FATAL BREAK

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 146, 17 March 1934, Page 18

FATAL BREAK

Life Behind Prison Bars

[Sentenced to three years’ penal servitude at the High Court at Edinburgh for theft by housebreaking, the writer of the following article has just been released from Peterhead Prison after completing his term. He reveals his experiences and how prison life has changed.]

Working in the quarry was my first job when I reached Peterhead, after waiting the usual time in Saughton Prison, he said. The quarry is not the place of punishment it used to be: there is really no hard work to be done. The convicts are allowed to talk at work, and there is always a lot of lively banter and discussion. The relative merits of football teams and the further prospects of another war are the favourite subjects. If their talk were confined to such topics no harm would be done. But backbiting and jealousy often cause mischief that extends beyond the prison walls. One of the men in the party with me was a former stockbroker who hid been named “Brother Bob.” He was very active in promoting the teaching of shorthand, and solo singing in the Bible class. I had a lot of respect for him. Another was a well-known Glasgow solicitor, one of the most kindly men I have come across in prison. His influence is doing a lot to keep down mischief in the place. When I had done two months I was put on privileges and moved to another mess.

Here I met a man who was notable for having made three attempts at escape. He was a bit of an eccentric and laboured under the idea that he had grievances—quite absurdly of course.

A lot of ill-will was shown him on account of his peculiarities. I was sorry for him, and I am happy to think I was able to help him. I asked him if he would like to learn chess. He said he would, so I approached the governor, and got the mess supplied with a set of chess men. Ever since then this man has taken the keenest interest in the game.

Captain Buchan, the governor, is one of the finest I have been under. I al-

ways found him a fair and considerate man. He is a ready and eloquent speaker, and his bringing of concert, parties to the prison, some of them of outstanding merit, is greatly appreciated. One of the most popular features of the present system is the prisoners’, own "free-and-easies” once a fortnight during the winter. Strangely enough, it is not the educated prisoners who show the most talent at these concerts. They are overshadowed by the ordinary first offender or the lag. One of the principal warders is in charge of the rehearsals, and the great interest he takes in making them a success demonstrates the changed relations that exist between the staff and convicts. Football is the most popular outdoor game, and a very strenuous one it is, as they have to play it in their heavy working' boots. There is also a small putting green and a bowling green, but only a few of the old men fancy these games. Old men over 56 may, if they wish, read the newspapers three nights a week in a small room for the purpose They are greatly envied by the rest of the prisoners. The rest of the prisoners have censored news read out to them twice a week, and selected news at the commercial and debating classes.

I was in the quarry when three prisoners made their daring attempt to escape on July 21,1932, which resulted in one losing‘his life. This man was working in the lowest part of the quarry, known as “The Dip.” The others were working not far from me. They had agreed to meet at a coal shed, and it was when they left this that the alarm was given. They had just disappeared from my view over the top when I heard the first shot. There were five in all fired by two guards, but only one took effect. The two other prisoners took to the fields, but. not knowing the district, they were soon exhausted. They gave themselves up to a warder in plain clothes who had rushed to the scene of the escape ou his motor-cycle.