Evans Tries An O-

Level

- Colin Dexter
 Introduction
• ‘Evans Tries an O –Level’ is a
story of a criminal named Evans.
•
In this story, Colin Dexter,
shows how an individual is able
to shake the entire police
department with his cleverness
and ingenuity.
 Evans The Break!
• Evans has escaped from the prison
three times. That is why, he is called
‘Evans the Break’ by the police
officials.
• The way he plans his escape for the
fourth time with the help of his friends
outside the prison earns for him our
secret admiration for his cleverness.
 About Evans….
• A criminal – in Oxford prison –
very clever
• Study German- evening classes
started
• Only one student – Jail authorities
arranged a teacher from a technical
college – Later known as original
teacher but one of Evans’ friends.
 Evans wants to take O-level test
• Evans –keen to acquire academic
qualification-O-Level test in
German
• The Governor conceded to his request -
Arranged with the Examinations Board to
hold in the Examination in Evans cell.
• A parson from St. Mary Church to be the
invigilator
 The Governor takes precautions
• Fears that Evans may try to escape.
• Jackson , a senior prison Officer to search
Evans cell.
• Nothing found –spent 2 hrs – removed
nail scissors and file.
• Another Prison officer to stay inside the
cell till the examination.
• Set microphone.
Jackson and Stephens visit Evans

• Half an hour before the examination-

Jackson and Stephens visited Evans’
cell
• Evans was given a blade to shave
himself
• Stephen takes the blade after the
shave
 Evans hat….
• Evans wore a filthy hat
• Refused to remove it – Considered
lucky hat - Jackson allowed him to
wear it
• Actually he had cut his long hair to
impersonate the invigilator
• If Hat would be removed – secret
would be revealed
Arrival of the invigilator….

• Invigilator- Reverend Stuart

Mc Leery- a parson- lived
alone in his flat in Board
Street
• At 8.45 a.m –left-arrived at the gate
prison- led to Evans cell
• Introduced to Evans
 Invigilator –Mc Leery investigated
• The Governor suspected the Invigilator-
Rang up to Mr. Jackson
• Mr. Jackson checked – any weapon was
there, suitcase, but nothing was there
• Mc Leery had a small semi inflated
rubber ring -Explained – suffered from
hemorrhoids.
 Secret of Rubber Ring-
• Actually the rubber ring contained
pig’s blood
• Later used to pretend that the
invigilator was wounded to fool the
jailers
• The real Mc Leery was tied
and gagged in his flat
 Examination
started
• Evans instructed to write the index
number- 313 and his centre
number 271
• Jailer Stephen was to be inside the
cell but Evans asks him to stay out
• Stephen keenly watches through
peep hole
 Correction in the question paper
• 9.40 A.M. – the Governor – call
about error in the question paper
• Jackson – informed – conveyed to
the Invigilator
• “The Golden Lion”
• A hint to Evans – a hoax call
 Request for a prison van
• The Governor received another call –
from the Magistrate – a prison van
and two prison officials for a remand
case
•
A hoax call – Evans’ friends used it
at the end.
 Stephens keeps his
watch…
• Stephens is very alert
• Mc Leery always reading newspaper
with his finger hooked on the back of
his collar.
• Evans sat with his pen between his
teeth
• Evans draped a blanket around him
 A call for Stephens…
• Three minutes before Exam – a call
for Stephens
• To accompany Mc Leery to the
gate
• And check Evans cell properly
– locked
• A hoax call - Governor
 Mc Leery is wounded
• Stephens accompanied Mc Leery to
the prison gate
• On return found Mc Leery in Evans
seat- blood trickling down from head
• He thought it might be Evans – but
not
• Called Jackson
 Mc Leery escorts to arrest
Evans
• Detective Superintendent Carter
arrives
• Mc Leery say he is alright and
knows where Evans has gone
• Governor send both of them
 Governor angry….
• •Evans had kept a parsons
dress in the cell – not noticed
by both Stephens and Jackson

•Behind the Question paper

instructions for Evans to
escape was there- Governor
sure to arrest Evans
 Evans personating Mc Leery escapes

• Carter – Governor – Mc Leery had

spotted Evans in a car – Elsfiedway
in a car.
• Chased the car – disappeared at
Headington round about.
 Mc Leery in Hospital
• Mc Leery went to the
Examination Offices
and appeared very ill
• Called Radcliffee Hospital for
an ambulance.
• Governor rang up and found that
he was not there.
 Real Mc Leery
• Two Police men called on
Mc Leery and reached his flat
• Evans’ friend tied him and
Evans has impersonated and
escaped from the Examination
hall through the ambulance.
 Evans traced in his hotel
room

• Evans was happy in the Hotel-

shocked to find the Governor
• Governor traced the Hotel
Golden Lion and the index
number and centre number
referred to Chipping Norton in
Ordinance Survey Map
 Evans confesses
• Evans appreciates the Governor’s
intelligence.
• Evans reveals all the facts of the
game he had played.
• His friends had helped him.
 Evans is arrested
• The Governor and Evans come to the
Hotel Lobby
• The Receptionist says that the Prison
officials are waiting with the Prison
van
• Evans is handcuffed
 Evans released!!!
• The Governor is once again deceived.
• The prison officials unlocked
the handcuff .
• Prison officials were none other than
his friends who had asked for the
Prison Van.
• They drove to Newbury.
• Evans escaped for the fourth time.
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