THE BOLT FROM GAOL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1345, 24 January 1912, Page 4

THE BOLT FROM GAOL.

IMPROVISED SUITS. MADE FROM PRISON BLANKETS. It seems (hat the prisoners, Arthnr Thoniiis Reid and George Armitnge, who undcnvoiirud (o escape from the Mount Cook prison gang on Holiday, had long contemplated (light, as they had hnd suits made to aid them in their endeavour to regain liberty.

The garments in question had been manufactured out of blankets and must have been cut and stitched logether in gaol. Tij <i blankets were ol' a grey colour, and, when turned into wearing apparel, looked, at a little distance, like ordinary grey suit material. The maker may havo had son 10 experienco at tho tailoring trade, as the suits were not at all badly made. Tho trousers ami vests were well cut, but the coats were not so well done, and were rather after the tunic style. . The clothes were hidden somewhere in the grounds whcie tho prisoners were working. They had very little time to change, and merely slipped the blanket suits on over their oilier clothes. They placed a couple of light ladders against tho wall to help them scale it. The ladders were somewhat flimsy, and Armilage's broke, and he received a nasty cut on tho palm of the hand through elui citing tho iron spike on the top of the wall. Armitage also hurt his kuek The police state that they were not difficult men to catch. Iteid had a good siart of Warder 'l'arkes, but tho olliccr gained on him with ease. Armitage was exhausted when captured, and was lying among the gorse bushes when taken by Constable Angland. Ths constable called out "Here's-Armitage" ' to Constable Dempscy, who was not far away. Angtaml's confrere jocularly discredited .th« statement, and Angland took Arniitage's cap and hold it aloft on n stick. A request to hold up (he man was complied with, and the sounding of a police whistle then announced to the searchers that Armitage bad been run ta earth. The escapee was so much out of breath that he could scarcely speak. "Well, George, did you hurt yourself?" asked one of the constables'. "Yes, 1 hurt: my knee," he wheezed, and that was about all he seemed incliued to exert himself to say.' This prisoner has made two bids for liberly, and failed each lime. "Armitago has had enough," said one police olliccr yesterday, "and I think lie realises now that he is not physically capable of making an cscape." v lt is surprising what a number o£ people were out on Holiday and didn't lock their doors," said one of Iho searchers. I went to lots of places, and knocked, and, getting no response, tried the back door and almost invariably found it'open. Blinds were drawn down, and in efery way the places seemed deserted for the day, but anyone could liavs gone through them all. 1 didn't search through, but 1 could havo done so. I searched their wash-houses and out-buiUU ings, but, of course, got no result."