Escapade by Prisoners

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 32, 8 February 1937, Page 10

Escapade by Prisoners

WANGANUI, Feb. 5. As a result of a night escapade by prisoners at Waikune prison camp and a burglary at McKee’s store at Owhango on the night of December 7th, two prisoners named Lindsay Edward Garner, aged 27, and Albert Harris, aged' 36, were charged with breaking and entering the store of T. J .McKee by night and stealing £l2 from a cash register, two cases of butter and o quantity of tobacco and stores valued at £lO4 10s 9d, and also converting u motor-car at the Chateau to their own use valued at £398, the property of L. Warder Bissett described the tom small pieces of wood cut from the door and jambed so that the doors could be opened from within. The prisoners were locked in their huts at 7.30 p.m. and released at 6.30 in the morning. It was ten days after the robbery that he noticed the condition of tho doors.

T. J. McKee, a storekeeper at Owhango, said that the Yale lock on the front door was forced and the majority of the stolen goods were recovered, but not the money. Detectives White and Murray gave evidence of having noticed the condition of the hut doors and recovering the majority of the stolen goods in the vicinity of tho camp. Both prisoners had admitted taking part-in the robbery. Murray produced a statement. Albert Harrie, aged 36, who is serving two years at Waikune, in describing the escapade in a statement said: They were with about 10 or 12 other prisoners at Whakapapanui camp, each having a separate hut. It was decided by accused and three others to break into McKee’s store at Owhango. On the evening of December 7tli, while a prisoner was with Warder Bissett in the garden, a prisoner referred to as No. 1 cut a piece of wood out of the door of prisoner’s hut with a hacksaw blade so that the door could then be opened from the inside, and the wood temporarily replaced. Other prisoners similarly operated on their hut doors and four of them got out after lights were out in the camp and walked to <he Chateau, about five miles, where prisoner No. 1 stole a car and tho party then drove to Owhango and broke into McKee's store, where they stole tobacco, cigarettes, tinned fruit, two boxes of butter and also a cash register containing money. They drove back towards the prison camp where they dumped tho register in tho bush. The stolen property was . hidden near the camp and tho car was then driven further along the road, where it was abandoned by prisoners. No. 1 hut was re-entered about half an hour before re-opening time. The prisoner regretted that he had had anything to do with the thefts, but was prompted into committing the offence by the thought of Christmas approaching and in a desire for a little variation of food. Ho also wanted a change from tho gaol weed that he was smoking. Lindsay Edist Edward Garner's statement was or. similar lines to that, of Harris. He admitted he was respon sible for taking the car and driving the three other prisoners to Owhango. He

was sorry he had had anything to do with tho theft. His honest reason for tho offcnco was that he wanted a change of diet from that 110 was getting in the prison. Both accused pleaded guilty and were committed for sentence.

for freezing, under 421 b.: S. Worboys’ 1 and 2, F. Ormond’s 3; 6 entries.