BREAKING GAOL

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160724, 10 August 1920, Page 5

BREAKING GAOL

HABITUAL CRIMINAL’S' SENTENCE. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 9. The sequel to the escape on Tuesday last of an habitual criminal, William Langley, from the prison gang at ML Eden was his appearance this morning before Mr Hunt, S.M., at the gaol charged with the offence, and also with having wilfully broken 1 is cell window. Accused pleaded guilty to the charge of escaping, but not guilty to the niiuor offence. His motive for escaping, he said, was to get justice against the Prison authorities and to have his complaints 'heard. He was practically a slave. He was not paid for his labour, had been placed in a dark cell, and was denied bedding and blankets. Prisoner had nothing further to say, and evidence was adduced from the gaoler (Mr Vincent) who stated that a certain amount of trust was placed in the prisoners. This man had deliberately broken the trust placed on him. lie .suggested that the prisoner should bo dealt with severely, both for the protection of officers an.l the good of other prisoners. The Magistrate convicted and) discharged the prisoner on the charge of breaking the window, but on the other convicted and sentenced him to fourteen days on bread and water, with. ?j proviso that unless he be visited by a doctor during the tonr. he bo given full diet every third day.