A PRISONER'S ESCAPE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1915, Page 6

A PRISONER'S ESCAPE.

"AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY." GETS DRINK WHILE IN CUSTODY. A STATEMENT IN COURT.

An extraordinary story was told to the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) at the Supreme Court yesterday by John Alexander Angus, an habitual criminal, who appeared for sentence on a charge of escaping from custody. According to the story told in the Magistrate's Court, on the night of October 25 Angus was travelling to New Plymouth in charge of a constable to take up his quarters in the New Plymouth gaol, but the approach of his destination brought thoughts of the joy of freedom, and while the train was travelling at a good speed after leaving Inglewood the prisoner left his guard, who was at one end of the carriage, and running to the other end he went on to the platform and jumped from the train into the darkness and storm of the night. The constable saw the man escape, but the train was travelling too fast to ensure safety in alighting, so the constable travelled on to Lepperton Junction. Here he communicated with the constable at Inglewood, and he returned to Inglewood, but the dark and wet night added to the difficulties of the search. Next morning the prisoner .was arrested by Constable Longbottom, of Inglewood. The prisoner handed to his Honor a statement in which he said:—"The facts of the case from my point of view are very simple, and I beg you to read them over with a view to the exercise of clemency. On Labour Day, the 25th of October, I was being transferred per Auckland express to" New Plymouth. There was considerable drink on the train, and when we reached Inglewood station T was intoxicated. I then left the train and went over to the hotel without the constable being aware of it. I never thought about him at all. I had a drink, and was returning when the train started. I went back to the hotel and had some more drink, and after that I walked up and down the main street all night. I spoke to a night watchman. He advised me that Constable O'Xeil had returned to Inglewood and was stopping at the Railway Hotel. He advised me not to give mvself up to the local policeman, but to deliver myself to Constable O'Xeil in the morning. In company with the proprietor I went at six a.m. to the constable's bedroom, but he was then out. I left a message with the proprietor and then went to the local policeman and gave myself up. I had no intention of making an escape, but pleaded guilty because I thought the S.M. would take a lenient view of the ease. About five years ngo I owned a farm in Inglewood district,'and am well known there. I consider that I might have escaped had I so wished. As I ain already serving an indeterminate sentence, J appeal for your Honor's clemency. Since my last release from prison I have had si.vteen months' good conduct and industry in civil life, and during that period I saved £IOO from my earn" ings. The offence for which I was convicted and sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment was being illegally 'on licensed premises. For this offence alone I am liable to be detained for several years."

. His Honor: You make a charge in this statement that you got drink on the train. Prisoner: The carnage was full rHit up with drink. Several'of the passengers had drink. ° His Honor: Did the constable see vou have drink? Prisoner: Yes. He had drink himself His Honor: Tins is a most extraordinary charge to make. You state that you got drink on the train and that the constable saw you get the drink. . That is not the constable's statement at all. Is the constable here? ' The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. H. R Billing) said the constable was stationed at Auckland.

His Honor: The constable says that he went into the lavatory at the end of the carriage and when he came back he saw you on the platform at the other end of the carriage. He ran to the end of the carriage, but when ho reached the platform you had disappeared. He looked through all the carriages, but could find no trace of you at all. You, had no business to leave the carnage. It is cases like yours that make the work of the Prisons Board very hard. The Prisons Board trusted you, and then you did this. The Board released you from gaol on probation, you who have twenty previous convictions. You now go and take liquor, and then when the constable's back is turned off you go. The prisoner pleaded that he'had been awaiting sentence for six weeks, and had done hard labor durirg that period. His Honor: If you'are to be excused for what you have done there is no use,having any law at all. You have already been treated kindly. Everything has been done to help you, but you have been guilty of four breaches of your probation.

His Honor imposed a sentence of six months' imprisonment with hard labor after which' prisoner would have to go before the Prisons Board again