Roberta's Getaway

NZ Truth, Issue 977, 16 August 1924, Page 3

Roberta's Getaway

HIS COMEDIAN COLLEAGUE.

In connection with the story of Jonathan Roberta's escapes from gaol, published In our last week's Issue, a correspondent who prefers to remain anonymous write 3 "Truth" as follows: "Regarding Roberts's escape from Rlpa Island, I might mention, m order to show how he was assisted by his fel-low-prisoners, that as soon as Jonathan entered the mess shed, one. of the prisoners, who was something of . a comedian, commenced joking with) the guards m the shed 'and held their attention while Roberts got to the Bpot where the' sheet of iron was loose. ,Then,' just as Roberts pushed the iron ÜBide..and was replacing it after, getting; out, another prisoner' made a clatter with his "late m order to distract any attention which .might have been caused by the grating of the iron. The precaution was unnecessary, however, 'as Jonathan was too careful a bird to make any noise, and even the prisoners who were In the joke could hardly realise that he had gone,"