ESCAPE FROM CAMP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 8

ESCAPE FROM CAMP

PRISONERS' ADVENTURE BURGLARY FOLLOWS THEFT OF CAR fpEB United Press Association) , • WANGANUI, Feb. 5. As the result of a night escapade by prisoners at the Waikune Prison Camp and a burglary at M'Kee's store at Owhango on the night of December 7, two prisoners, named Lindsay Edist Edward Garner, aged 27, and Albert Harris, aged 36, were charged with breaking and entering the store and stealing a cash register containing £l2, two cases of.butter and a quantity of tobacco and stores valued at £lO4 10s 3d, and also with converting to their own use a motor car, valued at £398, the property of Mr L. J. D. Bayfield. Warder Bissett described how small pieces of wood were cut from a door jamb, so that the doors could.be opened from within. The prisoners were locked in their huts, at 7.30 p.m. and released at 6.30 in the morning. It was 10 days after the robbery that he noticed the condition of the doors. M'Kee, the storekeeper, said that the Yale lock on his front door was forced. Most of the stolen goods had been recovered, but not the money. ■■■■■.■.' t Both prisoners admitted taking part in .the robbery. Harris, who is serving two years at Waikune, said that there were about 10 or 12 other prisoners at the Whakapapanui Camp, ; each' : having a separate wooden hut. It was decided by the accused and three others to break ■into M'Kee's store at Owhango. On the evening of December 7, while the prisoner was with the warder Bissett in the garden, a prisoner referred to as "No. 1," cut a piece.of wood out of the door of the prisoner's hut with a hacksaw blade., so that the door could then be opened from' the inside, the wood | being temporarily replaced. The other two prisoners similarly operated on their hut doors, and four of .them then got out after, "lights out" in the camp.'.." They walked to The Chateau, whicij was about five'miles away, where prisoner " No. 1" stole a car, and the party then drove to Owhango and broke into M'Kee's store, where they stole tobacco, cigarettes, tinned fruit, two boxes of butter, and also a cash register containing money. They drove back towards the prison camp, where they dumped the register in a bush. The stolen property was hidden near the camp, and the car was then driven further along the road, where it was abandoned by prisoner "No. 1." They re-entered the huts about half an hour before reopening time. The prisoner regretted that he had .anything to do with the theft, but was prompted into committing the offence as.he thought of Christmas approaching and had a desire for a little, variation of food, and also wanted a change from the "gaol weed" that he was smoking. Garner's statement was on similar lines to that of Harris. He admitted that he was responsible for taking the car and driving the three other prisoners to Owhango. He was sorry that he had had anything to do with the theft. His honest reason for the offence was that he wanted a change of diet from what he was getting in the prison. The accused pleaded guilty, and %ere ; committed,: .to the Supreme Cotirt fof serit^ncc.'- "■ v ; -'■;