THE ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF PRISONERS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1758, 8 October 1879, Page 2

THE ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF PRISONERS.

The further particulars of the attempted escape of prisoners which occurred at Lyttelton, on Monday evening, os reported yesterday, arc that the three men bolted just as the gang were approaching Exeter street from Soames’ road, Prisoners James and Thompson made off in the direction of Salt’s Gully, and were pursued by Warders Pritchard and Millington. Thompson, who only succeeded in getting away about 300 yards, was covered by Pritchard’s rifle and, when called upon, was in Mr Hough’s garden. The challenge of the warder brought him to, and he signified his acquiescence by throwing himself upon the ground. He was conveyed back quietly to the gang. James succeeded in getting as far as Jackson’s road, where he encountered, unexpectedly, Mr John Williams, a fisherman, who at once showed fight. James endeavoured to put his antagonist out of the contest with a stone of about two pounds weight, which ho threw, and which just grazed Mr William’s head. Mr Williams then closed with the convict, threw him to the ground, and held him there until Mr Joseph Graham, who was at work close by, came to his assistance. James, even then, struggled desperately against the heavy odds. Warder Millington, who was in pursuit of the man, then came up, and James was taken to gaol by his two captors and the warder. The third prisoner, Irvin, a smart runner, made in the direction of the English cemetery and the hills, and got a good way, but was out-generalled very cleverly by Warder Adams and brought in. It is reported that the gaol authorities suspected that an attempt would be made, and the moment the break occurred in the gang the muzzles of the Snider rifles were exposed to the view of the remainder of the prisoners. There were, probably, fifty prisoners in the gang and but six or seven overseers. No surprise at the occurrence is expressed by the Lyttelton people, the common view being that it was the highly probable result of an altogether inadequate staff of warders.