SHOT BY A WARDER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 114, 6 July 1911, Page 3

SHOT BY A WARDER.

ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FROM GAOL. Details are to hand regarding the giiol sensation at Hobart, in winch a prisoner named Cooper, while attempting to escape, was shot by Warder Driscoll, and died from the wound a short tinle ; afterwards. Cooper and another prisoner named Buckoey were engaged in the shoemakers' shop with a party of prisoners under the supervision of Warders Driscoll and Fiiby. Driscoll was stationed on a raised platform overlooking tbe workshop, and Fiiby was on the ground floor. At about lour p.m., during tiie temporary absence of Fiiby, both prisoners ’climbed up the iron’ bars covering one of the windows on to a projection leading to the roof. They were climbing! along the beam when Driscoll noticed them, and called on them to surrender in tire name of the King. They took no notice of this or subsequent challenges, and when they were nearly throe parts across the heath, he (Driscoll) drew his revolver and fired. As the prisoners paid no heed to the shot, Driscoll again called on them to surrender, and as they still refused ire fired again at Cooper’s logs. The man gave a groan and began to retreat, and managed to get to the ground, hut seemed to go frantic with rage, and commenced a desperate assault on the warders. He was overpowered by numbers. The gaol surgeon was sent .for, and Cooper was taken to the general hospital, where he died at five p.m. The bullet entered tire loft'drip and penetrated tier intestines. it appoaqS'that;the. warder attempted to hit Cooper’s logs, hut. ms. the man was in a crouching position on Buckiicy.■ and Cooper, wiin McGrath, escaped from Hobart Gaol last October. Tbe tw.o former. Were luckilv recaptured, 'hut McGrath remained fit large for- several weeks before bring caught. Since then the wardtvs in’ the-gaol have been armed -with revolvers. Cooper, was serving a senlenco ol six years for assault mi Sergeant Ward, and had previously attempted to escape. The Superintendent of the gaol raid that Warder B'lircol] did his duty. Definite instructions were issued, and thev ware carried out bv the warder io the spirit and manner intended. He aimed to cripple the attempted escapees, and the wound on the deceased boro that out.