SERIOUS CHARGES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 May 1928, Page 11

SERIOUS CHARGES

PRISONER’S RECAPTURE.

EYE-WITNESSES

ALLEGE ROUGH

TREATMENT

(by TELEGRAPH—PREBB_ ASSOCIATION.) INVEROARGIL, May 1. The publication of a. report on Monday morning that the youth Flanagan, who was recaptured by three warders on Saturday, had been roughly handled and had cried for mercy, continues to excite considerable feeling in Invercargill. A second eye-witness of the arrest, which was made a. few miles out of town states that lie was within 100 yards of the scene of the arrest. The first thing the warders did was to search the prisoner. “They took off his hat and coat and hit him from every quarter, and I am quite certain the three warders took part in the attack on the bov,” be says, adding that the youth obeyed the call “Drop that bag and put up your hands,” and made no attempt to run away or resist attack. This matter was mentioned ly the Mayor at a Council meeting to-night. He stated that he had received two letters alleging ill-treatment of the prisoner. The letters, with verbal complaints, alleged that things were not just .as they should be, and that if necessary the informants would be prepared to come before a tribunal to give evidence.

The Superintendent of the Borstal Institute states that a full inquiry is to he made.

IS ESCAPE TOO EASY.

ALLEGATIONS OF LA’TTY

DISCUSSION BY BOROUGH COUNCIL.

INVERCARGILL, May 1. At a meeting of the Invercargill Borough' Council to-night the recent escapes from the Borstal Institute formed the supject of discussion. _ , Cr. C. B. Tapley said the whole district had been under a, reign of terror during the past few weeks, and from the facts published it appeared that there was some justification for the feeling which existed that the simplicity of escapes was due to laxity somewhere. Under the present system each gang was under the charge of one warder, and if a prisoner escaped the warder had to march the gang back to the institution and make his report. In the meantime the prisoner had ample time to make his escape. He thought they should take action by putting the matter before the Minister of Justice md asking that for greater safety'.two warders be placed in charge of each gang. The Mayor (Mr. John Miller) : Are you putting yourself forward as an expert in the matter of how many warders should be employed? Or. Tapley: No. lam simply pointing out the. weakness of the presentsystem that exists. ' After further discussion it was decid'd toi draw the attention of the Minister to the matter.