TRAGIC END

Southland Times, Issue 19396, 10 November 1924, Page 5

TRAGIC END

TO AMAZING CAREER AUCKLAND GAOL SENSATION NOTORIOUS CONVICT FATALLY SHOT. RAFFLES UP-TO-DATE. (Special to the Times.) AUCKLAND, November 9. The tragic end of the amazing career of one of the most notorious and dangerous criminals in the history of Australia and New Zealand, occurred at the public hospital this morning at 9.30 o’clock, when Joseph Thomas Christie died from wounds received when attempting to break out of Mount Eden goal on Friday evening. FATAL DISREGARD OF CHALLENGE. Just as a long-sentenced gang of prisoners was about to return to their quarters at Mount Eden, Christie made a bolt for the freedom he so dearly loved. He was immediately challenged by a warder, but refused to stop, instead increasing his speed. The warder, aware of the remarkable record of this convict and in accordance with instructions, fired, the bullet entering the fleshy part of Christie's leg. The wound, however, did not seem to incommode the fugitive from durance vile and with an almost superhuman effort, he increased his speed, only to be brought down by a second shot which penetrated the abdomen. Recaptured, Christie was taken to the gaol hospital, and then to the pubhc hospital, where he lingered on, gradually sinking during the early hours of the morning and passing out of this mortal existence at 9.30 a.m. EARLY START IN CRIME. So closed the career of a man who provided the police of New Zealand and Australia with one of the toughest propositions they have had to handle. Born in New Zealand, Christie, whose aliases included the names of Maxted and Williams, embarked on his career early in life, being only 15 years of age when he received a birching for theft at Masterton in 1908. Later, he was sent to the Burnham Industrial School, promptly escaped from there, and was caught and returned to the school. It was this penchant for breaking loose that helped to achieve for him his great notoriety. Three years later, Christie, who was gifted with rare mechanical genius and great daring, in reality commenced his crooked career, and was responsible for several daring coups before he spent his first sojourn in gaol. FEIGNED INSANITY.

Christie did not like gaols any more than anybody else, and embarked upon a plan that would gain him his freedom. A few days after his admission to the institution be became to all appearance a raving lunatic. The doctors found in him all the symptoms of madness. The ruse was a success and he was transferred to an asylum from which it was a simple matter for such an accomplished criminal as Christie to escape. His freedom gained, he was soon back at his old work and “cracked” safes marked his trail from one end of the Dominion to the other. Very soon he was back behind the bars. Then onceipgain he was successful in his ruse, and aespite the fact that police officials were determined that they would not be again gulled, Christie was declared insane. He was sent to an asylum and although an extra watch was kept over him he succeeded in making a clean get away. Again he was arrested and sentenced and again, incredible as it may seem, he was declared a mental case. SENSATIONAL ESCAPES. By this time, Christie had established an unenviable record, his sentences having included terms of four years, two years (on each of two charges), ten years’ reformative treatment, five years, six months, two years.and declared an habitual criminal, and six months on each of two charges. During this period his escapes had been of a most sensational character. On one occasion, while under escort en route to Mount Eden, he got away from the policeman and jumped from the Lyttelton-Wellington ferry steamer after the boat had left Lyttelton and attempted to swim ashore. A boat had to be lowered and Christie was dragged aboard out of the water. On another occasion, when again en route to Mount Eden, he dived from the Main Trunk express when crossing the Waikato river bridge, into the river itself and thus regained his freedom. As late as October of last year, Christie, while awaiting trial at Dunedin, unlocked the door of his cell and reached the railway station, where he was apprehended. A TERROR IN AUSTRALIA. However, Christie apparently decided that if the third break from the mental asylum was lucky, the fourth might not be so, thereupon the notorious criminal decided to give New Zealand a spell and he left for Sydney. In Australia, Christie changed his name to William Maxwell Maxted, and it was by this name that he was known throughout his career on the other side of the Tasman. He joined up with two other expert cracksmen, and together the trio made up one of the greatest criminal combinations that the police of Australia have ever had to deal with. For three months they kept the police working in the dark. Safe after safe was blown and always in an expert manner. Then one day the trio were surprised at work. They daringly attempted to make a get away through the roof. Christie was caught and one of his partners ultimately fell into the hands of the police, but the other effected his escape. For once, Christie’s acting failed, and he was not transferred to an asylum. He served out his sentence and at its termination he was deported to New Zealand. There was a large gathering of Sydney’s detectives on the wharf to farewell him. They were glad to see the last of him. On the vessel’s arrival at New Zealand, however, Christie, it was found was not aboard. The vessel was searched and every passenger and every member of the crew was scrutinised by the men who had known Christie for years, but he was not found. For while the vessel was on its way across the strait, Christie had jumped overboard. It was a daring enterprise and Christie had swam three miles ashore through shark infested waters. Two days later he was on his return trip to Australia. BACK IN THE ASYLUM. This time he chose Melbourne as his rendezvous, and working alone, he set a willing pace. But even the best of things have to come to an end, and unexpectedly he found himself arraigned on a charge of breaking, entering and stealing. He was found guilty and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. Then this picturesque crook got up to his old game. His acting must have been wonderfully realistic; for he completely hoodwinked the Victorian police and medical experts. They had his New Zealand before them, so his feat was all the cleverer. On medical recommendation he was transferred to Kew Asylum, and in a couple of weeks he had disappeared. The next time he came into the limelight was in New Zealand when he was sentenced last November to fifteen years’ penal servitude for breaking and entering ths premises of the Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association. “This time,” said the Judge in effect, “you will not escape. You are a dangerous man and a clever actor, and the police will take steps to see that you do not successfully feign madness.” In that respect, the learned Judge was correct. The man was kept in gaol, and for his one attempt to escape, he paid with his life. Christie’s crimes all related to breaking, entering, and theft, forgery, and escaping from custody, and there is no record of any case of assault or personal violence towards anyone. He appears to have specialised as 4 “cracksman.*