A BOLT FROM PRISON.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1747, 12 May 1913, Page 4

A BOLT FROM PRISON.

ESCAPEES CAPTURED AT MAKAIM. ARMED WITH SANDBAGS. Some lime on Friday night Thomas Donovan and John Lewis escaped from llio Terrace Gaol, where tlie.v had been sent some months ago lo undergo three years' imprisonment. Very little information is available as to how the escape was made. Both prisoners wore locked in their cells on Friday night, but on Saturday morning a warder going tlio rounds discovered that the two wore missing. One of the pair, it Is assumed, effected an escape from his particular coll, and then released his friend. Doors leading to the garden could then be opened without great difficulty, and from the garden the walls could be scald? by use being made of some outbuildings. Upon the discovery of the escape a bis force of police and warders were dispatched (o Makara, Karori, and Oliarin Valley (o search for the prisoners. Two mount-til men, Constables Pearson and Warner, succeeded in getting on to the trail of (lie escapees; who by the way had changed their prison garb for a' civilian outfit. Definite (race of the prisoners was nicked up at tho fishermen's lints on Iho Makara Beach. The constables followed the direction Iho.v considered the fugitives mnst have taken, and eventually saw thorn endeavouring to take shelter ill some scrub on tho side of the hill. The horses' heads were immediately turned towards the prisoners, mid when the troopers approached closeenough it was seen that both of the men were armed with sandbags. As llio eonsLables drew near, the men, it is stated, threatened to use their Hand-bags if they were interfered with. In response to tliis notification of hostility the constables both drew _ their revolvers and advanced on their errand. The prisoners apparently realised that tho chaso was up, and submitted to be handcuffed. They were taken to Maltara, whero a conveyance to town was secured. By G p.m. they were asrain under lock and key, It is understood that the men will be charged with gaol-breaking. The first trace of the prisoners wan in Grove Road, Kelbnrne. where they were seen shortly after midnight on Friday. They were then in prison garb. About two hours later they were seen on the Ifarori Road, in ordinary civilian, attire. Subsequently it was reported that a residence at Northlands had been broken into and a quantity of clothing stolen. Th« burglars left behind them a formidablelooking gag, and the hvo'occupants of tho house, on seeing this on Saturday morning, were (it is understood) greatly re--lieved to find that they had not had their slumbers disturbed. Bolli Lewis and Donovan are natives of Ireland, thp former being Jt years of ago and the latter just over 30. Lewis, who had been declared an habitual criminal, has a long list of convictions aga : nst bis name. Some years ago,he escaped from custody in Pretoria, and whilst 11. gaol in Wellington last , year lie broko out. and was captured at Ohariu by Detectives Andrews and Lewis. Donovan was convictcd only a fc\i months ago of assault and robbery nt Wellington, his victim being a man whom he inveigled into a house ir. Lorno Street, and drugged and robbed under circumstances winch led lo hi? being sentenced in tho Supremo Court to three years' imprisonment. In crossexamination at tho trial, ho denied that a photograph was a photograpl' of himself, lie admitted a convictioi' for drunkenness in London and for doscrtion in Wellington, but denied_ thai he had been convicted in Tasmania or Itlint he had a long list of convictions in South Africa. Ho also flatly refused to show his tattoo marks to tho jury. Tho Judge subsequently held a Tasinanian conviction to be proved, but considered that the South African convictions wero not clearly' enough made out to be acted upon. I