THE POWELKA ESCAPE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 50, 21 August 1911, Page 2

THE POWELKA ESCAPE

The Wellington Poet gave the following account of the escape and recapture of Powelka:—

Joseph Powelka escaped from the Terrace Gaol this morning, and an hour and I a half later was recaptured under a dwelling-house close to the prison. On June 8, 1910, he was sentenced by Mr.' Justice Cooper to terms of imprisonment aggregating 21 years for various offences. Until a few days ago Powelka was can- ' sidered a well-conducted prisoner, and ; when he ■worked assisted in the bootmakers' shop at the gaol. Apparently he had not given up all thoughts of breaking* gaol, for two or three nights ago he made a daring attempt to escape by sawing through the bars of his cell windows. How he got the saw is a mystery, but it is conjectured that he had an accomplice in the matter who assisted him by providing the saw. When discovered, it was about 8 o'clock at night. The ingenious Powelka looked to have a good chance of getting out of his cell. Since that might he has been placed in a : special observation cell, where he is under supervision both night and day awaiting trial for his offence against the prison regulations. The suspected accomplice is a man who was discharged some short time since. This morning, Powelka, in accordance with the usual routine, was permitted to perambulate what is known as the separate yard l —a yard where the prisoners exercise periodically. It was from this yard he escaped, and the manner of his breakaway can only lie surmised. The sentry box projects into the [ yard, and it appears certain that ' PoiveOka waited a favorable opportunity I when the sentry's attention was engaged ' elsewhere to secrete himself beneath the ; floor of the box. Thence he clambered i up the cross-piece and studs and so I gained a footing on the waH. 'So reach I the roof and crawl along to the edge 1 of the wall and drop over would be for this athletic prisoner merely a matter of a minute or two. It is thought that Powelka had some cleverly preconceived plans in mind for escape. The time of the day he chose was in every way as favorable as it well could be for such an attempt. The gaoler (Mr. Scanlan), with a body of warders, was on duty at the i Supreme Court when the escape was made, while another section of the gaol staff was away at Mt. Cook, where the other prisoners wore at work. Immediately the alarm was raised, Gaoler Seanlan sent directions for the retarti ! to the gaol of the prisoners out at work and the available warders from the court and from the gang were sent out to assist in the pursuit, which resulted so I successfully. Prompt measures were | taken by Inspector Ellison, and it was not long before every available detective and constable were concentrated on the, spot where Powelka was last seen. The inspector also sent telegrams to the country stations, warning them of the prisoner's escape. Powelka was out exactly an hour and a half. The timet of his escape was approximately 11.20,' and at 12.50 he re-entered the gaol doors attached to a warder. The sentry, who had five yards to cover, missed Powelka almost immediately, arid at the, alarm Chief Warder A. W. Roberts notified i Gaoler Scanlan, who was down at the court. Almost immediately after, a woman stated that she had seen a prisoner drop over the wall into the front I of the gaol and jump the fence into the ground attached to the adjoining residence of Mr. Bennett. The chief warder at once told off the.~men available to watch this hoifce; aiijl arriving very promptly,! ijjie place wat surrounded. The wall at s%back <s;,|he house is high enough off <tbe grot'ind«to permit of a man getting well While the search was going ph. Constable W. Taylor (Newton), atyl- Richardson started from different ?o«te*s, and as they erawled fur|her„-iti -Tajjtor struck matches. Just wli™»i|j]ooked as though the quarry was Taylor, edging further in still, sfljnKy'ftS'the last hope—the smallest apparently with paper. this- aside the contact with Powclka's hand, ariii~f]'ip escapee was discovered, covered up with paper. He had gone into the place feet first. He made no resistance, and Tnylor, at great disabilities as .regards space, with Warder Richardson near at baud, squeezed' the hamk-uil's on, at .the same time calling out that he had his man. It was definitely stated by one in a position to know that at the announcement that Powelka was caught someone outside called out. "Shoot him, shoot him." Constable Taylor declares that Powelka, hearing this as he was being dragged out, replied: "For God's sake don't shoot; I'll come out." On the way out to the open Powelka addressed nn abusive epithet towards someone, but beyond an attempt to strike an assisting probationer, submitted without resistance.