Black Joe, who has already appeared as having laid the police on the cattle stealers, as described in a previous number, has again to appear in this as performing the same service in leading to the recapture of Bell Chambers and Collins (the former a notorious character), who together had been guilty of stealing cows from Mr. Warland. They had been caught, committed for trial, and had escaped from gaol, adding two more to those who gave double work to our police until a suitable gaol was built. At the same criminal sessions at which these two men were tried the wife of Collins was also tried for the crime of shop-lifting and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

Mr. Alford on a certain day was met in Hindley-street by Black Joe, who said he was about to call at the barracks to give information, and asked the Sergeant-Major if he had not been out seeking Bell Chambers ? ''Yes,'' "What, then, have you to tell me about him ?'' "Well, he and Collins are hiding in the tiers ; they were at my coffee shop last night for food, and they promised to come again to-night, and if you will come out I will give them something stronger than milk in their coffee, which will be sure to detain them.''

On receiving this news, Mr. Alford on his way to the Police-station called at the Old Gaol, to let the governor (Mr. Ashton) know that he had got information which would give him great pleasure. On hearing the news Mr. Ashton accompanied the Sergeant-Major to the Police-station to have an interview with Inspector Stewart. Mr. Ashton and Inspector Stewart arrived in the colony together, both having served in the London detective police force with such credit that they had been sent out with promises of good appointments under our Government, and which they obtained.

On hearing from the Sergeant-Major the clue he had obtained, Inspector Stewart decided to take charge of the party himself, assisted by Mr. Alford. Mr. Stewart being Inspector of foot police, a quiet and safe horse was kept especially for his use, as he was not a skilled horse-man, and Mr. Ashton's duties were not of the cavalry order. Mr. Ashton requested of his friend and old comrade to be allowed to accompany the police, and it was so arranged, one of the strongest of the police horses being furnished to him, as he was a heavy-weight, and not at all calculated to undergo a night expedition in the Tiers with ease to himself and nag ; but he was so anxious to be present at the taking of Bell Chambers that he determined to encounter the inconveniences of a night excursion.

Bell Chambers subsequently gave much trouble to the Governor of the Gaol, and on one occasion when a break out of prisoners had been prevented by a file of troopers being called to aid the gaol guards, was removed to the strong room at the police barracks and there kept heavily ironed. Some time after dark Inspector Stewart, with Sergeant-Major Alford and the stout Governor of the Gaol, started for the Mount Lofty range.

They did not arrive at Black Joe's hut till after midnight. The Sergeant-Major was ordered to knock at the door. On Black Joe answering, he was asked to open the door to friends who wanted refreshment. The party dismounted and entered. On being asked who he had got there by Mr. Alford, Joe replied — ''Two chaps who came in late for some-thing to eat, and asked to be allowed to lie down before the fire, as they were tired.''

''All right, Joe, don't disturb them ; now get us an early breakfast, as we are hungry, and have been beating about some hours.'' The men on the floor appeared to be sound asleep, but after a time were roused by the loud talk, and one of them (Chambers) sat up rubbing his eyes, when he was thus addressed by the Sergeant-Major.''

''Hullo, Chambers, what are you doing here ? You know me ?'' (the officers were wrapped up in overcoats with felt hats slouched over their faces). ''Now, Bell, come forward, here is your friend, Mr. Ashton, looking for you. Here, Ashton, is one of your lost birds.''

On this Mr. A. came forward, and said ''Well, Chambers, how could you put me to all this trouble to come after you through the dark night, over this rough and hilly country. You should not have put me to all this fatigue and annoyance ; you see you are now in the hands of the police, and you will have to march to town secured by them.'' The two men were soon in handcuffs and chained to the Sergeant-Major's saddle, and after a tramp to town were placed in safe custody.

A later notable instance of troublesome ''experiences'' our officials had to put up with in the way of an escape from gaol was that clever dodge successfully carried out by a runaway convict from Sydney of the name of Carter, who in compliance with authority from the Government of New South Wales had been taken into custody, and been secured in the new Gaol, to which even at that early time it had been necessary to add another ward to contain female prisoners. This ward was a westerly extension of the premises which had been erected by Colonel Gawler, the original capacity of which he considered to be sufficient, but it was not found to be so, and an enlargement was therefore commenced, and to do this the high outer wall had to be broken through.

The ward or yard in which Carter was confined was surrounded by an inner wall, with a course of open brick-work commonly adopted on the top of prison yards and outer walls. Carter was detained with other runaway prisoners, and some who had been sentenced to transportation for crimes committed here, until a vessel could be chartered to take the lot to Sydney.

Carter was celebrated as the first prisoner who got clear off from the new and secure establishment, and he soon afterwards added to his celebrity a fresh crime, namely — stealing a horse, saddle, and bridle on his way overland, before he could cross the Murray River, after which, on his way back under police escort, he succeeded in making a second escape. The mare he stole was from a Mr. Gemmell, in the Bremer district. The blacks gave information to the police stationed at the Wellington Crossing, who went out and caught Carter, whose intention was to cross by swimming the stolen horse across the river somewhere about Wood's Crossing, and a few miles north of Wellington.

But I must return to explain how he first got out of Mr. Ashton's hands. He was confined with a number of criminals in No. 1 yard. The prisoners after roll call in the morning were let out of their cells and allowed to exercise themselves in the yard, secured as I have explained. They had a strong long-handled broom which they were required to use in cleaning their cells and the yard. This broom in the hands of a tall man would reach within about four feet of the top of the solid wall and of the open loose brickwork, there being a much higher, outer wall, with a wide space between the two, in which guards patrolled, day and night.

The escape of Carter was not discovered until after the roll was called over prior to the prisoners being locked up in their cells, to be occupied according to regulations, the rule being one or three to be placed in each cell. On the evening of the escape, when Kennedy, the turnkey, had called over the names and obtained no answer from Carter, and having searched around he cast his eyes to the wall and saw none of the loose bricks, displaced, he then became the butt of the prisoners, who jeered and laughed at him. ''He could not fly over the wall.'' "He must be somewhere.'' ''Is he in those boots ?'' ''Look in that place in the corner.'' "You are in for it, Kennedy ; you have allowed the man to escape,'' &c. The distracted turnkey soon brought Mr. Ashton on to the scene, but no light was then obtained. The police were soon on the alert.

Before I give the account of their hard work I will relate what Mr. Ashton was afterwards able to get out of the prisoners and from the guards as to the manner in which this escape was made. First Carter was placed by his fellow-prisoners with his face to the wall, with one foot on each of the shoulders of a tall prisoner ; then the strong broom in the hands of two stout prisoners was placed against the wall, so that the escaping man could step upon the head of it. The broom, with Carter on it, was then raised gradually until he could grasp the solid wall by passing his hands into two of the lowest openings of the loose bricks. His next step was to raise, himself so as to peep over, to watch when the nearest guard had passed out of sight.

But now comes the most marvellous part of the exploit — how he managed to raise himself further, and stride over the open brick-work, and then lower himself to the ground without displacing any bricks or avoid making a noise not to have been heard above that which the prisoners would be keeping up ; or how he was able, unruffled, to see the guard on his return in pacing backward and forwards on his short beat, is a mystery. The prisoner had in some unknown manner become possessed of an ordinary carpenter's linen or cotton jacket and cap, and had in his hand a pencil and a fold of writing-paper, on which he was making notes when the guard presented himself, whom he addressed, saying, ''Good day, guard ; I am the contractor for additional sentry-boxes. I am required to inspect the one you use as a pattern,'' and then moved towards it and entered, jotting down his notes, and then with a parting polite remark passed round towards the opening, and addressed a second sentry with the same remarks.

On the outer wall masons were at work, and when he came to them he paused, and assumed an air of scrutiny. I should mention that the guards on duty at the time of this escape were soldiers from one of the two companies which were then granted to us by the Imperial Government on our paying for them. The first guard Carter passed and imposed on would naturally suppose him to be a tradesman who had entered and passed the two guards who were on duty at the opening at the outer wall. On his going out the outer guards whom he afterwards addressed thought that he had entered by the main gate, and had passed the guard placed there. As he passed out he said, ''Good evening, guards."

Looking at the sentry box he said, ''Ah, I have taken the dimensions of the one inside ; I see they are constructed alike,'' and putting up his pencil and notes he walked quietly in the direction of the city, and so cleverly made his escape. He was next heard of as on the way to the Murray River.

A trooper from Wellington was sent after him, and in following up information received from natives after his arrival in the Bremer District got the information that a horse, saddle, and bridle had been stolen a few hours before from a Mr. Gemmel. The trooper hastened after the horse-stealer, and before Carter could cross the river above the Wellington crossing-place had him in custody, and with him and the stolen horse returned, and called at Gemmel's station that the owner might claim the horse, where he was invited to alight with his charge, and both to take some refreshment, which both horses and men greatly needed before the long journey to town was undertaken. The trooper was so unguarded as to enter with his host into an inner apartment, leaving Carter to take his meal in the outer room.

Of course the owner of the horse was highly pleased at the early recovery of his property, and the police officer was enjoying the liberal treatment offered to him, but in a very short time, on taking a peep to see how his prisoner was getting on, found he preferred his liberty before the indulgence offered him, as he had quietly decamped and although his footsteps were immediately followed, as he had a thick and extensive scrub country to cover his flight, he was not heard of in that district (he was hand-cuffed at the time), and the trooper had to return to town with the stolen horse rider-less, and give in the unsatisfactory report he had to make, which led to a severe censure and a loss of stripes.

The Commissioner now considered it necessary to dispatch Sergeant-Major Alford and two troopers after such a slippery customer. They left town with instructions from Mr. Tolmer to trace the man from where he was lost, and to continue on until he was found. To carry out these orders the Sergeant-Major took a supply of rations for several days for himself and the men, and started for the Bremer. Having there received such information as Mr. Gemmel could give him, which was very slight, he commenced a search of that scrubby district, and arrived at the Tinpot Station, belonging to Mr. Harriott, and there remained for the night. He was told that a man having the appearance of a sailor had called and asked for work about a week previously.

The men at this station Mr. Alford knew to be of the prison class, on which account he asked only a few questions, and allowed them to think he was after a runaway sailor. One of them asked Mr. A. ''Has the man you are after committed murder ?'' ''No, he has not, he is only a bolter.'' The man added ''If he had done that we would have helped you.''

Mr. Alford has explained to me that he has always found that men of the class known as professed or ''good thieves'' will not screen murderers. He was not told here which way the stranger had taken when he left the hut. The Inspector after a night's rest left for the district of Mount Torrens, beating about, and not passing a hut or place likely to harbor the escaped man. And on calling at Mr. Dunn's place, at Mount Charles, he got the first trace of the man he was hunting after, and was told that a man such as he described had called there asking for work, and after receiving a feed was sent to the South Australian Company's sheep station, and told that wool-pressing was going on there.

On this, Mr. A. followed him up, and on arriving there found a man who had formerly been in the police force, and felt he could rely on any information he could afford. He stated that a sailor-like looking man had called and asked for work, and he had sent him on to Mr. Gilbert's place beyond Mount Crawford. The Inspector here told the ex-policeman that the man he was after was Carter, and was answered, ''You will catch him — he left here yesterday.''

On the following day, towards sundown, the party came to one of Mr. Gilbert's out-stations, near Pewsy Vale, intending to make the head-station. On calling at the hut, they found no one within. The sergeant-major, seeing a man on the opposite rise busy re-moving hurdles, ordered the two troopers to remain at the hut while he rode towards the man at work. On approach him he saw he was unnecessarily reshifting the yard, which had evidently been pitched on to clean ground already. He also saw that he kept his head down, and failed to look up, as might be expected of him on his hearing the approach of a horseman. So he hailed him, and said, ''Hold up your head, man, and let me see your face ; who are you ?''

On his looking at his questioner, as he was compelled to do, aware of three armed men on horseback at hand, Mr. Alford said — ''Hullo, Carter, is this you ? I have had trouble enough after you.'' The two troopers, seeing a signal, quickly joined. Carter begged of the Inspector not to take him, and was told he must go quietly.''

''You know, Carter," said the Inspector, ''I do not allow men to escape from me, I have my duty to perform.'' He was then handcuffed, and taken to Mr. Gilbert's head-station, where they were hospitably entertained that night, and in the morning a horse was lent for the prisoner to ride on to town. They remained one night at Gawler Town. Sergeant-Major Alford delivered up his prisoner after a trip after him of over 14 days.

In justice to the police officers and privates, it should be known that when away on these excursions in those days the men employed were at their own expense, and had to rely on the hospitality of settlers or to stay at their own cost at public-houses, so it was not likely they would remain out longer than actual duty required. The above narration is only a description of one of the many long journeys which were necessary in bringing to justice the numerous delinquents who visited us.

I can finish this number with a subsequent and most daring escape from the new Gaol by an American black, a fine tall man, named Dyer. He had arrived here as a sailor, and with a companion of the same race as himself had for some time been living in a cave in a gully between Brownhill Creek and the River Sturt. They had broken into and robbed several dwelling houses, amongst others Mr. Hogarth's, on the South-road, and Mr. Whistler's, to the south of Unley. After much hunting they were at length caught and committed for trial, and imprisoned in the new Gaol.

This man Dyer being a handy fellow was appointed wardsman of the yard in which he was placed. When he required water, he called to the turnkey through the small grating in the door in the yard, and it was the custom to let him out to fill his bucket at the tap in the outer yard. He must have been aware that the outer gates were being opened to admit a dray with a load of firewood for the use of the prison ; for as the dray was entering through the gates he was let out by the turnkey, when he seized this opportunity, and quickly placed his bucket down, he boldly rushed pass the two sentinels on guard with loaded muskets and ran like a deer up the road, risking the fire of the guards, and got clear off unharmed.

Mr. Ashton was at the time at the window over the gateway, and viewed him running across the West Park Lands towards the Cemetery at such an extraordinary pace that he was not overtaken, nor was he heard of till some months later.

The police at length got the information that the black man was working at Mr. Gold's dairy station on the Upper Para. Inspector Tolmer and Sergeant-Major Alford, with two troopers, started during the night, and arrived at the dairy station about 4 o'clock in the morning. Mr. Tolmer and the men, in positions around the premises, waited quietly for daybreak. With the first streaks of dawn they began to search the premises outside the hut. One of the men gave notice that a man was running from a building, which they afterwards found was a detatched dairy, and going with speed down the steep bank to the creek towards a waterhole. This trooper dismounted and gave chase. The others got down with their horses as fast as possible, so as to give chase if the fugitive attempted to escape up the opposite rise.

He had, however, jumped into the deep waterhole, the trooper following him, when a struggle took place in the water. The black managed to keep his opponent under water till he was nearly drowned, and until he was rescued from his clutches. When the nigger was dragged out of the waterhole he was found to be all but naked.

When the police with the first streak of dawn began to search the premises Dyer, who was lying in the detached dairy, hearing them, and finding he would be unable to escape by the door, stripped himself to his shirt in order to squeeze himself through a small hole in the end of the building, looking towards the creek, and away from the searchers.

To effect this was no easy job, and then if he had not been seen by the quick eyes of one of the men, and had gained the waterhole, he might by keeping his body under water, and covering his head with flags, have escaped detection. But he failed in this ; he was secured, and replaced in gaol, and in due time transported. These recitals show but a small portion of the evil doings of misguided fellow creatures, but they are due to our first Governors, and the officers and men of our police force in the early days, showing what severe and anxious duties they had to perform. (To be continued.)