PRISON-BREAKER CAUGHT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8358, 19 February 1913, Page 10

PRISON-BREAKER CAUGHT

CHARGE OF STEALING £7OO WORTH OF JEWELLERY. LONDON, January 12. An account of a prisoner’s determined attempt to escape liras told at Lambeth when Albert Edward Young, twen-ty-nine, a tall, well-dressed man, described as a picture frame joiner, of Wansey street, Walsworth, was charged on remand, before Mr Hopkins, with stealing from 140, Upper Tulse hill, Brixton, the residence of Mr Staplee Firth, solicitor, jewellery, and other articles of the total value of £7OO. Prisoner was brought to the court closely guarded. It was said that he had made a very determined attempt in the early hours of the morning to escape from Brixton prison. Apparently using the plank of his bed as a battering ram, the prisoner seems to have forced out the iron bar protecting the cell window, and to have lowered himself to a roof by means of a torn sheet. The attention of one of the night patrols was attracted by the creaking of the slates, and an alarm was raised. The police were telephoned for, and a force of officers, under Divisional Detective-inspector Eustace, attended. The prisoner was then found hiding behind a chimney stack, and was secured by the warders. Evidence was called in support of the charge, and Detective-sergeant Nursey spoke to having, with other officers, arrested the prisoner in East street, Walworth, on the night of the 3rd inst. The officer stated that when he was told the charge the prisoner replied, “Not me. 1 can prove where I was last night.” When the prisoner was searched at the police station a silver sovereign purse and a necklet with a pendant attached, forming part of the stolen property, were_ found upon him. The prisoner then said, “If you go to Wansey street you will find nearly all the property in a tin box there.” He {the officer) went there, and found the jewellery produced in court. Mr Hopkins, told the prisoner, who made no answer to the charge, that he would be committed for trial at the Central Criminal Court, but formally remanded him for a week.