A PRISON-BREAKER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9632, 12 April 1917, Page 5

A PRISON-BREAKER

CONVICT DORNE IN COURT ADMITS ADDITIONS TO HIS CRIMINAL RECORD. Dressed once again in prison garb, and bearing the mark of his recent privations on his face, John Dome, tho prisoner who escaped from the Mount Cook clay pit on March 17th last, appeared before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. In addition to a charge of escaping from gaol while undergoing five years’ detention for indecent assault. he had two other charges to answer. These were; (1) On March 28th, at Paraparaumu, he did break and enter tho dwellinghousc of Victory Woggory by day and steal therefrom a silver watch and chain, a revolver and cartridges, and other articles valued at £9 10s; (2) on March 28th, at Pukerua he did steal a gun and cartridges from tho dwellinghousc of William Watters.

George H. T. Crook, governor of tho Terraco Gjxol, gave evidence as to accused’s incarceration in that institution in 1916, and his disappearance on March 17fch last. John Lodge, warder at tho Terraco Gaol, said Dome was in. his charge. At 7 a.m. on March 17th, he unlocked the prisoner's cell and handed him over to Warder Conliffe for tho day’s work. Alfred Conliffe, warder at Mount Cook Gaol, said that on March 17th ho took over the prisoner from tho previous witness. He was to work at the clay pits at Mount Cook, ten minutes later was discovered missing from the pits and was not seen until brought hack by tho police a fortnight later. Victory Weggery, farmer at Waikanao, said that on March 29th he left nis house in tho morning. Everything was securely fastened. On his return to the house in the afternoon he nm ticod a few things out of order, hut it was not until later in the evening that he’ discovered tho house had been broken into. . The 1 articles mentioned in the information against accused wore the articles stolen. Asked by His Worship whether he had any questions to put to the witness, the accused replied, with a smile, that he did not think it worth while. Ho would plead guilty. William Waters, living in Aro street, said he had a whare at Pukerua. About March 28th or 29th, when ho visited his whare, he found it had been broken into and a revolver and certificate, produced, were missing. Constable Greggan, of Levin, gave evidence as' to accused’s arrest. On March 31st witness was patrolling tho Hokio beach, when he met accused and arrested him- He was wearing the clothing identified by Mr Weggery. On searching accused he found most .of the missing property. Accused: “When you approached me you saw me taking cartridges out of the gun?” Witness: “I saw you working your hands with the gun. It had no cartridges in it when I arrested you.” This concluded the evidence, and accused, who pleaded guilty, was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence.