THE NELSON GAOL ENQUIRY. +

Evening Post, Volume XX, Issue 210, 8 September 1880, Page 3

THE NELSON GAOL ENQUIRY. +

FURTHER EXTRAORDINARY ALLEGATIONS. Prisoners allowed At large, attempt to withdraw the CHARGE; Thd Nelson Gaol onqriiry was continued tin Monddy. The ex-Warder, Atkinson, in the coarse* of farther evidence, said the prisoners were all allowed the nee of knives and forks the timo the assault npon Carter wns committed. By the Bench — Thompson did not ask to have rtn opportunity of making any complaint to the visitiDg Justices after the Ist Match, A prisoner in solitary confinement is allowed to see a visiting Justice. Thompson did not ask rilo to be allowed to 800 one. I have heard other prisoners ask, bnt no notice has been taken of them. I have known caries were prisoners in solitary confinement have asked to sea both Justices dnd doctors, and have been refused. I thought it strange that Thompson did not make a complaint. I can't account in any way for his not doing so. One or more Justices are in the habit of attending the pool once a month for tho purpose of hearing any complaints. Thompson did not takd any of thfcse opportunities for making a complaint. The only way I could call attention to this case of cruelty was by means of the Press. I did not take steps to communicate the matter to the Press while I was warder here. I left the gaol about two months ago. It was five months after the occurrence that I communicated with the Press. Some of the prisoners are at times allowed to leave the gaol, and have work to be admitted again. (Mr. Shallcrass : There is no cruelty in that, your Worships.) I have often heard thorn kicking at the door for admittance. They could go down' tho town and get drunk if they liked, and perhaps the warders would be discharged for allowing them to do so. I have lot a prisoner out at daybreak and lockod the door after him, by order of the matron. The male prisoners can convers* with the women. The prisoners wore the prison dress when they were so allowed oul. There was no officer allowed with them then. By Mr Shallcrass, through the Bench : I knew a man named Cooper, who keeps a boarding-house at Wanganui. I did not tell him that I was going to Wellington to try and get a billet, and if I do not succeed I would see what I could do by stirring up an affair in the Nelson gaol. I had no conversation with him regarding the gaol. The enquiry then adjourned, and on resuming in the afternoon, the prisoner Thompson, having no more witnesses to call, made the following statement : — Since this enquiry has been going on, I have been kept apart from all other prisoners, which has given me time for reflection, and I have come to tho conclusion that I was wrong with regard to my being entitled to earn remission of sentence without first passing through a period of probation in this prison, and that this case is going too far, and that I have been ill advised ever since I have been in this gaol. I deeply regret that this enquiry was ever commenced. There was a motive for it no doubt, but I question if my interests alone were consulted, it would not have been allowed to lio dormant for six months. There seems to be on impression that I was out of my mind at the timo, in consequence of my saying that I was nervous, but I distinctly state that I was not, and never intended my words to be taken in that Bonse. I have no donbt I deserved all I got for using suoh bad language, and that many exaggerations and misrepresentations have boen imported into the cose, and request leave to bo allowed to withdraw the charge. The Bench stated that it was only fair to Mr. Shallcrass that, before the charge should bo withdrawn, he should have an opportunity of bringing forward any evidenco he might have. Leonard Boor, medical officer of the Nelson Gaol, and also of the hospital and lunatic asylum, was then examined by Mr. Shallcrass, and stated that Thompson was taken to the asylum on the 3rd December, 1879, and discharged cured on the 3rd February, 1880. It was not a bad case. He never made noise at night by kicking against his coll door violently. Ho never continued for hours using- obscene language, &o. Since his disoharge from the asylum witness had seen him on several occasions, but had not noticed anything wrong in his state of mind. Witness sometimes used the gag in his practice. The use of it is not dangerous or painful. Witness added, "I see the gag that was used for Thompson. If a piece of rag was wound round that, making it twice the size, it would not hurt. [Dr. Boor here produced the gag he used in his profession.! I do not think it would hurt him if it was left in his mouth for three-quarters of an hour. I consider that the way in which Thompson is reported to have been bound would only bo sufficient to cause pressure and irritation on tho wrist ; perhaps the flosh might have been broken had ho endeavored to extend his legs. If ho was to remain quiet in that position no ill consequences would arise ; the position would be inconvenient, but not painful. If a violent Innatic wore put in a dark cell it would do him no harm, in fact he would benefit by it. I should bo surprised to find a person doad in the morning, after being treated aa Thompson was from tho effect of the treatment. I was called to the gaol, on Thursday last, 2nd inst., to see Thompson. He oomplainod indefinitely that ho was suffering from heart and liver. I examined, him. Bis organs aro sound. I was called to see Edward Price on the 18th February, while in solitary confinement. I prescribed for him, and sent a sleeping draught to the gaoler to administer. Narcotio medicines are not sent by me to the ga">l for indiscriminate administration ; none are given to my knowledge. Police-Sorgeant Nash deposed in reply to Mr. Shallora«s that tho prisoner Thompson was using tho most filthy language on the night in question. Having spoken to tho prisoner being tied up, handcuffed and gagged, witness said there was nothing to canso a stoppage of tho circulation, and he heard Mr. Shallcrass tell Atkinson to loode the prisoner as soon as he was quiet. Witness added — " I have been 14 years under you in the police in Nelson. I have never known yon use any unnecessary harshness towards a prisoner. Thompson gave cause to be roughly handled that night. I have been called to the gaol by a former Saoler to assist in putting men in irons. I on't consider it my duty at the present time, because Mr. Atoheson, the superintendent, has censured me for coming to tho gaol the night in question." Honry White, chief warder, deposed that ho saw no ill results from the taring, Ac, and gave » general denial to other statemonts of Atkinson Tho enquiry was then further adjourned.