VIOLENCE IN GAOL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 66, 18 March 1905, Page 4

VIOLENCE IN GAOL.

warder seriously assaulted, rescuing warder interfered WITH. Dressed in prison garb, William Cameron, a young man who is serving a two years' sentence in Mount Eden for assault and robbery at • Gisborne, was charged before Mr. H. S. Wardell, S.M., this morning, with assaulting Warder Bethune in Mount Eden Gaol. The evidence demonstrated that although the assault was committed by only one prisoner, several others knew of the affair, and interfered with a warder who went to Bethune's assistance. Mr. Severne, governor of the gaol, prosecuted, calling Warder Bethune, whose evidence wa3 that he was in charge of the stione-eutting yard in Mount Eden on Wednesday afternoon,* and while he was stooping down to get some tools he was violently attacked | by Cameron, who punched him in the | fact. Witness fell upon hie face, j and Cameron stood over him, continuing to deliver blows upon witness' face until Warder Bell came to his assistance, pulling Cameron off. Warder Bethune added that he still bore the marks of wounds inflicted by the prisoner on his ear, forehead, and cheek. He did not speak to Cameron before the assault, and the prisoner did not say anything either. Questioned by Cameron, the warder stated that he did not use his baton.

Warder Bell stated that Cameron was acting more like a wild beast towards Bethune when he heard the whistle and went to his colleague's assistance. Witness drew his baton and made for Cameron, but Ihe other prisoners gathered round, and the baton was knocked out of hie hand. He closed with Cameron, and while the struggle waa going on he received blows from other prisoners whom he could not identify. Cameron complained that the warders had a "set ,, upon him, and that the incident started with the warder making a row because he had not done sufficient wor&. When he bent down to pick up his tools Warder Bethune hit him with his baton, and all he did was to push him away with his fist.

Mr. Wardell said there was no doubt that a premeditated attack had been made upon the warder, who had been assaulted in a very violent manner. During the last year there had been a number of complaints against Cameron for disturbing the peace of the gaol, having prohibited articles in his possession, damaging prison property, and other offences. The discipline must be maintained, and he found it necessary to be f" X ' H e ordered Cameron to forfeit 1000 marks, and to be fed on bread and water for ten dayg. The forfeiture reduces the prisoner's remisgion of sentence by 126 days.