PAWELKA AGAIN AT LIBERTY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1036, 29 August 1911, Page 3

PAWELKA AGAIN AT LIBERTY.

HIS FOURTH ESCAPE,

Wellington, Yesterday

John Joseph Pawelka, the notorious criminal and expert gaol-breaker, who was sentenced in June, 1910, to twenty-one years’ imprisonment and declared an habitual criminal, again escaped from the Terrace gaol early on Sunday morning, and is still at large. The exact hour at which he gained his liberty is not known, but it is put down at between 5-30 and 6 a.m. Since his first arrest about eighteen months ago. Pawelka has broken away from custody four times—twice since August 17th last—and he was caught in the act of escaping on August 14th, his plans on that occasion being nipped in the bud just in time. Pawelka probably has many sympathisers, atid the fact that no sign of his whereabouts was discovered yesterday, although diligent search was made, suggests that he was sheltered throughout the day. Aided by the darkness and rain of Sunday night, he would have an excellent chance of getting clean away, and it is more than likely that no trace will be found of him until—as has been his wont in the past—he breaks into some house or store to secure food and firearms. HOW HE ESCAPED.

Pawelka left the prison clothed only in his trousers, vest and shirt, his cap, coat, shoes and other rayment being left in the cell. He had evidently been awaiting a favourable opportunity to make his escape, and inquiries at the gaol show that he got out very easily, despite the fact that he had been kept under special surveillance ever since his escape on August 17th last. He occupied the “condemned” cell in the main wing of the prison. This cell is called an “observation room ” on account of it being provided with a special barred window behind a shutter which is easily accessible by the warders on duty. Every precaution was taken by the gaoler (Mr J. Sca.doa; tu ensure the safe custody of the prisoner,- the warders being instructed to look in at his cell at night at least once in every half-hour. To do this does not entail any extra labour on the officers, as the tell-tale clock, which has to be “ tapped ” every halt hour of the night, is nearly opposite the window of the cell.

Briefly, Pawelka’s escape was affected as follows The observation window of his cell, the dimensions of which are fifteen inches by twelve, is simply a framework of iron fitted with an aperture in the wooden wall of the cell. The grating was fixed in by means of screws, secured from the outside. It appears now, from an examination of both the woodwork and the iron frame, that the screws had been removed from the outside, probably some considerable time ago, and the holes had been filled up with chips of wood and small pieces of soap, and ingeniously covered over with paint and putty so that there could be no suspicion that the screws had been taken out. Outside the window is a large shutter or door, which is locked by means of a small snib. Almost opposite the window there is a glass-panel door leading out into a yard which gives access to the officers’ messroom and prison kitchen. Both the panel door outside the grated window and the door leading to the yard were left open. Pawelka evidently knew the secret of the iron window, and quick to grasp an opportunity when both the shutter and door were open, he pushed out the iron framework—the screws being gone there could have been practically no resistence —quietly drew the framework inside his cell, and climbed through the aperture. The shutter not being snibbed, he had only to push it open and find himself in the broad passage with an open door leading into the yard in front of him. The prisoner could have gained the yard in less than a second, and once there it was an easy matter to get outside the gaol. By climbing on to a grated window he gained the roof of the kitchen, and walking to the end of it, dropped a distance of eight feet on to the hill outside the prison walls overlooking Wellington Terrace.

WATCHMAN FINDS THE CELL EMPTY. The nightwatchmau on duty at the time of the escape “tapped’' the telltale clock outside Pawelka’s cell at regular intervals right up to 6 a.m. He says he looked into the cell at half-past five, and Pawelka was then safe. A quarter of an hour afterwards the warder called the orderly officer (Mr Rosengrave) to let the prison cooks out to prepare breakfast. A few minutes afterwards a Chinese prisoner, who is the special cook for the gaol officers, was let through the door opposite Pawelka’s cell, so that he could carry out his ordinary morning duties in the officers’ mess-room. The warder, after letting him through, went to another part of the building. Suddenly he heard a “click,” and suspecting something was wrong he came back, and found the door leading into the yard and the shutter of Pawelka’s cell window wide open and the grating gone. Peering through the aperture he discovered the prisoner was gone also, and he immediately raised the alarm. It was just about six o’clock. The orderly officer for the night was Mr Rosengrave, and he looked into Pawelka’s cell at about a quarter to five, and everything was right at that time.

HAS HE ACCOMPLICES ? The warders and officers who sleep at the gaol were quickly mustered, and sent to search in the vicinity of the prison, and the police were immediately communicated with, A thorough examination was made of all the surrounding backyards, stables and empty houses. Authorities who are well qualified to speak on Pawelka’s escape have uo hesitation in saying that he must have had friends both inside and outside the prison. It would have been practically impossible for him to have got away on his own initiative alone. He occupied the cell from which he escaped tor about twelve months on first being placed in the gaol, and no doubt he has known for a considerable time the secret of the “dummy” screws, and possibly was instrumental in getting the original ones removed. If this were so it only needed patience for him to await a favourable opportunity, which at last occurred, possibly through sheer carelessness, for him to push out the frame and get away. PAWELKA’S DESCRIPTION. Pawelka is 23 years ot age. He is sft. roiu. in height, is of medium build ; has dark skin ; dark brown hair, and blue eyes, and is clean shaven. His mouth, nose and chin are described officially as “medium” in size, with “pinched” aspect. Pawelka is a native of Oxford, New Zealand. There will probably be a reward offered for his capture.

HIS PREV r CUS ESCAPES. The manner in which Pawelka has succeeded defying locks, bolts and bars is really extraordinary. His career in this regard commenced at Palmerston, whilst awaiting trial on charges of housebreaking and entering. On March 12 he was confined in one of the cells in the Palmerston North gaol, where he had complained of being unwell. He asked to be allowed to go out in the prison yard for a spell, to which request the gaoler consented. The gaoler opened the cell door, and left him for a moment to call a constable. In that moment or two Pawelka seized a bucket, turned it upside down, and from this step sprang to the top of a ten-foot wall, seized a bicycle he saw standing against a fence, and so mounted rode speedily out of the town. He was seen two days later hiding in some scrub near Kimbolton, and was captured by Constables Barry and O’Sullivau at Awahuri, without offering resistance. His next exploit was in Wellington. He had been brought down to Rambton Quay Station from the Terrace Gaol to be tiied in the Supreme Court (on the charges for which he had been committed at Palmerston North). In the cell were other prisoners, and one of these had been removed from the cell by a constable, who fancied that he had locked the cell door after him. As a matter of fact, he had not, and Pawelka, ever on the alert, noticed the mistake and bolted. Then ensued a long and exciting chase in and about Palmerston North, during which two people were fatally shot. The sum of was offered for Pawelka’s capture. He was seen several times, but eluded his pursuers, and after a hot pursuit, during which the whole district was worked up to a high pitch of excitement, the man was finally captured in a hay loft near Ashhurst, armed with a loaded revolver. This was on April 17. Constables Gallagher, of Wellington, and A. J. Thompson, of Wanganui, were the arresting constables. Pawelka was tried on charges of breaking and entering, arson and murder, and found guilty of breaking and entering, and acquitted on the charge of arson and murder. He was given a cumulative sentence of 21 years, and declared a habitual criminal.

The police are now actively on the look out between Otaki and Wellington on the one line, and Masterton on the other. All the main roads are posted, and a sharp-look out is being kept on the water-front to prevent him getting on board any vessel in the harbour.

The usual crop of rumours of Pawelka’s whereabouts poured into the police station yesterday.