BURNECLE IN COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3333, 27 September 1911, Page 6

BURNECLE IN COURT.

A PLEA OF “GUILTY.” COMMUTED TO SUPREME COURT FOR SENTENCE. The sequel to the somewhat sensational escape of the prisoner Burnecle, alias Pearce, alias Barnicle, from the Gisborne Gaol last Thursday, was enacted before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when the prisoner was charged with the offence that, being on the _ 21st day of September, 1911, at the Gisborne Gaol lawfully in the custody of Charles Alfred Dollimore, gaoler,. under a warrant issued from the Supreme Court of New Zealand upon an indictable conviction for assault and robbery, he did escape from the said gaol. Sergeant Hutton represented the police. ' Charles Alfred _ Dollimore, a warder at the Napier prison, and at the present time acting gaoler at Gisborne, stated that the prisoner was in the gaol on Thursday, 21st. Witness last saw the prisoner in the exercise yard at 10.40 a.m. on the 21st inst. He had just finished one job and was starting on another. A knock at the front gate called witness away, and he admitted a constable with two prisoners. He noticed that one of the prisoners had a good deal of property, and it would take him some little time to check it with the property sheet. He (witness) asked one of the constables if he would wait a few minutes with the men, and the latter agreed. He then opened the door leading to the exercise yard, and could not see the accused about. He noticed a long-handled hair broom lying near a barred window, but at that time had no suspicion that the prisoner had escaped. Fie made search, but could find no trace of him. Passing his cell he saw his jacket, waistcoat, and cap lying there. He went to the window and there saw foo'tmarks on the bars, and he concluded that the prisoner had escaped at this particular place. Witness next saw the accused in the custody of the police." He produced the “Gazette” containing the proclamation of the Gisborne prison. Constable Moore stated that on the 21st inst. lie was apprised of the escape of the prisoner Burnecle from the Gisborne Gaol, and on Saturday, 23rd, he recaptured the escapee about 27 miles from Gisborne, on the Wairoa road, about 3.30 p.m. The prisoner was brought back and lodged in the cells that night; Prisoner had been convicted of assault and robbery on the 18th inst. at the Supreme Court, and was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment and four years’ reformative treatment. He produced a copy of that' sentence. The accused offered no resistance on his arrest. The prisoner intimated that there was nothing he wished to sav. He pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland fo'r sentence. Addressing the prisoner his Worship said it was very foolish of him to escape from prison, as it could only add to his sentence. He counselled him not to make any further attempt to escape, and stated that the prisoner would find people ready to help him if he abided by the prison rules. He was a. young man, and it was not too late for him to start life over again. The life he was living was a very wretched one, and it would be better* for him if he started life afresh on his release.