ESCAPE OF TWO CONVICTS FROM DUNEDIN GAOL.

West Coast Times, Issue 295, 3 September 1866, Page 3

ESCAPE OF TWO CONVICTS FROM DUNEDIN GAOL.

EXCITING CHASE BY THE POLICE,

ONE PRISONER SHOT DEAD-TIIE * OTHER AND TWO CONSTABLES WOUNDED.

We abridge the' following account of this affray from the " Daily Times" of the 25th and 27th ult. : — Thomas Robsou, aged 19 years, and Thomas Langham, 18, escaped from the Dunedin gaol yesterday afternoon. August 24, in a very daring manner, having commenced their operations by a murderous attack upon one of the warders, named Birt. These young ruffians had before tried hard to make themselves notorious by crime. About three years ago, they began by stealing a horse and a couple of saddles from the stable attached to the house of Mr Brown, London .street. They went off to the Dunstau, and when they were traced, they talked of the horse having been stolen from them. The saddles were recovered. The youth of the prisoners led to their being sentenced lightly. Almost as soon as they got at liberty, they went into Oamaru or its neighoorhood, and there they robbed a small jeweller, adopting a sensational style of proceeding ; but were afterwards cleverly entrapped by Sergeant O'Brien. For this offence, Robson was sentenced to six years', and Langham to four years.imprisonment, and the}' had been in gaol nearly two years Each of them has been ill during that period. Langham has been declared by the surgeon to be subject to palpitation of the heart; and he has done nothing beyond very light work for some months, Robson was being taught to work as a blacksmith, in connection with the operations on Bell Hill ; but he was removed from this because of the state of his health, lie was, however, very handy with tools, and consequently he has been kept in the carpenters' shop, or put to light work about the gaol. The two were thus brought together a good deal, in addition to their using the' same exercise yard, and their being kept as much as possible from the other prisoners. It is only 1 necessary to add one other preliminary explanation. Ever since the work on Bell Hill was commenced, it has been the custom to leave but one warder on duty at or near the gate to the debtors' side of the prison, during such portions of the day as the prisoners were out at work ; for, except the cooks, and one or two who were excused from work, there were no criminals near that part at such times. The w,arder at this gate was unarmed. Warder Birt was on duty at the debtors' gate. IJobson, who had been in the carpenters' shop during the forenoon, was sent to do some repair to the fireplace in the sergeant's room on that side of the prison ; and Langham was also in the quarters cleaning them out. These quarters are reached by a staircase close inside the gate, and on the left side ; and the ground story, adjoining the staircase, is occupied by the guard-room, the door of which is in the passage from the gate, the room having one window looking into the passage, aud another into the yard. In line with the right side of the passage is shop, and some other workplaces ; and on the yard fronting the gateway, there is a row of small sheds, backing against the iron- work of. the platform on which (except when the prisoners are at work on the Hill) there is always an armed officer patrolling. The platform commands the stockade, as it is called, in which a great deal of stone-breaking was' done ; and the stockade has one of its faces to the Bay, there being a narrow strip of dry ground outside, even at high tide. Kobson and Lanham being engaged in the sergeant's room, as we have stated, Rob3on, about three o'clock, went to warder Birt and asked him to come and look at the chimney-piece, to see if it " would do." Birt went up, and llobson pointed out that the woodwork of £he chimneypice was loose. While Birt was looking at the thing, Robson struck him on the back of the head with a heavy mallet such as carpenters use ; and Birt being stunned, but still able to seize his assailant, more blows were given, until Birt dropped. He was helpless, and all but senseless ; but he remembers that his keys were taken .from him, and that a cloth was held over his mouth by one of the young ruffians. The other must have hurried downstairs into the gateway and unlocked the guard-room. There he found one of Colt's patent revolver" carbines, each of the five chambers loaded, and capped, together with two five-shooter pistols, similarly prepared; and possessing himself of these, he must have returned to the staircase, and given a signal to his comrade who was watching over Birt. The keys would have enaLled the desperadoes to have opened the gate" and stepped into Stuart street. They must have decided that that course was more risky than the one which they adopted, and which was certainly the more difficult and daring one. This was, to cross the yard, to get on to the sloping top of the coal-sheds, climb thence on to the platform, traverse the platform to the corner near the bell turret, and there drop down/ on the beach side. The villains calculated rightly on the effect which a cocked re-volver-carbine and pistol would have upon any of the debtors, or upon those prisoners who were acting as servants. When the one who had been watching over Birt came Sown stairs, George Henry, a black man, who is acting as cook, came into the gateway, and seeing what was being done, he caught hold of Robson, who shook him off, and, presenting the carbine, threatened to shoot him if he stirred another stop. Joseph Williams, a sailor, also attempted to stop one of the fellows, but was similarly dealt with.' A debtor who was in a shed adjoining the carpenters' shop, came out on hearing the scuffle upstairs ; but he confesses that he so much disliked the prospect of being shot, that he went as quickly as possible into the debtors' quarters and hurried upstairs. Several other debtors came into the yard ; but each who showed himself was "covered," and was sent back with an oath, and a threat of "a ball through him." Robson and Langham then scrambled on to the roof of the coalshed, by the aid of an open door. The one who was first on the steeply-sloping roof helped the other up ; and a pNtol being dropped, one of them jumped back to the yard and fetched it. Being on the roof, the climb to the platform, the run round it, and the dropping over on to the beach, wero quickly managed; and tlie young desperadoes were on the run down Cumberland street before an alarm was giyen within the Gaol.

As soou as this was done Mr Stoddart sent a messenger to the Commissioner of Police, and he also caused the prisoners to be fetched in from Bell Hill, so that the majority of the warders might be at liberty to join in the chase.

Mr Branigan started, instantly on tho receipt of the message, with every available officer. The men were traced along Cumberland street to Albany street, where they turned down until they reached Forth street. After mounting the rise there they got into the Town Belt, and were thus at liberty to choose a hidingplace or to make their way into the scrub adjoining the Belt, In Cumberland street the two passed close to a well-known resident in Dunedin ; who, surprised by seeing the prison dress, could only ask, " Hallo ! what's up now V" when he had a, ■ pistol shoved in his face, and was told to hold his tongue. Several children and women saw the rascals subsequently, and the track they took was in several places marked with blood, no doubt from hurts got in clambering ou to the roof or the shed, or in dropping on the beach. What w.",s possible was done by Mr Branigan I and Mr Stoddart, to find some clue to the j course which the escapees had taken in > the bush ; but all this was fruitless'! '' As evening came on, foot and'mounted patrols j were sent out ; at a later hour the .vhole ; of the force that could be made available '

was again engaged, in consequence, we believe, of information as to the direction taken by the two rascals ; but up to midnight of Friday nothing had been heard of their capture. We. ("Times," August 28) shall endeavor to give a narrative of what was done by the authorities from dusk on Friday evening,. xip to the death of Laugham and the capture of Robson, adding such other particulars as we believe tn be reliable.

After dark on Friday evening, when the criminals had been lost in the bush to the north-west of the Pelichet Bay jetty, a force of warders and police was sent to surround that section of tire bush ; and two men were despatched to keep watch on each side of the harbor. It seemed probable that, as night came on, the criminals wou'd -make their way across the open land near the top of the hill on which they were, and, passing hy the residence 6t Capt. Boyd, would attempt to gain the Blueskin bush. The Commissioner of Police, with four troopers, therefore set off to keep the part of the Port Chalmers road, which would have to be crossed if this attempt was made. During the night, the officers stationed at Waiko'iaiti came down, in obedience to a telegram ; as did also Trooper J. Meredith Smith, from Oamaru, to whom is due the credit of the capture of Langham and Robson after their Oamaru exploit, and not ty> Sergeant O'Brien, who was named on Saturday. The Water-Police were on duty on a bluff, where it was supposed they would be useful ; and their boat was manned and moored in the Bay, as a look-out. Meanwhile, Langham and Robson had doubled on their first track, had crossed

he Water of Leith stream, aud had got to

the neighborhood of Black Jack's Point. Information was brought to the North Dunedin station, that the convicts had entered a hut belonging to Mr De Lacy, near the shore, in a cove round Black Jack's Point, had asked various questions, had showed their weapons and declared who they were, and had stated that they wanted a boat. Langham, indeed, said that they wanted to go to " Dick White's," and asked where his house was. White is a man who was recently in giol, having been convicted of robbing premises in Cumberland street, and in other parts of the city. Information' was given to the convicts as to where White's house lay on

the opposite (or Peninsula) aide of the Bay ; and the two managed to get there, having taken a boat (which belongs, as we

hear, to Mr M'Keay), a resident in the locality of the hut. When this news reached the police,- men were sent on to hut and also to White's house ; but the latter party arrived just after Langham and llobson bad departed. At White's, they demanded something to eat, and some tea ; and each fed himself with his left hand, Langham keeping the stolen rifle over his right arm, and Robson holding a revolver in his right hand Langham also demanded, and got from White, a pair of trousers, which he put on, leaving behind those belonging to the gaol, which were much stained with b'.ood. Langham said that 'Ihe blood came from " that Birt" (the warder) ; aud both the men talked so as to show that* they believed that the blows struck on Birt's head with the mallet, had killed him.

The escapees having thus, undoubtedly, crossed the harbor, the officers were withdrawn from the Port Chalmers and Blueskin road, and sent into the Anderson's Bay district. This was early on Saturday morning;, and during the forenoon, notices were issued by the Commissioner of Police, that a reward of LSO would be paid for such information as led to the capture of the criminals. Information was given, to the eftect that they intended to get back again to White's house during Saturday night. Some talkative people, easily but profoundly wise after the event, have busied themselves in abusing the authorities for believing this information ; and have declared that it was palpably a " blind" on behalf of the prisoners. Such persons may now accept it as a fact, that the criminals had the intention of returning to White's, that Robson yesterday stated such to have been their first resolve ; aud that he added that the plan was changed because he " funked" at, and go caused Langham to give up what he strongly desired to do up to the last. The effect of the information given was, that after dark on Saturday evening, the Commissioner of Police, with the Governor'of the Gaol, and a force of officers of both departments, went down to White's, and took up positions commanding his house. There they remained in waiting until after ten o'clock, when j they were relieved by Mr Albert Griffiths. ! That gentleman, as soon as- news was received of what had occurred at Anderson's Bay, took a swift boat, told the news to Mr Branigan, and brought back to town Mr Branigan and Mr Stoddart. The force sent into the Anderson's Bay district consisted of two troopers, and five officers on foot, including one warder ; Sergeant-Major Moore being in command. The instructions given to them "were that during the day they should hold positions on the high ground, so as to have command of the country ; and that as evening came on, they should draw down and establish a line from the Ocean Beach to the head of Anderson's Bay. At dusk, the boat belonging to the Water Police was shifted up the harbor ; and some of the men of that section of the force were sent on to the end of a bluff, so as to command

that part of tho beach. The residents in the Anderson's Bay district were warned that the criminals were on that side ; aud they were also instructed to give iufonuution at llildreth's Hotel, if the men were seen. The stables of the hotel became a sort of head-quurtcrs, iiv fact, ?cr»canu Major Moore stationed ono man very near to the junction of the Anderson's Bay Road with the district road to the Ocean Beach ; another, who was Constable Baxter, was put between the two small hills which skirt the district road ou the left side ; a third was on the flat swampy land, in a line with the house of Mr Neill ; another was still further on the flat ' and two wore on the Ocean Beach. It will thus be seen that by dusk on Saturday, the two prisoners were completely hemmed in on the Peninsula. If they went back to White's, they would have been captured, whatever their desperation, or whatever life . they might first have sacrificed ; if they came out on the Ocean Beach or the adjoining flat, on their way to get food or horses, they could scarcely escape observation. The strict orders to each body of officers wus to capture the criminals alive if doing so was possible by any -means; aud they were not fired upon until ■ Langham had tried to slay an officer, and had missed doing so by the narrowest of chances.

When Langham aud Robson determined to move, after leaving White's, they worked away through the bush until they got to that at the back of Vauxhall Gardens ; and they passed the Gardens so closely, according to Robson, that they " could hear the practising in the (shooting) gallery." Soon after this, they were seen. In fact, they came upon a resident, in the district, Mr Storey, who was out with a friend, and " Stuck them up." The desperadoes presented their weapons at Mr Storey and his friend, demanding whether the police were out in the neighborhood ; what was said in the paper as to the escape from the Gaol ; and whether Mr Storey or his "friend had an evening paper about him This was about halfpast six, information was given to Ser-jeant-Major Moore, at the Anderson's Bay Hotel, of what had happened, and of the certainty that the two criminals were still hiding in a bit of bush which was indicated. This bu-h was nearly in front of the point where Baxter was lying between the two hills skirting the district road. Moore sent a message, to Baxter, to be on the alert ; Constable Fair was sent x on to a point of the district road between that commanded by Baxter and the Beach ; and Moore mounted to ride round to the- other post?. 1 He had nearly reached the junction- of the roads, when he heard arms discharged ; and on getting into the road, Baxter called out thahe had been shdt in the head. He also, said that he believed the two men were on the road or not far from it.

Premising here that the district road is bounded on the left side from the main road by a high and stout stone wall, and on the right side by a high wire fence — that the slope from the point at which Baxter had been stationed is rather steep, and thnt from the wire fence the peaty land stretches level to the sand-hills and to the Forhury road — we must state how Baxter had been engaged. About twenty minutes before seven, he saw two men who had apparently come -from %he bush, walking across the paddock opposite to his post. They came on and crossed the fence into tho paddock in which he was ; and then made a slant, as if to cross ano'.her fence running from the road up behind the Anderson's Bay Hotel to the district roar. Tliis fence was 200 or 300 yards from Baxter ; and he now rose and straggled down towards the men (he was of course not in his uniform), as if he was simply looking about him. When he was withiu 100 yards of them, the men seated themselves on a slight hillock, and did not move until he was within eight or ten yards. Then he recognised the caps worn by the men as being part of the gaol dress; and the ruffians recognised or suspected him, for there was a muttered "Fell the ,M, M or tv Shoot the ." One of them who was wearing a coat (Robson) | presented a revolver ; and the other brought a rifle into position. Baxter retreated a few yards, and then turned and fronted the men, intending to challenge them to surrender ; but as soon as he turned he was shot at,and a bullet whizzed close to his ear, but did not hit him. This shot is believed to have come from Lang - ham's rifle. Baxter drew his revolver, and fired, but without any visible effect ; for the two separated slightly and began a smart walk. Baxter called to them, " Stand ! I'm a police officer !'' but as they still moved off he repeated his challenge as loudly as possible. He also " cooed" to warn his "comrades. The men commenced to run, now making in the direction of the district road ; and B txter fired a second shot, but still without effect, so far as he could discover. Baxter followed in the chase, calling loudly for assistance, and he even shouted " Murder !" thinking to attract some men whom he had observed,and who, as he knew, must be still within hearing. He fired a third shot, and this struck Robson, who Ml forward on his hands and. knees. Langham instantly turned, knelt, took steady aim, and fired ; and the ball hit Baxter on the left side of the head, behind and almost in line \\ith the ear. Baxter's felt hat was left with a long jagged hole in it ; but no doubt the substance of the felt and the band turned the ball slightly, and the wound on Baxter's head, though severe, is fortunately not at all dangerous. Subsequently, Coustabie Bevan and Sergeant-Major Moore" came to Baxter's assistance ; and after a while, he went to a cottage on the brickfield aud had his wouud washed before coming ou to town. When Moore got ou to the district road, after hearing shots and finding Baxter wounded, he was joined by Constable Fair, and they went along the road nearly to the sandhills, without seeing anything of the two ruffians ; although when Moore was putting his- horse at the stone wall to go to Baxter's assistance, a shot was fired at him or Fair, who was near. There was bright moonlight during Saturday evening, but the moon was not well up at t»is time; and the broken state of the road, and the way in which it and the peat land is strewed with patches of stiff grass, rendered it very difficult to distinguish a^y object oven at a short distance. As nothing could be seen of either of the men, Moore concluded that they had crossed the road and the wire fence, and were making their way over the flat towards the Forbury or Cavers-ham. Therefore, he gave instructions to the officers to scour the line of the fence as closely as possible, and to look to a deep ditch a few yards inside it ; he himself galloping into town, and de-

spatohinjr Irom the depot the few officers, lemaining available t!..re, and instructing them to watch point-, oi the (Javersiiam Road at which it \va- piobalilc the lueu wotuld attempt to cros*.. On this service one or two young men, not of the -fqreo,' acted as volunteers.

Constables Bevan and Fair, aud Warder Macnamani were those to whom, principally, Moore had been able to give iua;ructions on leaving for town. Those officers, after again looking over the roud and along the fence, a man believed to be Robson 'was seen beyond the ditch, and was several times challenged to surrender. No reply was given, and a shot was fired in the direction. The officers kept divided, so as to cover more than onehundred yards of ground j aud after this had been repeated twice or thrice, Macnamara pointed to wheie he thought lie saw Langham, who had on no coat, and was therefore more likely to bo seen againstthe dark soil. A challenge was given; it was shouted, "Langham, we see you; give up your arms ! " and " Langham, its no use, you had better surrender ! '' A shot was fired from the spot ; and one was fired by the officers. Again there was a challenge, and there being no reply, another shot was fired. Subsequently, Macnamara crept up to the spot and found Langham, apparently dead, with his rifle beside him. Again the officers commenced to beat over the ground, and, at last, Fair saw what he believed to be the head of Robson just above the line of the ditch. Fair presented his revolver, and shouted, " Robson, you had better surrender ! " For a minute, there was no answer ; but when Fair called, " If you don't come out directly, and surrender, I'll fire," Robson answered that he woul'l do so. ' lie was told to drop his revolver, which he did. and then Fair rushed on him, pulling him out of the ditch, and found that he was wounded in the right leg. A second revolver was taken from Robson ; who had been lying concealed some twenty yards (along the fence) from the spot where Langham fell. All this happened before Moore returned from town ; and now, nothing remained but to obtain, the means of bringing the hapless dead criminal, and the as hapless wounded one, into town. Moore's visit to town, and the arrival of Baxter, luftl led to rumors as to what had been occurring at Anderson's Bay ; so that when the express wagon, with the corpse, and the wounded Robson, arrived at the Constabulary Depot, there was speedily gathered a large and a wildly speculative crowd. Langham's body still remains at the depot. Robaon's wound, a severe one in the fleshy part of the right leg, accompanied by fracture of the bone, was attended to by Dr. Currie, at the depot, and an attempt was made to extract the ball, which it subsequently appeared had not lodged. Robson was then sent to the Hospital. It is believed that the ball entered about three inches above the ancle, and came out at the centre of the calf, the hit having (as before stated) been given while Robson was running. It is not true thai the leg was amputated yesterday. We believe it was once believed by Drs. Hulme and Burns that such a course would bo necessary, but Robson was then very weak. He has since rallied, and he was progressing favorably last evening. Langham was shot in the thorax ; and his death must have been very speedy.

The rifle which Langham carried was found to be loaded in three of its five chambers ; both the pistols which Rbbson had were fully loaded aiuT capped when they were recovered. It is believed that he did not fire at all during the conflict. However they were obtained, there is reason for concluding that the criminals had, cartridges with them. White says that he saw twelve or fifteeu in the possession of Laugham on Friday "night. It will -be remembered that the rifle and pistols were fully loaded and capped when stolen from the' Gaol.