Buckley and Bailer Get Three Years More

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 424, 4 August 1928, Page 1

Buckley and Bailer Get Three Years More

‘ESCAPE WAS FOOLISH, ’ SAYS JUDGE

JOHN LESLIE LUCKLEY and Frank Bailer, the two prisoners who escaped from Mount Eden Gaol, will serve for an extra three years as a result of the escape and the crimes that they committed while free.

They appeared in the dock together before Mr. Justice Reed at the Supreme Court this morning. Xeither was represented by counsel, but each put in a written statement which his Honour read but did not make public. ‘T think that the authorities might well consider not bringing charges of escaping before this Court at all.” remarked his Honour. ”It seems to me to be largely a matter of prison discipline, and the prison justices could probably deal much more effectively with escapees than I can, especially when I am dealing with habitual criminals as I am in this case. “Increasing their sentences does not have much effect, whereas the justices have means of dealing with the cases by cells, deprivation of food and that sort of thing. “I have read the statements. Buckley gives some reasons for escaping, which have been referred to in the newspapers, but these do not concern me at all. The mere fact, as far as I am concerned, is that you escaped. If there were any complaints they should have been dealt with by the authorities, and complaint should have been made to the visiting justices. LOST THEIR CHANCES “I notice both of you express regret, and realise that you have done a very

foolish tiling- You have. There is very little chance 01 your getting out of New Zealand, and when caught the fact that you have escaped has serious effect on your treatment. You are not likely to got another chance as soon as you would have done otherwise. and you won't get to the camps, where I should think life would bo much more pleasurable than is falrlv close confinement at the gaol.” A sentence of three years’ imprisonment, cumulative on the sentences being served at present, was imposed in both cases. His Honour remarked tha. Buckley had committed more crimes, but that was only because lie remained free longer. BUCKLEYS VANITY Buckley then addressed his Honour, stating that there had been sorip comment on the theft of money belonging: to a servant girl. He would like his Honour to make an order that this amount should be returned. His Honour remarked that he would not make an order, and the prisoner* were removed. Afterwards his Honour remarked "t have not the slightest doubt that this request of Buckley’s is merely a question of vanity. It is a sort of appeal to the public to think that he is reullv a man of tine quality. At the same time I have no doubt that something will be done about the matter.”

PETROL COMES DOWN "ATOTORISTS who fill their petrol tanks on Monday morning will have the benefit of a reduction amounting to a penny a gallon. The reduction will be announced on Monday morning, and will take effect immediately. Although not very large, it will be much appreciated by the owners of commercial vehicles, to whom, on a year's operations, it will represent a substantial sum.