Aldershot Military Gazette 03 September 1859.

ESCAPE OF MILITARY PRISONERS AND CLEVER CAPTURE.

On Monday, a clever capture of four out of five military prisoners, who had broken out of the artillery prison, Woolwich, was made by the police at Greenwich. It appears that the whole of the men had been tried by court-martial for various offences and were awaiting sentence. During the night they succeeded in cutting away the woodwork surrounding the lock of the door of the cell, and having gained access to the passage, they there broke into the private quarters of an officer, at present on foreign service, and stole a quantity of plated articles and jewellery. Although a sentry was on duty, they contrived to get away unperceived, and all being in plain clothes no description could be given of them. About five o'clock on Tuesday morning, Police-constable Looker, 295 R, was on duty in the Lower-road, Deptford, and stopped a young man, who gave his name Stephen Bennett, belonging to Bristol, and on his road to London. The constable, not being satisfied with his appearance, at once proceeded to search him, and having found two gold brooches and several silver spoons, together with other articles in his possession, he was taken into custody and locked up. A short time afterwards three other men were stopped on Blackheath by Police-constable Watts, 70, and Edwards, 220, R, two of whom gave their names William Atkins and Thomas Williams, were secured, but the third, who is at present at large, succeeded in making good his escape by swimming across the Ravensbourne at Lewisham. In the possession of these two men other plated articles were found, and a struggle at once took place between them and the constables, but they were eventually overpowered and locked up. About half an hour afterwards information was received that another of the escaped prisoners had been apprehended by police - sergeant McPherson, 50 R. He gave his name George Waters, and at the time of his capture three bottles of whisky were found in his possession, which have since been ascertained to belong to Mr. Turner, landlord of the "Director-General." Wellington-street, Woolwich, whose premises had been entered during the night by the cellar flap being forcibly removed. The prisoners will be amenable to martial law for breaking out of prison, but Waters will be handed over to the civil power for the burglary at Mr. Turner's.