ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FROM GAOL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3276, 27 March 1885, Page 2

ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FROM GAOL.

(By Telegraph.) Wellington, March 26. j A most determined attempt at escape from i Mount Cook Gaol has just been frustrated.

It appears that for a few days the convict Crabtree, serving a sentence of 13 years for offences committed at Christchurch, had been shamming sickness and was allowed to remain m his hammock. However, the gaoler had his suspicions of Crabtree, and had him removed to a separate cell. An examination of the hammock was made, when tho blankets were found to be sewn together, and a chisel, gimlet and a two bladed knifo were found secreted away. Further inspection shows thnt Crabtree had been hard at work at the division wall witli the chisel and gimlet, and had nearly succeeded m cutting a hole m the wall sufficient to allow the body of a man to push through. Crabtree was brought before the Magistrate today, and pleaded guilty to the offence. He was sentenced to thirty days m irons and seven days on bread and water. On the 17th of last month Crabtree attempted to escape from Lyttelton Gaol, and was fired at by one of the warders. It is believed that had the hole been successfully cut through ten of the long-sentence prisoners had arranged to escape.