A DASH FOR FREEDOM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2313, 5 October 1908, Page 2

A DASH FOR FREEDOM.

PRISONER ESCAPES FROM CUSTODY.

A rather sensational occurrence is reported from Auckland, and, as a result, a prisoner who was being convoyed to tho Waiotapu camp, oseiped from custody and is still at largo. Tho matter has not nroviously been published, but a “Times” represent.-, live has gathered tho following details. A number of prisoners wore being convoyed from Wellington to Auckland, and amongst them was one, John Bishop, who was recently sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in Wellington for stealing a handbag, tlie property of Chief Detective AlcIlvoncy, of that city. On arrival of the vessel at Onehunga and just when the warders wore preparing to oscort their charges on shore, it was discovered that Bishop was missing, end a thorough search of the ship proved rosultloss, the man having mysteriously • vanished. Even the coal hunkers wore visited, as Bishop had been a fireman, and, as such, would naturally have a knowledge of tho best facilities for tho purposes of hiding tliat the ship would offer. All efforts, however, proved unavailing, and the discomfited warders had perforce to ■acknowledge themselves outwitted. Many conjectures have been made as to how Bishop managed to escape, hut tlio most probable solution is that oil the arrival of tlie vessel at Onehunga and taking advantage of the visual bustle on board when approaching port, lie quietly slipped over the side unobserved, and swam ashore. Up till tho time tlie s.s. Talune left Auckland on Saturday afternoon no announcement had been made of the re-capture of the escapee.