1. Evans Tries An O-Level
- Colin Dexter

2. Introduction
‘Evans Tries an O –Level’ is a story of a criminal named Evans. In this story, colin Dexter, the author of the popular Inspector Morse novels, shows how an individual is able to shake the entire police department with his cleverness and ingenuity.

3. 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.

4. A criminal – in Oxford prison – very clever
Evans the Break
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.

5. 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 Mags to be the invigilator

6. The Governor takes precautions
Fears –Evans 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

7. 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

8. Evans hat
Evans wore a filthy hat
Refused to remove it – lucky hat Jackson allowed him to were it
Actually he had cut his long hair to impersonate the invigilator
Had he removed – secret would be revealed

9. 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

10. 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 haemorrhoids.

11. Secret of the 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

12. Stephen keenly watches through peep hole
Examination started
Evans instructed to write the index number 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

13. Correction in the question paper
9.40 a.m – the Governor – error in the question paper
Jackson – informed – conveyed to the Invigilator
- “The Golden Lion”
A hint to Evans – a hoax call

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Stephens accompanied Mc Leery to the prison gate
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

18. Mc Leery escorts to arrest Evans
Detective Superintendent Carter arrives
Mc Lerry say he is alright and knows where he has gone
Governor send both of them

19. 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

20. 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

21. Mc Leery in Hospital
Mc Leery went to the Examination Offices and appeared very ill
Radcliffee Hospital for an ambulance
Governor rang up and found that he was not there

22. Real Mc Leery
Two men called on Mc Leery and reached his flat
Tied him and Evans has impersonated and escaped from the Examination hall through the ambulance

23. 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

24. Evans confesses
Evans appreciates the Governor’s intelligence
Evans reveals all the facts of the game he had played
His friends had helped him

25. 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

26. 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

27. The End …..