ESCAPE FROM PRISON

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4488, 7 August 1930, Page 2

ESCAPE FROM PRISON

WiANTKD TO SEE TITS MOTHER. Impatient concerning his father’s application for his transfer from the Waikune prison camp to Wellington, James Alexander Seori inge, aged 23, escaped from custody, intending In see liis mother in Wellington. His freedom was shortlived, and he was chased and caplured after stepping from a dog box on Ihe Limited express. At. Wellington on Tuesday lie appeared before Mr. E. Page, S.M., in (he police ('our!, ami was sentenced to twelve moll I hs* hard labour for being an incorrigible rogue in llial he t scaped I rom prison betore the rvpiralioii of his term. Sub Inspector Lopdell said that Scon inge (Mb. Mcltzer) at the lime of his escape, was undergoing a sentence of two years’ reformative detention to which he was sentenced on March 15, 10211. At the U'aiknue prison camp, in the Mountain Dial riel, Scorringe was in a position of trust, and was working among the machinery. During the evening', he had more liberty than ihe oilier prisoners, and taking advantage of this, he escaped between 7 p.m. and 0 p.m. on July 17. He was found hiding in a dog-box .m llie Limited express on its arrival at Thorndon station on July 24. Mr. Meltzer attributed accused’s aid ions to a desire to see his mother, who was in a perearious stale of health. His father had made applica I ion to ihe Prisons Board to have accused transferred to Wellington, in order that his mother might he able to visit him. Counsel added llial the application would probably have received favouraide consideration. Accused knew of this application, and apparently anlieipaled the hoard's decision. W hen Ire escaped lie remained three days in a chaff-house on the prison caiirp without sustenance, and then he tramped the distance to the railway station, later secreting him-.->e!;I. in the (log-box in which lie was discovered.

11 was Ibe prisoner's intention to see his mol her and then give him--cll' up lo the authorities. A pica for leniency was put forI onl by Mr. S lev weight, who appeared on behalf of accused's father, and who confirmed Mr. Melf-,-cr’s remarks about, accused wauling to see his mother. When imposing sentence, the magistrate said that prisoners in these prison «-nnips hart :i n*rl.:iin amount uf liberty and had special privileges. Where they abused them, and escaped, as this man had clone ihe court could not look leniently mi ilie offence. Accused had a .-uhstantial list of previous eouvielinns, sonic of thorn for serious offences. The twelve months’ imprisonment is to be served at the expiration of l he sentence accused is at present erring.