DARING ESCAPE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20330, 11 February 1928, Page 9

DARING ESCAPE.

FROM COUNTRY LOCKUP. A NEW ZEALANDER INVOLVED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 3. A New Zealander, James Atkinson, and Lionel Horton, figured this week in one of the most daring escapes in gaol history. Taking well-nigh unbelievable risks, man broke into the Wollongong Lockup, smashed two padlocks .on cell doors, another on a backyard door, got the prisoners away—and nobody heard a sound. For some nights before the escape the nrisoners had sung until a late hour, and beat time with their tin drinking cups. Apparently this was the plan decided upon to drown the noise ot tho escape, which was to be made later. All this stealthy planning was in vain, for the prisoners were recaptured before 24 hours had elapsed, and when searched each was found to be in possession of a hacs saw. It is apparently not a difficult accomplishment to enter the actual precincts of the lockup. It could be managed, it is said, simply by climbing a gate, but once there there was the difficulty of gaining entry to the floor on which the cells occupied by the prisoners are situated. The assistant, or assistants, from outside must have worked with infinite patience to bend a strong iron bar which enabled them to drop down to the cell floor. To bend that bar and tear it from its socket the police believe terrific leverage must have been exerted with some exceedingly powerful instrument. The theory is that the lockup was entered in the darkest hours of the morning. But frequent ielays would have been caused in the task of the outside men by the regular visits to the cells of the lockup keeper’s assistant, a constable. It is considered to be beyond doubt that outside helpers gained an entrance to the building over a gate from the back lane. This is the gate through which it is the custom to take prisoners.

A theory in Wollongong to account for the quick trip to Gosford, many miles away, where the prisoners were earrested, is that outside helpers or conspirators had a car waiting in the lane. Immediately the escape was discovered urgent preparations were made for i search, and all surrounding stations were warned, but the two men made the of their start, and, it is thought, were on their way to Gosford before a strong cordon was drawn around Wollongong. The re-arrest was made in sensational circumstances. Two constables were patrolling the Gosford district in a cycle and sidecar outfit, paying particular attention to the area where Horton was caught on January 12. The constables scoured the district, and finally found their men on a bush track and gave chase. Both men admitted their identity. Atkinson was arrested at Port Kembla on January 5, and his apprehension started a train of inquiries which resulted in three other arrests, including Horton, and the recovery of £IOOO worth of ~oods, proceeds of about a dozen robberies in south coast towns. The escapees were on remand on several charges-of breaking and entering. In the ordinary course of events they would have appeared before the court at Wollongong the day after they made their escape; So much attention has been paid to Wollongong by burglars that the Retail Traders’ Association decided recently to employ two night watchmen, and the Commissioner of Police was so impressed with the daring that had been displayed that he strengthened the police force in the town. As it has turned out it would seem that there was certainly some justification for the commissioner’s precautions.