AN ESCAPE FROM GAOL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 878, 28 December 1888, Page 1

AN ESCAPE FROM GAOL.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, December 22. Thomas Gleeson, a prisoner awaiting his trial for burglary, escaped last night from gaol. From what has been ascertained it appears that at 10 o’clock last Dight the warders on duty found everything apparently safe, and so reported to the gaoler. At 10.30, on the cells being visited, it was found that Gleeson’s was unoccupied. The alarm was at cnee given and the gaol yard and surroundings searched, but no trace of the escapee found. An examination of the cell showed that Gleeson had made bis way out by outting the end of one of the bars across his cell window, and then removing the other end by force. He was thus enabled to reach the recreation ward. Here, by the aid of a bench which he had placed against the wall, he managed to scramble to the top unobserved by the night watchman. From the wall, the top of which is covered with broken glass let in cement, Gleeson. mast have dropped 28ft either into the gaol street or the vacant land adjoining it, and so regained his liberty. The out in the bar across’ the window is the work of a knife or some sinilar instrument, and the iron in the bar is very soft, but the work of cutting it must have been very long and laborious. While Gleeson was engaged in this work he must have saved some grease or fat from dinner, and used this to hide his handiwork, as only the most minute inspection would reveal the faot that the bar had been tampered with. Gleeson was very scantily dressed, as he only had on a flannel singlet aud moieskin-trousers, and had no boots. Ho was committed for trial on the 7th November, and has been ,in gaol ever since. He has not spent the whole time in one cell,, but .has occupied the one from which he escaped for several weeks. He is between IS and 19. When arrested, he was employod as a stock-rider, and he is a native of Auckland. This is the first time a prisoner has escaped here by breaking gaol, although several have escaped while at .work, dt is also the first time in the 30 years that Mr Phillips has been gaoler that a prisoner has broken out from a prison under his charge. . Four shops were broken into during tho night, all probably by Gleeson, who has got £4 10s in money, and several changes of clothing. - December 23. The naan Gleeson, who escaped from the gaol, is still at large. No -fresh burglaries are reported from la t night, and it. is believed now that Gleeson has left the vicinity of the town and taken to the country. As he knows very little about it, his capture is expected. An inquiry was held on Saturday by the visiting justice, and the result forwarded to Wellington,