ESCAPE OE A PRISONER

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 827, 27 February 1903, Page 3

ESCAPE OE A PRISONER

Some littlo excitement was caused in town yesterday morning when it became known that the man William Webster, who was arrosted on Saturday evening on a charge of drunkenness and who thrico attempted to commit suicide, had escaped from custody. It appears that yostorday morning Constable Crawford went to visit tho prisoner, and ns ho opened tho door, candlestick in hand, Webster rushed at him and the edge of the door striking him on tbo ebest, knocked tho constable over, the back of his head striking the outside wall with great forco. Ho was rendered unconscious by tho fall. Constable Harris, tho gaolor, hoaring tho noise, was promptly on the scone, and was astonished to find Constablo Crawford lying unconscious, tho coll door open, and Webster gone. Constable Harris at onco informed Constablo Farmer and Detective Nixon of tho occurrence, and an alarm was raised. For somo considerable time Constablo Crawford was in a dazed state from tho effocts of the fall, and could not give an account of what happened. From an examination of tho cell it appears that Webster had wrenched ono of tho ringbolts, to which he was strappod, out of of tho cell, and thus succeeded in liberating himself. Ho was ovidontly waiting for tho constablo to open tho door to rnako a spring at him and make a dash for liberty. Webster escaped in his shirt, and although tho whole police forco scoured tho country during the day, no trace of him could bo found.

RECAPTURED AT AWAPUNI

Shortly after four last evoning word was received at tho Gisborne Polico Station that Webster had been soon going in tho direction of Awapuni. Dotectivo Nixon, Constable Crawford, and Gaoler Harris had previously gone in that direction in sourch of tho prisoner, and information as to his whereabouts was convoyed to them. Webstor’s baro foot-prints wore traced across tho racecourse, and woro then lost. Subsequently Mr Wilkinson reported to tho polico that Wobstor had rouehed his houso at tho Awapuni. Ho had greatly alarmed a uumbor of young poopld living in tho locality, but Mrs Wilkinson happonod to know the man, and in her kindly nature sympathising with him invited him to huvo a cup of tea, which ho gratefully accepted. Mr Wilkinson also supplied Webster with a quantity of clothing. Upon tho police arriving at tho houso Detective Nixon guarded tho houso whilst Constable Crawford wont to town for a trap. Later Dotoctive Nixon went into tho house and found Wobstor in one of tho bedrooms. Ho did not know tho dotectivo, and offered no resistance, of any kind. Tho detective states that tho man was practically exhausted with fatigue, and was so footsoro that ho had to bo carried to the trap, and on arrival at tho lock-up, from tho vohiclo to tho colls. An enterprising editor of ono of tho daily papers, who rode post haste to tho sccno of tho capture, endeavored to olicit a few particulars from Wobstor as to his day’s ramble, but met with littlo success. “ You appear to have had a vory rough time,” romarked the scribe. “So would you too, my man, if you had boon whero I was last evening,” ropliod tho man; “I wont out to Wao-rouga-a-hika last evening, and I had COO Maoris after mo. They would not let me alone.” Webster then went on to make a long rambling statement explaining somo imaginary difficulty that ho had been trying to get over. The polico convoyed their prisoner to tho lock-up, and took special pains to seo that ho was properly secured in tho cell. It is intended to have him medically examined this morning. Wobstor is well known throughout tho district, and excepting for his failing in regard to liquor ho is thought much of by all who know him. Ho was one of the first eight butchers employed by Messrs Nolson Bros., and was noted for his skill as a tradesman. His late employers and his old mates dooply sympathise with him in his present unfortunate position, and all have a kindly word for him. The attack on Constablo Crawford by Webster was a most fieroe one, and was entirely unexpected. Tho officer expected to find Wobstor secured to tho ringbolt in tho cell, and thoreforo did not exerciso tho precaution that he generally does, that is of stopping back after opening tho door. Constablo Crawford’s shako was completely battered, and tho tin candlestick that he carried in his hand was also bent out of shape. Ho has, howevor, completely recovered from tho effects of tho injurios rccoivod, and spont most of yesterday searching for tho escaped prisoner.