GAOL WARDERS GIVE EVIDENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 32, 7 February 1941, Page 6

GAOL WARDERS GIVE EVIDENCE

PRISONERS ON TRIAL ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY AND ALLEGED ATTACKS [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, Feb. 6. Trial of prisoners on charges arising from the breaking of gaol on October 1, was continued to-day. Mr. Justice Blair presided. The accused are Allan Roy Duff, Bryan James Onehir, Randall Smith and David Watson. Duff was represented by counsel, Mr. W. Noble. When the case was opened the accused included John Henry Silva, against whom there had been a charge of attempted murder of a warder but, on the suggestion of Mr. Justice Blair, the grand jury had thrown out the attempted murder charge. Silva pleaded guilty to the two remaining charges, that they escaped from the Auckland gaol by violent means, and that at the time they made three warders incapable of resistance. The other three pleaded not guilty to those charges. Warder Arthur Burgess described his movements on the evening of the escape. When he was assisting in marshalling certain prisoners for physical drill witness went to a little table in the dome to mark off the prisoners names. "I ticked off the names and I am afraid that is about all I can say,” said the witness.

| "Everything went absolutely blank. I must have received a blow on the back of the head. I have a very hazy recollection of struggling with someone, and of being in a cell l.ith Warder Scholium.” Another warder, Joseph Wenzi Scholium, said that after unlocking the prisoners in one of the wings he saw Warder Burgess lying on the floor of the dome with two prisoners bending over him. Coming to the grille, witness asked: "What is going on?” and. a prisoner replied: “He has fallen down.” Someone handed him a bunch of Warder Burgess' keys and i witness bent down to look at Burgess. He received a blow on the back of the ihead and did not remember anything more until he found himself in a cell with Burgess. A third warder, Joseph Graydok Crawford, aged 62, who spoke with some difficulty and said he remembered going upstairs after letting one prisoner out, and then he was felled and he remembered no more until he woke up in hospital fiv<? weeks later. At Onehir’s request Warders Burgess and Scholium were recalled, and both admitted that their attackers could have done them more harm than they did. The case was adjourned.