ATTEMPTED ESCAPE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3112, 5 November 1913, Page 6

ATTEMPTED ESCAPE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, October 28. In the corridor of the new wing of the Invercargill reformatory two prisoners put up a desperate fight for their liberty with a new warder on Friday night, and as a result the officer received injuries of a rather serious nature. No official account of the incident was forthcoming when application was made yesterday but the facts, as gleaned elsewhere and detailed below, were not denied. It appears that a prisoner, whose work it is to look after the engine and dynamo from which the institution 'is lighted, was going the rounds of the corridors with the warder detailed for that duty and another prisoner. Leaving the main hall, they entered the south wing, which was recently completed, and is the longest wing in the institution. The prisoners were switching off the lights in accordance with the usual custom and, taking advantage of the inexperience of Warder Fuller, who only recently joined the reformatory staff, they asked him to open a door so that they might get something they needed. As he turned to comply with the request he was struck down by a blow from a bludgeon, wielded by one of the prisoners, but he was not wholly “knocked out,” as the condition of insensibility is described. One of the prisoners at once pounced upon the warder and held him while the other belaboured him, all the time demanding that he should be given the keys. It was obvious that the prisoners hoped to make their way out of the south wing and escape, and Warder Fuller accordingly fought to the limit of his endurance to prevent his assailants from gaining possession of the keys. Just when the struggle was at its height the prisoners were scared into desisting by the sudden ringing of the main entrance bell, and the warder took advantage of their inaction to run to a window and throw his keys out. A moment later his assailants were upon him demanding the keys under threat of murder, and boating him about the head with a broom. About this time the gaoler, Mr Hawkins, entered the building, and proceeding down the main corridor heard the noises of the struggle issuing from the south wing. He called an officer and stationed him in the central hall, and then entered the south wing and locked himself in. When some distance down the corridor he was met by the two prisoners, one of whom is a man who was recently committed to the reformatory for a period of seven years for having carnal knowledge of a girl of tender years. Ho questioned them, and they confessed to having designed to escape by gaining possession of the keys. Warder Fuller was picked up .in a serious condition; his head and face having been lacerated by the blows rained upon him. It is understood that both prisoners will shortly be called upon to answer charges of assault, causing actual bodily harm, in addition to the charge of attempting to escape from prison.