MEN CHARGED

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21336, 5 February 1941, Page 8

MEN CHARGED

ASSAULT ON WARDERS ESCAPE FROM GAOL JOHN SILVA PLEADS GUILTY (By Telpg-raph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Wednesday A liberal use of the right to challenge jurymen was exercised by prisoners who were charged in the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr Justice Blair, that on October 1 they escaped from the Auckland gaol by violent means and that at the time they rendered three warders incapable of resistance. The accused included John Henry Silva, against whom there had been a charge of attempted murder of a warder but on the suggestion of the judge the grand jury nad thrown out the attempted murder charge. Silva pleaded guilty to the two remaining charges. The other accused, Allan Roy Duff, Bryan James O'Hehir, Randall Smith and David Watson, pleaded not guilty. Duff was represented by counsel, Mr W. Noble. Smith exercised the right to challenge jurymen to the number of six. Watson challenged five and Duff challenged two, every second juryman called being challenged. Before the hearing commenced the jury, counsel and judge visited the gaol to view the cells and lay-out of the buildings at the point of the alleged escape.