DARING ROBBERY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 99, 24 September 1874, Page 3

DARING ROBBERY.

One of the most daring robberies that has ever been committed by discharged convicts took place at the Pentridge Stockade between the hours of ten o'clock on Saturday night and six o'clock on Sunday morning, says the Australasian of the 12th. The first intimation the authorities received of the occurrence was from one of the warders, who was about to take up his post on one of the towers at six o'clock. The entrance to the tower is by an iron gate, which is locked every night. This was found by the warder to be open, and he at once informed the chief warder of the unusual occurrence. A search was made, and the lock, which had been forced open, was found some distance from the. tower. The robbers having entered the tower, it is supposed descended to the inside of the prison wall by ropes, a distance of nearly 20 feet. They then proceeded along a narrow piece of ground which leads to the back of the Superintendent's office, to which they gained access through a door by removing the screws of the lock. There were two iron safes in the office, one containing small sum 3 of money and the other a few articles belonging to prisoners of not much value. The latter safe was opened, and a quantity of pipes, knives, and papers carried away. Most of the papers were found the next morning about half a mile from the stockade in a paddock. The loss to the department is therefore of but little consequence. Had the robbers gained access to the other safe, it is stated that they would have got some papers of importance. None of the officials appear to be to blame in the matter, aa the place where the robbers entered is partly concealed from view by a high fence.