The Prison Breakers.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3782, 15 May 1908, Page 3

The Prison Breakers.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A telegram was received yesterday by the police station that the prisoner Easton, convicted of attempted robbery under arms, and who escaped a few days ago from the Waiotapu tree planting camp, had been recaptured by Constable Ryan, at Rangitaiki. Much indignation has been aroused at Rotorua, near which place the Waiotapu prison camp is located, and the Rotorua Times facetiously reminds the public that “stone bars do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage.” With this as a text the paper goes on to say:— “The escape of another prisoner from Waiotapu is proof of one of two things: either that the discipline and guarding of prisoners is very lax or that prisoners of the wrong class are sent there. Waiotapu is supposed to be a special prison for good conduct prisoners, and those whose offences, even if serious, do not point to a dangerous criminal taint —prisoners in short who are not a menace to society. We understand that the food and conditions under which the prisoners work are greatly superior to those of the regulation prison. One would think, as Mr Brent said when addressing the escaped prisoner Johnson before the Bench last week, that the prisoners would appreciate the favours granted them; instead of which they take advantage of their privileges to make a bolt, and terrorise the peaceful inhabitants of the surrounding country. This state of things should not be allowed to exist a moment longer. The man Usher, who escaped a fortnight ago, is still at large, and may be up to his old tricks.

“If prisoners convicted of such crimes as burglary, housebreaking, and theft with violence are sent to Waiotapu, they should be properly watched, and not allowed to become a menace to a peaceful and orderly district. We suggest that on their recapture, prisoners escaping from Waiotapu shall receive an indeterminate sentence. They have abused the confidence reposed in them, and should be kept under restraint until they have given some proof of amendment. Such punishment would at any rate act as a deterrent. Considering that the escape of prisoners such as Easton, now at large, who is a condemned highwayman, is a public menace, we suggest that the Chamber of Commerce call a public meeting to protest against the incarceration — if such a word can be used about confinement at Waiotapu—of dangerous criminals in a place so largely guarded, and similar meetings should be held at every centre of population in the danger zone. “It appears plain that criminals of the very worst class are sent to Waiotapu at an early stage of their imprisonment. We understand that a prisoner recently convicted in Auckland of housebreaking, who fired three shots at the arresting constable, was sent to Waiotapu last week. If so, will the Minister for Justice explain why such a desperate criminal has been sent to what is regarded as a good conduct prison, at such an early period of his term?”

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Taupo, Last Night. 'the escaped prisoner Easten was captured on Wednesday morning by Constables Ryan and Neil at the Rangitaika Hotel, after a deal of excitement, in which the prisoner made an attempt to shoot Constable Ryan with a ful'y loaded five chambered revolver, which he had in his possession. He concealed the revolver and a box of cartridges in his trouser pocket, and Constable Ryan, observing his peculiar movements, concluded that he was contemplating treachery, and sprang at him as he was drawing the revolver, and immediately handcuffed him. The prisoner then remarked: “Your’sabit too smart for me, or I would have put a couple into you.” The arrest took place at 1 a.m. The prisoner stated that the clothing revolver, and cartridges he had were planted in the scrub near the road some distance from the gaol, he received a note through another prisoner giving the locality of the plant. After leaving gaol he proceeded along towards Galatea, then doubled back on to the Taupo road, so as to lead to the conclusion that he had gone towards Galatea. On the Taupo road he met the roadman, and represented he was a warder looking for an escaped prisoner, and persuaded the roadman to lend him his horse, which he rode to within a mile of Taupo, and then cast it adrift, throwing the saddle and bridle into the scrub, where it was subsequently found. He put up at Mcßae’s Lake Hotel on Monday night, stating that he was a horse dealer, and proceeded next day on foot to the Rangitaika, where he was overtaken by the police and arrested. He is now proceeding to Rotorua under guard. Much anxiety exists in the community at the frequency of these escapes, especially when such desperate characters are sent to Waiotapu, for the community feels that had each of the last escapees been armed, as was Easten, then the whole township would have been at their mercy, reminding one of the Australian bushranging days. It is really high time that the present system of gaoling at Waiotapu was altered. Constable Ryan deserves the highest recognition of his services in arresting Eastern under such conditions.