ESCAPING FROM GAOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1919, Page 6

ESCAPING FROM GAOL.

PRISONER BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE. Henry Matthews, who is undergoing a sentence in the Now Plymouth gaol was charged before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M., yesterday with attempting to escape from custody. The chief gaoler (Mr. J. Vincent) prosecuted. The hearing was adjourned to the giol premises. On being asked to plead, prisoner admitted the charge but asked permission to make a statement as to what had caused him to make the attempt. This was granted, and he read a somewhat lengthy statement, in which, after stating that he knew he lad committed ';. crimy— had made his bed and would have to lie on it. He pleaded for leniency, and asked that nothing be done to prolong his sentence and keep him from »his dear relations outside wliom lie had not been "lble to see for 15 years. He proceeded to state that he committed the offence in a moment of passion and thoughtlessness of mind He had been "worked up to it" by the treatment mete<' out to him by Warder Glynn. He stiffend with his head. He had had two years' active service in the present war, and had suffered the hardships of war. He had had injuries to his head and hud been medically advised to avoid excitement. He then related that on the nighc before the offence he came up from work in the quarry with the other men, and took his proper place in the lines. Another prisoner came up and told him to g*t into his place. He made no reply and although '"arder Glynn saw the other prisoner *peak to him no notice was taken of it. The other prisoner said something else and when accused replied Glynn reported him fur talking in the lines He said the otuer prisoner had spok-m first, but the warder told him he would be reported. Warder Glynn had bullied him and treated him brutally all the time he had been there. He had tried to play the game as he Wanted to get out and become a respectable memi ber of the community. He said the idea j of escaping came to him all of a sudden. He lost his head and tried to gel away. He said he had had fair treatment irom the gaoler and the other warders, except in regard to what he had already stated. On the day he ran away. when he got to the bottom of the creek he found Warder Glynn had him covered with a revolver and he put up hid band*. Glynn kept the revolver pointed at bWu, and while coining back poked the mimic of it into his back. He believed he wanted a provocat;on for shooting him. He kept the revolver pointed at his head even after they got back inside the gaol gates. He knew Glynn watched him from the garden, and others had told him that Glynn had said if he had accused to deal with he would shoot him. He could bring witnesses to prove it. He reiterated that he had tried to play the game. Tj a question by the gaoler as to wketner he had Attempted to escape from any ether institution, prisoner declined to rsidy. He said, howsver, that lie supposed the reference was to the Burnham, Industrial School. Tho Gaoler: Have you ever threatened in my presence to escape? Accused: Yes, if this tyranny ngainst me is continued. To the Magistrate: He had made repeated complaints against Warder Glynn. He knew lie was neglecting his duty in leaving his prisoners in order to come over io the quarry. Tho Gaoler stated that he had instructed G'\nn to look over the quarries and to giie assistance there The wisdom of that had been proved Ly the exceedingly smart capture of the prisoner made by Glynn on the morning of the escape. Prisoner here related that his war service had been with the Royal Naval Reserve and that he had been returned to New Zealand for domestic reasons. His discharges from service in the merchant service were examined by the Magistrate and they appeared to be satwfeetory. Nj proper discharge could be produced from the Navy. In reply to a question by the Magistrate the gaoler said prisoner had been transferred from Lyttelton to New Plymouth on an emergency warrant, September 10, 1917. His conduct was generally that of a quarrelsome prisoner. He had been let off with a warning on account of the charge of talking in the lines, and his conduct the same morning in trying to escape vas the way he recognised the leniency of the treatment accorded him. Prisoner was sentenced to three days on bnad and water, and to forfeit conduct marks equivalent to nine month? 1 remission of sentence.