POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 14, 17 January 1902, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

Thubsdat, January 16.—Before Mr R, L. Stanford, S.M, damaging govebbmbnt property. Albert Theodore Sohreiner was charged with wilfully damaging Government property on the 6th of January, to wit, one blanket. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was' sentenced to forfeit fifty good conduct i marks. Ir. ia withm his power to make j those up during the remainder of his sentence, but should he not do so, the logs of the marks would curtail the remission usually made by about eight days. GAOL BREAKING, The same prisoner was also charged with escaping from New Plymouth gaol. • Oonstable Beattie (Waitara) identified the accused as being a prisoner

nnder sentence passed on him at the Supreme Court sitting in October last. Witness arrested prisoner on the 11th inst. on the main road, about a mile from TJrenui township, near the bridge, on the charge of escaping from custody. Prisoner said he left the prison because he thought his sentence was too severe. He wore a straw hat, a warder's jumper with plain buttons, blue serge trousers and hcs up boots, also underpants made out of a prison blanket. Oould not say the socks bore any private marks. Brought prisoner to New Plymouth. Bartholomew Lloyd O'Brien, gaoler at New Plymouth, said prisoner was in his Jcust.ody on January 6th, and escaped from the worts on that day, John Downes, warder at th« gaol, said prisoner was working under him plastering the east wall of the gaol. Prisoner asked leave to retire for awhile owing to indispoiition, and witness gave leave, Some little time after, Warder Lacey came round and asked where Scbreiner was, and witness having told him, jumped off the scaftolding and went to the tool-house to look for him. Found the window open outside, and prisoner's trousers were lying in the yard, Immediately gave the alarm. Charles Dollimore, another warder, said that between 11,30 aod 11.40, prisoner came to him and stated he had orders from last witness to get tome tools to enable him to make a hod. It was customary for prisoners to be allowed to go into the tool house to fetoh tools. Prisoner then went into the building and remained there about £ve minutes, duribg which time he wax hammering and sawing. Offing to the number of men witness was looking after being employed at an angle to the building in question, witness could not go into that building. When the sounds of working ceased, w\tnefs'.sugpicions were aroused, and he looked into the building. Found the accused had gone, and raised the alarm. The only way of escape was by a window at the back of the house, which witness could not see from where he was stationed. Prisoner would have to gat over a six foot sheet iron fence to get away. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.