ESCAPE OF SINN FEINERS

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11931, 29 October 1919, Page 5

ESCAPE OF SINN FEINERS

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

Received Oct, 29, 9 a.m. Loudon, Oct. 26,

Six Sinn Feiners, including Beasley and Stack, Members of the House of Commons, escaped from Strangeways Gaol, Manchester. A confederate threw a rope ladder over a wall and the escapees bound and gagged the warder and locked him iu a cell. Received Oct. 29, 9.80 a.m. London, Oct. 27.

Tne Sinn Feiners in Strangeways prison were allowed privileges, including civilian clothes and meals, apart from the other prisoners. They were also allowed to see visitors. One Sinn Feiner during tea time sprang on the back of the only warder and the rest gagged and handcuffed him and threw him into a cell. The .affair was so well planned and quietly carried out that no alarm was given. A rope ladder with steel hooks was then flung to the top of the prison wall 50 feet high and the Sinn Feiners climbed up and found a telescopic ladder in position and friends waiting below. The escapees slipped down and got away in motor cars. A woman outside gave the alarm, but too late. Beasley and Stack had been participants in similar escapes before. Beasley escaped from Mountjoy prison with nineteen others. Stack took part in a hunger strike.