ALLEGED ATTEMPT AT GAOLBREAKING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2094, 21 January 1908, Page 2

ALLEGED ATTEMPT AT GAOLBREAKING.

ACCUSED'S STRANGE STATE-

MENT

REMARKS BY THE S.M

1 (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Jsui. 20. An alleged attempt, to break gaol by means of a rope ladder and a li. Sinclair, who in August last was I!. Sinclair, who in Augupst last was sentenced to 15 years’ penal’ servitude for burglary. Along with other men named' Hamilton' and Ferris, Sinclair appeared before Mr. Riddell, S.Mr, this afternoon, charged with haring in his possession, at the Terrace Gaol, a black Alpaca coat, a pair of knickerbockers, a false hand or glove, a rope ladder, a skeleton key, and a half-sovereign, with the intention of escaping from legal custody. The prisoner, pleaded' guilty to the offence, which was alleged to have taken place on iSaturdav last. Ho stated that he worked’ on Mount Cook, and with the rest of the prisoners was thoroughly searched on re-entering the gaol. Another prisoner must have put the articles into his cell, in order to obtain a remission of his sentence. According to the. system they had in the gaol, there was a premium on that sort of thipg. Mr. Armstrong, the gaoler, said that the articles had been found on the person of the prisoner, and between 12 and a quarter to 2 he could have told the officials about the property. His Worship said that if the prisoner’s statement was true, it was his duty to report the matter at once. The sentence on Ihe prisoner would be six weeks’ close confinement ill a light cell, aifrl to forfeit- a number of marks, not exceeding such a number as would gain for him the remission from his sentence, of one year.