ATTEMPT TO BREAK INTO A PRISON.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1129, 13 September 1882, Page 2

ATTEMPT TO BREAK INTO A PRISON.

Attempts to break out of prison aro common enough, but it is otherwise with attempts to break into them. A case of the kind, however occurred at Stranraer on June 13th, under peculiar circumstances. A young widow named King, recently, stole £100 in banknotes from her mother, a pawn-broker, and eloped the same night to Liverpool ;j with a young married man named J Porteus. The runaways were appre- ? hended almost immediately at Birken*- "* head, and, after trial, Mrs King was sentenced to twelvemonths' imprisonment in Stranraer prison. Porteus was charged at the same time with theft, and, alternatively, will reset of theft, but got off on both charger. About 1 a.m. on the date mentioned he and another young man named M 'William made an attempt to rescue Mrs King. They scaled the prison wall by means of a ladder, and in the same way get up to the window of Mrs King's cell. Here they were beginning to cut the iron bars, when the governor of the prison observed them. For a time they shewed fight even oj\ the ladder^ -but a police, sergeant climbed' "up after? thMn and' they ttteif sunendered£ '^PlgMft^ 1 .: large retriver dog played an important '■< part in keeping the prison-breakers at bay until the police arrived.