The Northern Guardian.
Hartlepool, Cleveland, England, 1896-12-25 00:00:00

DARTMOOR CONVICTS ATTEMPT
TO ESCAPE.
ONE CONVICT SHOT DEAD.
ANOTHER MAN WOUNDED.

A CONVICT STILL AT LARGE.

A Plymouth correspondent telegraphed on
Thursday that news had been received there from
Prineetown, Dartmoor, that three prieonera, while
returning to the convict establishment at that place
from th,ir work on the prison farm, made a
desperate attempt toescape. One of them woe shot I
dead by the warders, who went in pursuit, but at
the time of telegraphing the other two were still at

large.
A later telegram from a Tavistock correspondent
says there was evidently a concerted plan on the
part of the prisoners working in one of the outdoor
gangs to make their escape, as on Thursday morn- '
ing three convicts bolted simultaneously from their
posts. One of them was shot dead, and another
was no wounded by a gunshot that he was imme-
diately recaptured, whilst the third, named Ralph
Goodwin, who made off in the direction of Bear-
down, in the Forest of Dartmoor, got clear away.
A hue and cry was raised, and every means taken
by the prison authorities to recapture the escaped
prisoner, but up to last evening without avail.
Telegrams have been despatched in all directions
giving a description of the convict, and it is hardly
probable that he will be long at large, although the
heavy foggy weather is greatly in his favour. The
injured prisoner who was captured woe found to
have received some shota in the head.
A Tavistock correspondent, telegraphing yea
terday afternoon, says t—The convict Ralph
Goodwin, who escaped from Dartmoor Convict
Establishment yesterday, is atilt at large, notwith-
standing every offort on the part of the authorities
to effect his recapture. It has been ascertained
that during last eight Goodwin broke into a house
near Poet Bridge, in the heart of Dartmoor, where
he effected a change of clothing, and is now clad in
a black coat, with velvet collar, brown shoes and
eailor's hat with band torn off. Mounted messeogern
are scouring the district, but up to the present
Goodwin hen eluded them. It is long since a
convict succeeded in getting off even for this short
period from Dartmoor, and much excitement pre.
Tails in the neighbourhood over the affair.
Last night the same correspondent telegraphed
—The attempt of three convicts to escape from '
Princetown occurred at 11 o'clock on Thursday
morning. When three batches of prisoners who
bad been working on the farm grounds were being
taken back to prison for dinner a heavy cloud
almost enveloped the whole party. Three convict.
in the front of the third batch MEW(' a sudden dash
for liberty, nearly overturning anvil guard in their
wild rash. Matters at once became exciting, and.
chase ensued. Close to where the prisoners bolted
le a strip of copse, and it was thought all three
men had made for it. The enclosare was searched,
but only two men were discovered. On being
sighted, one waa called upon to stop, but ran off in
an opposite direction On this,

simultaneously on the fugitive. One of the charges
lodged in the prisoner's back. He threw up his
anon, and with a groan dropped dead. The second
prisoner was following closely on his comrade's
heele, but seeing the tragic incident he turned back
into the copse. The two officers closed with the
prisoner, and a desperate etrusgle monied. The
prisoner seined the officer hy the throat. The
officer drew hie truncheon, and belaboured the con-
vict to such purpose that he was speedily necured.
In the meantime, the third prisoner got clear away,
several fence walls favouring his escape. Tim whole
of the officers who could be spared from the prison,
both mounted and on foot, scoured the moors for
miles, but night closed in without the fugitive ever
being sighted. His name is Ralph Goodwin, now
under sentence of five years' penal servitude, and
this is said to be his third term of committal. The
man fatally shot in one of the men who took part
in the masked burglary at Lewieharn, and was
sentenced to 12 years' penal servitude early in the
year. The recaptured prisoner was also undergoing
12 yearn sentence.

ESCAPE OF ANOTHER CONVICT.
The daring escapade of convicts belonging to the I
Princetown Convict Establishment, Dartmoor, was
followed yesterday morning by a successful escape
from Parkhuret Prison, in the Isle of Wight. The
circummances of the escape are not yet known, but
the convict who has gained his liberty tan young
man, 30 years of age, named Thomas Gilbert, and
he is a proportionately built fellow, 51t. 10in. in
height. The police all over the kingdom have been
notified of the affair, and every effort is being made
to trace the man. It is stated that the prison '
authorities are unable to describe Gilbert's wearing
apparel, and the inference is that he must have
either secured civilian's garb before his uncere.
monious departure or have obtained it by stealth
when dear of the island convict establishment.