A CITY MYSTERY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 44, 16 November 1925, Page 8

A CITY MYSTERY

PRISONER KILLS HIMSELF WHILE HANDCUFFED TRAGEDY IN TERRACE GAOL AN AMAZING OCCURRENCE What is thought to be an amazing suicide surrounded by inexplicable mystery as to how a man under the circumstances could possibly take his own life, occurred at the Terrace prison on Saturday afternoon, when William Hayden was found dead, while handcuffed and in a strait-jacket, with a strap around bis neck. Medical authorities are of the opinion that the prisoner died of suffocation, but how he managed to free his hands and place them back again is a mystery that will probably remain unsolved for all time.

It appears that for some days past William Havden, a prisoner in the Terrace gaol, had to be very closely guarded. It is said that from the day he entered prison he did not take to matters kindly. He grew bitter and morose, and would spend hours brooding by himself, now and then breaking out into a melancholy rage, crying that someone was coming to kill him On Friday night, after his tea had been brought to him, Hayden became so violent that it was dangerous to enter the cell. He then went over and sat on the prison stool, which is a fixture in the "/W' Then the mood came ou him once more, and rising from 1 113 wooden seat he paced up and down muttering to himself that he was about to die. When a warder went to approacii the cell some time later in the/evening the prisoner became enraged, grabbed the stool, and with an almost superhuman effort succeeded in breaking part of it away from the stone and mortar. What happened in the next few minutes seems hard to describe. Prison officials say that Hayden became completely mad, and it was terrible to watch his actions. He picked up his dishes and hurled them to the floor, stamping and jumping violently upon them. Then he rushed towards the door in an effort to gain his freedom. During the night Hayden was closely guarded, aud it was decided for his. own benefit to have him sent to the prison mental hospital. Dr. Gilmer, the puson physician, was communicated with, while Dr. White was also summoned on the matter. Deceased was spoken to, and he declared that the authorities had decided to take his life. He said he knew they were going to do it, and; it had been that terrible thought which had prayed on his mind for days. The. doctors decided on seeing him that for the man’s own safety he had better be sent away. So’ violent did the prisoner become the next morning that great anxiety was felt for his safety, and it was decided to place him in a strait jacket until he reached Porirua. This, however, was no easy task. The man fought like a tiger, and it was only with extreme difficulty that his struggles were overcome. When placed, in the “jacket” he began to kick violently and it was decided to secure his legs with a strap.. Even when this was done the prisoner was by no means beaten, and to make absolutely sure that he could not possibly harm himself the handcuffs were brought and fastened on his wrists. Then a mattress was placed on the floor of the cell and Hayden was forced on his back, lying absolutely powerless and unable to rise. The van which was to take him to Ponrua was summoned, it also being necessary for the doctors to attend once more before lie went.

At 1 o’clock, Warder' Gibson, who had been in attendance outside the cell all the morning, was summoned to answer the front door bell. He left Hayden lying on his back and unable to move. When he returned at 1.15, however, the man was still in the same position, but the strap had been taken from his legs and was fastened around his throat. . . . Hayden was dead. How William Hayden died is a complete mystery to all the police and prison officials. Speaking to a representative of The Dominion yesterday afternoon, Mr. J. C. Scanlon, Governor of The Terrace Gaol, admitted being completely mystified. "How it could have happened is beyond me altogether,” he said. “It seems absolutely impossible to believe that Hayden could kill himself under the circumstances, when his arms, besides being pinioned to his waist, were secured by the jacket, and yet he must have done so. All the day he was closely watched, and no opportunity was given except for the few minutes the warder was away. Yet, how he managed to take the strap off his legs and kill himself, leaving the handcuffs and straitjacket undisturbed is the amazing part about it.” Dr. P. F. McEvedy was hastily summoned immediately’ the discovery was made. He said that so far as he could tell death was due to suffocation. It may have been caused by heart failure. Deceased was a man with a long list of convictions. He was at the time serving a sentence of three years for an indecent act, and was committed to gaol in July of this year. Deceased was a big arid powerful man. well known at The Terrace, where lie had served several short terms before. A formal inquest will be held this morning.