AMERICA'S WAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 255, 27 October 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

AMERICA'S WAY.

SIX MONTHS' WAIT FOR TRIAL. ENGLISHMAN IN DUNGEON. A strange story of how he was kept for six months in an American prison is told by Mr. J: Rigg, of Cleator, Cumberland, who recently returned to Britain. His "crime" was being found on United States territory without a passport. He alleges that for the period of his imprisonment he was kept in a small cell, with a negro for companion, and that daylight did not penetrate into the cell. Finally, without being tried, he was taken to Ellis Island, and deported to England on the Adriatic. Rigg, jvho is 24, has travelled all over the world, generally working his passage as a ship's stoker.

He waa detained at Don Luis and j thrown into prison at Bisbee (Arizona). The gaol, he alleges, was filthy, and he spent the nights playing cards with other prisoners. He was next sent to Tuoson, in the heart of the 'western desert country, said to be the hottest part of America. He had two meals a day., consisting of dry bread and beans. The bed consisted of bare strips of iron. In front of the cells was a passage, 3£t wide, in which eight men could have exercised, but owing to the gaol being crowded, the gangway was occupied. ; He was told that nothing was known about his case, and he would have to stay until the authorities were ready to deal With him. The gaol was filled with bootleggers and criminals, and fights were frequent, particularly at meal time 3. Rigg was given the opportunity of leaving the prison, and was placed on a train, with steel-barred windows and a guard of police. About 200 men, women, and children, mostly Mexicans, were on board.

Rigg occupied a coach with ten Greeks and Italians, whose minds had been affected by the heat and the hardships of imprisonment. He was taken to Ellis Island, which, he says, is good compared with other places. There were 94 of all nationalities in one room, and they were allowed one hour outside each day. He was there six days, and ultimately taken on board the liner Adriatic, and guarded until he was out of American waters, when he regained his freedom. Rigg's case is the second of its kind to be reported this month.

Michael Frane and Stanley West, two Liverpool seamen, returned to England stating that they were kept for nearly a year in a county gaol in America without any charge being made against them. It was only when vthe British Ambassador heard of the case and intervened that the men were transferred to Ellis Island.