THE ESCAPE OF ROBERTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1749, 12 June 1888, Page 2

THE ESCAPE OF ROBERTS.

The Press gives the folio wing particulars of Roberts’ escape on Friday lasti— At eight o’clock in the morning forty convicts left Lyttelton and proceeded to Bipa island, as it was their daily custom to do, to work on the fortifications in progress there. Roberts was among the number, and the visit was only his second one, so it is apparent that he made good use of the first > opportunity which presented itself. At the island there were four ot the Permanent Artillery," with a non-commissioned oSoer and four warders; of whom. Warderßell was ' the senior, all exercising supervision oyer the prisoners to prevent any escaping. There was no sentry on the mainland of the Peninsula, however, which is only some 30yds away, and wnloh at low tide can be reached by wading across the strait separating the two. The prisoners leave off work at noon for dinner, which is served hot, and on this \ occasion there was no . deviation rirom the /ordinary proceedingi, Between that hour and one o’clock the prisoners marched into the mess room, a building made oft galvanised iron, wtioh was once used as a torped) eV.d. , Tie man eat their food at the one end of the table and the warders at the other. All were looked in, and a member of the Permanent Artillery Corps was placed on guard outside. It was daring the bustle and preparation for the meal that Roberts must have regained his liberty, as his absence from the mess-table was unobserved, and it was only found out by what may betermed •a accident. When the meal was completed, a warder or a permanent artilleryman passed round to the back of the shed. While doing iso, he noticed that a sheet of galvanised iron had been out on three sides and bent down. He immediately drew attention to tbie, and a suspicion appears to have been aroused at once that it was used for an illegitimate purpose. A master of the prisoners was made, and thirty-nine were found to be all who were present. Roberts was the fortieth, and be was not to be found, search where they would. Upon an examination of the aperture through which he evidently went, it was observed that the iron had been very neatly out, and the whole of theoirbumstancei pointed to an accomplice or accomplices. That many of the other! prisoners were aware of hit movements is hardly to be doubted, and it is a most comical thing that the warders should not . hare missed a man from the table. With appetites sharpened by the sea ait they sat down to the feast,, and enjoyed it oblivious of the joke the prisoners were. having at their expense as Roberts’ portion was passed along,accepted, and eaten, when Roberts was all the time improving the dietaries between himself! and the gaol authorities. The “ hole in the wall” brought the men in uniform to their bearings, and while the prisoners were tittering at the smartness of Roberts, and tbe bewildered, annoyed, and tricked guardians, the latter quickly organised a search party, which went off in pursuit. The surmise was that the famous Timara gaol-breaker had bwmh the 30yds between the island and the Peninsula (as the tide was high), and to the mainland several of the artillery corps hurried. Fifty yards up the hill O’Brien discovered the convict’s jumper, which was only a slight clue. After a deal of futile running about, all three returned to the island, aad were , brought to Lyttelton in the steam launch, which had on board the prisoners, who seemed highly delighted at the occurrence, and on landing one jocularly remarked that Roberta had "gone up in a balloon.” Two of the artillery and a warder went much further afield than the others, and had not returned to the starting point when the launch left on her second journey for the port, Roberts was at one time in the Bank of New Zealand at Akaroa, and is likely to be well acquainted with the nature and facilities of the country. He got a good hour’s start of bis pursuers, and there is just the possibility that he will lead them a nice little chase. Should he keep to the Peninsula, the chances are in favor of an early capture, but it he succeeds under cover of darkness in crossing the bay arid reaching the town side of the harbor it may be another month before he is caught, if even then.

Ohbistohttbch, Jane 9. Eipa Island stands on the west side of the entrance to Parau Bay, and is separated from, the mainland by about 50yds or 60yds of a strait. On all sides, exospt the water front to this strait, cio ipa from the island by a prisoner would be difficult indeed, the rooky ribs of Eipa rising up almost sheer. Yet it. appears that this -'scoot hole ” into the strait had no sentry on gnard at it, and none planted on any of the “ cliff superior,” from which both harbor and strait could have been overlooked. As a matter of fset, only on» sentry was on duly yesterday on the: island at all, and his post was at the front door of/ the mess-shed in which , both prisoners,' warders,-and Permanent Artillerymen take their meals. The prisoners are filed intio this shed by the warders, who count the men as they enter, and then themselves follow to partake of their njeali, sitting in the same shed with their charg' *, and having them under their eyes., Ye-tsrdsy, at, dinner time Bdberts so tiled'iu with his fellow prisoners, but at once made for the back of the corrugated iron shod* one sheet of which iron had been previously “ faked,” evidently for bis special benefit, Through this opening

Jonathan sped, and making use of his splendid tanning powers he reached the strait.. No bsttsr swimmer ever, breasted the water than Jonathan Roberts, and bnt a few minutee would suffice him to reach the mainland. June 10.

The police are still scouring the port hills for Jonathan Roberts. Inspector Pender went to Lyttelton yesterday and again to-day to direct operations. The only trace of the fugitive was found by an artilleryman, who discovered footprints in the snow on the top of the range above Pert Levy on Friday night. He traced them for a considerable distance, but fi a ally lost them at a heap of rocks, which it is supposed Roberti climbed in order to break the trail. Considerable sympathy is expressed for him. on account of his daring an 1 * adroitness,'as well as from the fact that he tried to live honestly after his first escape, and from the feeling that his sentence of five years for horsestealing was too savers. * On Saturday afternoon. Constable O’Leary was coming in from the lead of the Bay, where he had been attending the meeting of the Licensing Committee, and when 'about one mile the other aide of the Governor's Bay Hotel his attention 1 was drawn* to an ominous looking pares! whieh was plaoed in a conspicuous place on a large stone on the hillside. The parcel was secured and' on examination it was found to contain sandwiches. Attached to it by a atring waa a card bearing tha following on one sidf "TO JONATHAN ROBERTS, may it do good to his weary body.”; On the other dda in mourning—" Wishing Min; etery success, with best wishes. Tours sincerely, ‘l’m a bit of a liar myself.”’ It is understood' tha polios hare got a clue to the person who laid the parcel out there. ;