PRISONERS IN REVOLT

Otago Witness, Issue 3258, 23 August 1916, Page 47

PRISONERS IN REVOLT

WARDER KNOCKED SENSELESS. WELLINGTON, August 17. Several prisoners of the Terrace Gaol savagely attacked a warder a few days ago, placing' him hors-de-combat tomI porarily, and, securing the keys. The i wouid-be escapers were overpowered and I placed in ceils. The incident occurred with dramatic suddenness on Saturday afternoon. Three I of the concerned have long sentences, j ones of them being reported to be a "lifer." I The fourth was in lor only a short term, I but was induced by the others to join | in the conspiracy to secure freedom. The four were engaged with other ! prisoners in the workroom where nianufacj turing operations are carried on when the ■ outbreak occurred, and the latter looked on without interfering. As far as can be gathered, at a pre-con-certed signal a rush was made on the warder who was supervising the operations, and he was struck a heavy blow on the head with some improvised weapon, so that ho fell senseless to the floor. His keys wcro taken from him, and a rush was made downstairs to the outer door. A key was fitted into it, but it was also locked on the outside, so that the prisoners were foiled. Back up the stairs again they tore in desperate anxiety, and after passing through an inner door endeavoured to get access to another part of the gaol, from which they hoped to make an exit, but tho door they had to get through was also doublelocked, communication from the other side being necessary. All this could not take place without indications of the tumult, and sounds of the disorder were heard in other parts of the gaol. As the prisoners were searching round for other avenues of escape a number of warders suddenly broke in, and speedily overpowered the culprits, placing them in special eel!.?. Tho desperate attempt, to secure liberty did not occupy much time. Tho warder who had been attacked soon recovered consciousness, without showing signs of any serious injury.