are situated below the' court-room, and both the cells and the corridors which surround them are poorly lit. The prisoners were taken down to the warders' room and then through another door to the cells. One of these cells is extremely dark. The plan of the prisoners was evidently to induce the warder, by some means or other, to open the door which would have enabled them to escape. The keys they had already taken from the warder would have enabled them to complete their plan. Needless to say the prisoners' appeal was not heard that day. They were discovered attempting to open one of the doors, and had they been more familiar with the layout of the building they may have made good their escape. As it was they were placed under special escort and returned to gaol. They were subsequently charged with attempting to escape and with having assaulted a warder.