DUNEDIN GAOL ENQUIRY.

Evening Post, Volume XXVI, Issue 15, 18 July 1883, Page 3

DUNEDIN GAOL ENQUIRY.

This enquiry was resuraod this morning at Mount Cook Prison, before the Commis sionors. Prisoner Garrett deposed ho was in Dunedin Gaol for 13 years, from 1868 to 14th January, 1881. Ho was ill on ono occasion from dwrrhcoa, and when ordered wino by the doctor, Caldwoll stopped it, becauso the wino was bad, though tho prisoner said he would bo glad to havo drank half a bottlo a day. He thon asked tho dootor to Btop it, as Caldwoll never gavo it to him. Caldwell told the now doctor Oarrott had more than his aUowanoo of wine. Caldwell snbiooted him to many annoyanaos, and ho oomplainod to tho Visiting Justioe, Mr. Brown, but tho latter refused to listen to tho complaint. For two years and a half ho mado the samo complaint regularly. On tho third ocoasion of his making the oomplaint, ho was brutally illused by C»ld well and Maonamara, who seized him by the throat, which only induced Mr. Brown to laugh. Ho was struck on tho head by a policeman's staff by Macnamara, and thon thrown down. For making that complaint on anothor occasion, 24th April 1880, ho was sontencod to seven days' solitary confinement. Ho was moved, in 1881, to Lyttolton. Whan in solitary confinement, ho was doprived of part of tho rations allowed him. This ocourrod when ho was on broad and watar, when ho was only boing allowed 16 ounces of broad per diem. His broad at times was thrown into tho tub when he went to oxoroiso, and for this ho was charged with insubordination and admonished. Ho was " strnok with bludgeons, ohoked, and kioked by tho warden, but only when ordorod to do so," Mr. Brown still approvi«»«lv looking on. Was never allowed to see tnt> doctor again till ho was to bo romovod. Neither Messrs. Logan nor Brown would liston to any oomplaint against Caldwell. He denied that he hod evorspon Mr. Thomson in 1879, or any other Visiting Justioe, except thoso ho had named. He was in the cell for nearly two years, and every other week ho was in solitary confinement. Hud heard Caldwell say ho never entered one-half tho oh»rges in the records. Pie asked Captain

Homo to romovn him, find ton days later ho was removed. Caldwoll used to look in and say, " You dog, aro you not dead yotr" adding that there was a nccktio and a window, and ho (Caldwell) would sco thoro was no interruption. To Captain Hume — Tho first two dayu of tt sentcnoo ho was novor allowed exorcise ; on tho third and following days, perhaps half-an-hour. Thoy had a Mutual Improvement Society in tho gaol. Had repeatedly neon Caldwoll and tho wardors drunk. Ho at ono time drafted an essay on crimo, which ho considered 1 hfmself competent to Bpeak on. Tho ossay wbb published in tho Tomuka Horald. No others were writing for tho Press except Mr. Caldwoll. Had noon officers repeatedly drunk. _ Had boon charged with insubordination for sitting cross-legged in church, and for asking permission to sea the Gaol Chaplan. On ono occasion, ho stood up in church, and asked the chaplain to soe him (Garret) aftor servico. Saw Caldwoll knocking Eogors' head up against tho wall the night the tettor died. No prisoner was allowod to give evidence at an inquost. Caldwoll placed a bottle of brandy alongside Bogors' dead body. To Mr. Solomon— Captain Hume acoosted him at tho Christchurch railway, when he was out of gaol. Told Captain Humo that why Caldwoll and ho differed was that he would not tttko part in a sham conspiracy, which Caldwoll and Butler wero trying to get up. A man making a complaint was a marked man. To Mr. Whitefoord— Complained to tho chaplain, but the latter said ho was powerless to help him. James Hogan said he had boon a prisoner in Dunodin Gaol in 1880. The first night he entered tho gaol Caldwell jammed his hand into his mouth. Caldwell treated him with hostility. Hod written to Mr. Vincent Pyko telling him of his ill-treatmont, and to Mr. Stout, butnover got anyroplies to his lottors. Caldwoll told him if ho would act as a spy he would bo all right. Caldwell used to como into tho colls in the middle of the night. A man named Hall was nearly choked on one occasion when making a complaint to Caldwoll. Tho officers nevor assanlted him. John Moon was a prisoner in Dunedin Gaol from 1879 to May, 1882. Prisoners wero not all treated alike. Ho was charged at ono time with giving the white prisonors too much bread and the Maoris too little. The officers wore not always prosont when tho dinnors wero sorvod out. Had taken broakfasts up to female prisoners. The women wore not locked in. Caldwell and the officers wero not on good terms ; tho formor used to abuso tho latter before the prisoners. Lottorß writton from Dunedin Gaol did not reach their destination, though he could got an^wera from letters to Mount Cook. Tho Commission then adjourned till tomorrow, at 10 o'clock.