ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF A PRISONER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5501, 13 November 1878, Page 2

ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF A PRISONER.

An exciting scene occurred yesterday at the gaol in Wellington. A prisoner named Wm. Watson had been arrested for larceny, and was conducted to the gaol in a cab in company with two other criminals, under the escort of Constable O'Cmmor. On reaching the building, the prisoner seized an opportunity of jumping suddenly out of the cab. Watson had neither boots nor coat on at the time, but nevertheless ran off down Ingestre-street as hard as ever he could lay legs to the ground. Constable O’Connor without a moment’s heeitatiouabandoned theothertwo prisoneraiuthecab, and at once gave chase. At the very outset, as Watson 1 had already got a considerable's tart, the constable, to save distance, jumped over ■the fence and slipped down a deep cutting, nearly 25 feet high and well-nigh perpendicular, at great personal risk, in order to-make up lost ground in the race. This descent was only accomplished with some damage to his clothing anti sundry scratches and bruises; nevertheless the policeman bravely took up the running at the bottom of the cutting, and jumped over fences, ran through back yards and round every hole and corner, in pursuit of the escape 1 prisoner ; sometimes falling, one moment gaining the next losing ground in the chose. The public excitement was very great; each fall was greeted with a shout, and first one party and then the other party was cheered by the spectators. At list the constable’succeeded in catching the runaway, and with true" Irish ■warmth, he said, “ Be Jasns,■ you’ll never get away any more,” as he again laid hold of the fugitive. The two other prisoners were attended to at the gaol, and Constable O’.Cmmor conducted his prisoner in triumph back to the gaol. In the morning ‘Sergeant O’C'Hinor, the brother of the above-named officer, had some little difficulty, in arresting two drunken men, but contrived to retain them ‘both in custody at the corner of Willia-atreet until assistance arrived. The above plucky and energetic efforts of the police deserve some recognition at our hands