NOW TAMED.

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 8, 20 January 1932, Page 6

NOW TAMED.

SOME KILLERS IN PRISON. MANY BECOME RELIGIOUS. Murderers are usually quiet, orderly, religious prisoners when in gaol, says Mr Edward Irwin, who has retired as storekeeper and teacher at Parramatta Gaol after thirty-eight years' service. Mr Irwin knew every man sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in New South Wales during the past, thirty-five years. He taught some of them to read and write. When these men settle down for their long service, they usually become keen church-goers and seek front seats at chapel. Worrall, who murdered his second wife, was so docile that a visiting bishop tried to have him freed. Phillips, who is in for the "term of his natural life," is also a churchlover, and reads a lot of religious literature. Led Mutiny. The leader of a mutiny on the British ship Mortleman in the South Seas is still serving a life sentence at Parramatta for having shot the captain and hurled the mate overboard. He, too. is religious, and a good worker in the factory. Confidence men and pickpockets are invariably mild mannered, with gentle ways. The visitor wastes loads of pity on them, says the veteran warder.

Prisoners, even at 40, are eager to learn to read. For the man who cannot read, gaol life is intolerable. They learn quickly—more quickly than boys—and their joy when they can read a few lines of the monthly gaol magazine is touching. The fact that only one per cent of prisoners are skilled tradesmen on entering gaol, convinces Mr Irwin that the teaching of a trade to boys would! reduce the prison population by 50 per cent.