COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 223, 1 September 1936, Page 8

COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED

Prisoner Who Remained On Ledge For 80 Hours. "NEVER STAY IN PRISON." While Flying Squad men and other detectives were searching for him at South London recently, and his description had been flashed to police stations throughout England, a prisoner who was missed from his cell at Wandsworth prison was all the time on the roof of the building. Faint cries heard by warders going their usual night rounds brought to a strange close the hunt for Ernest Frederick Morris, aged 21. For more than 60 hours Morris had apparently remained on the roof without food or shelter. When reached, he was found perched on a precarious ledge. He was in a state of complete exhaustion, and was immediately taken to the prison hospital. After the discovery of the empty cell authorities were puzzled, for to make a "getaway" Morris would have had to scale a 30-foot wall. One theory was that he had hidden in a van containing mail bags as it left the jail. The prison and the grounds were thoroughly searched after the escape alarm was raised, and it appears that Morris, who was in grey prison uniform, was able to evade detection by hiding behind the grey brickwork of the chimneys. It is thought Morris gained the roof by means of fire escap'3, but how he got out of his cell is still a mystery. Morris is serving a sentence of 18 months, passed on him at London Sessions for stealing rings and clothing from a man with whom he had lodged. To a man who gave information against him Morris is alleged to have boasted that he would "never stay in prison"'