ATTEMPTED PRISON BREAKING AT LAWRENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3383, 23 December 1873, Page 2

ATTEMPTED PRISON BREAKING AT LAWRENCE.

A daring attempt at prison breaking was, through the vigilance of the gaoler, Sergeant Titchener, fonunaely frustrated on Saturday night. Three prisoners who were in the gaol had been properly secured for the night in one cell, and one constable was sleeping in a room, used as an office, and distant a few feet from the cell in which the prisoners were confined. It has been for some time past notorious that the gaol at present used is tot-dly insecure for that purpose, but as the officer in charge is also aware of that fact considerable watchfulness is used, when prisoners wailing trial and long sentenced ones are there, and on the coca Ton referred to Nergt. Titcheucr’s watchfulness was duly rewarded, as on going his round at about ten o’clock on Saturday night, and looking into the cell occupied by the prisoners, he discovered a lot of bricks and mortar lying about near a window, and a portion of the . inside course of the brick wall about the window removed. Toe three prisoners were apparently asleep, but Titchener quickly aroused them, and all at first denied any knowledge of the matter ; shortly after, however, a man named Cairns, who is awaiting trial for larcency committed at Tapauui, admitted having made the attempt, and informed the jailor that, bad he been twenty minutes later, be (the prisoner) would have been out. A letter was afterwards found addressed to Titchener, bidding him good-bye, and promising to be back after Christmas. Too much praise cannot, iu the meantime, be awarded to Titchener for his diligent watchfulness, thus preventing the successful accomplishment of what would have been the first case of prison Ir.aking in the Province.—Bruce Herald.’