GAOL SENSATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 19 August 1916, Page 4

GAOL SENSATION.

PRISONERS TRY TO 1 . ESCAPE

WELLINGTON, August 17. Several prisoners at the Terrace Gaol savagely attacked a warder a few days ago, placing him hors de combat temporarily, and securing his keys They had passed two or three doors when they were seen by another warder, who gave the alarm, and in the nick of time the would-be escapees were overpowered and placed in the cells.

The men will appear before the Magistrate’s Court to-morrow. The incident occurred with dramatic suddenness on Saturday afternoon. Three of the men concerned have long » . sentences, one of tnem being reported to be a “lifer.” The fourth was only in for a short term, but was induced by the others to join in a conspiracy tosecure freedom. The four were engaged with other prisoners in a workroom where manufacturing operations are carried on. When'the outbreak occurred the latter looked on without interfering. As far as can. be gathered, at a preconcerted signal a rush was made on the warder who was

supervising operations, and he was struck a heavy blow on the head with some improvised weapon so that he fell senseless to the floor. His keys wore then taken from him and a rush. • was made downstairs to the outer dood. ■ The key was fitted into the lock, it was also locked on the outside, so that the prisoners were foiled. Back up the stairs again they tore in desperate anxiety, and after passingthrough the inner door endeavoured, to got access to another part -of the gaol from which they hoped to make an exit, but the door they had to get through was also double locked, communication from the other side being necessary. All this, of course, could not take place without indications of tumult, and the sounds ot disorder wore heard in other parts of- the gaol. As the attemptng flyaways weresearching for other avenues of escape, a number of warders suddenly brokein and speedily overpowered the culprits, placing them in special cells. The desperate attempt to secure liberty did not occupy much time, and the warder who had been attacked soon recovered consciousness without

showing any signs of serious injury.