Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Monday 19 November 1951, page 1


WARDERS WITNESS DARING ESCAPE FROM PENTRIDGE

MELBOURNE. Sunday.

In one of the most sensa-

tional breaks in the history of Pentridge Gaol, Maxwell Karl Skinner, 26, scaled the 20 foot wall of the remand section In full view of armed warders this afternoon and

escaped.

His escape immediately brought into operation one of the biggest police manhunts for many years.

Hundreds of armed police, in wireless cars, scores of motor cyclists and police on foot scour-ed large areas of Carlton this afternoon.

Skinner was exercising In the remand section of Pentridge un-der the supervision of armed warders. He was dressed in civi-lian clothes, preparatory to ap-pearing in the City Court to-morrow morning.

Skinner suddenly broke free from the line of prisoners, scaled the 20 foot inner wall without the aid of a rope, and ran across a section of the prison farm.

Warders fired several shots at

him, but missed.

He then climbed to the top of the 12-foot outer wall, beside an unoccupied sentry box, and dropped into the street outside.

Police have been told conflict-ing reports as to Skinners move-ments after escaping.

It is believed that he stole a

push bicycle or motor cycle, or got on a tram or bus near the gaol.

One report said he was seen alighting from a tram in Carlton and was heading for Melbourne General Cemetery.

Every available wireless car, mobile patrolman and traffic police was immediately organ-ised, and within minutes had cordoned off the cemetery, where it was thought Skinner was hid-

ing.

Police were posted at every entrance, and squads on foot searched the thickly-wooded cemetery, which has many ideal

place for the fugitive. Skinner is already notorious

for his escapes from custody, he previously escaped from Castle-main Reformatory, Fitzroy

Watchhouse and Richmond Watchhouse.

Warders are mystified as to how Skinner clambered over the

wall.