MELBOURNE SENSATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1918, Page 4

MELBOURNE SENSATION.

ATTEMPT TO BREAK PRISON

WARDER BOUND AND GAGGED BY CONVICTS.

The most sensational attempt at" gaol-breaking in the history of Victoria was made at the I'entridge Prison this morning by two men serving long sentences, and "who have exceedingly bad careers in crime, writes the Melbourne correspondent ot the Sydney “ Sun” on March 23rd. / They sawed their way out of the hospital ward in the early hours, and when the warder in charge ot their section passed their door they pounced upon him and bound and gagged him. Having secured the warder, they took his revolver and watch and chain from him, and, after wrenching a strong lock off a door leading to the hospital gardens, scaled the* roof of the officers’ quarters. The bound and gagged warder rolled himself down the stone steps to the telephone, and, operating the instrument with his head, called for help.

Both prisoners were captured inside the prison walls after shots had been fired.

For some time James Henry Townley, aged thirty-one, who is serving a sentence of nine years for receiving, had been an inmate in the hospital ward, and-a little before 10 o’clock on the night of the adventure Joseph Richard Gilmour, aged thirty-two, who is doing twelve years for shop 2 " breaking and breaking into a connt,-ing-honse, complained to the warder in charge of the section in which he was sleeping that he felt unwell.

PLANS MADE IN HOSPITAL. His condition was so bad that his removal to the hospital was immediately ordered. He had been in the hospital section before, while Townley was there, so that it is thought now that as they were the prisoners who made the attempt at escape they made all plans on that occasion. Both men were in the same wing of the hospital last night, and appeared to be comfortable through the night. At 3 o’clock this morning Warder Brush rang his clock, and appeared at the barred window to show the patrolling warder that he was all right.

A few minutes later he heard what seemed ah unusual noise. He walked in the direction of the hospital ward door, and as he passed he was poilnced upon by Townley and Gilmour. OVERPOWERING A WAIiD.fiII.

Brush is a returned soldier of splendid physique, but the two prisoners took him unexpectedly, one grabbing each arm. They threw him to the door, and while man stood over him menacing him with a heavy iron bar, which had been sawn off the hospital door cage, the other bound and gagged him with strips of sheeting, pieces of flannel, and a handkerchief, They then rpmoved the warder’s revolver, and also liis watch and chain and bolted.

They had a good idea of’ their location, for they made straight for the door downstairs leading to the hospital garden.

OVER. TUB KOOKS. On this door there was a, heavy Chubb’s patent look, but it gave the escaping prisoners little trouble. With the aid of the bar they quickly wrenched the lock out of position, and had the door leading to the garden wide open. From there they made their way up several skillion structures, over the j’oofs of the senior chief warder's and overseer of works’ quarters, and, dropping down on the other side, brought- into play a long rope, to which was attached.'a big hook. This, they anticipated, would serve them in pulling themselves over the barred wall before reaching the outside walls. At this point in the prison there is erected a chovaux de .{rise, which, upon pressure being applied from any point, revolves rapidly. It is made of spiked iron, and its structure is of such a nature that it is quite impossible for any weight to he passed over the top.

UN T r>Klf. AI’MR 1 1 U KAK It. It was while the men were endeavouring- to master this device that Hie alarm was given, and the whole pri son was immediately put under an armed guard.

Warder Brush, being unable to walk, quickly realised the seriousness of the .position while lie was lying on the floor, lie rolled himself over and over, until he got to the top of the stone staircase leading to the ground floor, and then let liimselt slip down the steps as speedily as possible. At the foot of the stairs there is a telephone, and manipulating this as best he could , with his head, he mumbled a warning into the transmitter to the officer in charge of the main gate. That officer soon called the governor and the whole staff, comprising a number of married men, who use the dormitory when on late shifts, and a number of single men, who live at the gaol.

GU.MOUR RECAPTURED. While this force was being stationed at all the likely points of escape, an alarm was raised by the occupants of both the overseer of works arid senior chief warder’s houses.

It was said that a man was trying to climb through one of the windows, and a few seconds later noises were heard on the roof.

Warder Young was one of tho first, officers sent to the right-of-way over which is situated the revolving and spiked frieze. In the darkness he mgde out the form of a man crouched alongside the wall, and, taking no chances, he drew his revolver and fired two shots.

Grilmour then threw up his hands, exclaiming : V£ You’ve won ; I’ve lost.! ” He was secured and placed in a cell. OTHER PRISONER CAPITULATES.

Meanwhile the a'arm laised from the officers’ quarters had been-heeded. The governor and a number of warders got to the roof of the house of the

overseer of works, and there found Townley, with his hands up. He said : you’ve got me ; I give up.” Townley had to be lowered down from the roof of the house with ropes, and a few minutes later he was once again behind the bars.

Meanwhile the governor had taken steps to prevent other prisoners escaping from the hospital ward. This action proved unnecessary, for every nian there was still fast asleep when the prisoners were recaptured. They had not even heard Warder Brush’s shout before he was gagged. " • DESPERATE CHARACTERS.

Townley was born in South Aus*tralia, where he lias served sentences of six years for receiving and five years for escaping from gaol. ' Gilmour is a New' Zealander. In the Dominion he received five years each on five charges, embracing escaping from custody, robbery underarms, thieving and assault. The 25 years were made concurrent.

A REION of TERROR. Townley and Gilmour caused a reign of terror in the early part of last year in Melbourne and the suburbs Many audacious robberies were committed, and safes were blown open and much plunder secured.

The trouble continued until Gilmour and others were caught red-lmnded in a, produce store at Kevv, where they had blown open the safe. Town ley’s- career was cheeked a month or so later, and from that time there ,bas been only sporadic safe blowings.

The men enjoyed the distinction among criminals and detectives of being two of the most expert and daring cracksmen operating in Melbourne. SAWS AND ROPE. When Gilmour was caught he handed over Warder Bush’s revolvor. On being searched a ribbon saw was found in"his pocket. This, however, had not been used.

In sawing through the iron bar of the cage over the hospital ward door the men used a considerable quantity of soap as a lubricant for the saw. The gaol officials are at a loss to understand how the men became possessed of the saws and the rope with the big iron hook attached.