(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7391, 18 February 1902, Page 2

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Wellington, February 18. At the prison inquiry, Wilson having refused to give evidence, Warder Murphy, against whom the charges were made, gave evidence denying the allegations made, and his statements were corroborated by three ex-prisoners who had been incarcerated at Point Halswell. Mr Garvey (the gaoler) said that every opportunity was given prisoners to bring complaints under his notice, but he had not received any from Wilsoo. During the afternoon, Mr Jellicoe appeared and explained that the statement which the Commission had refused to allow Wilson to read was his (Mr Jellicoe'B) opinion as a lawyer on the scope of the Commission. Eventually the document was read, with the exception of one paragraph. I It advised Wilson that the inquiry was to be limited to a specific charge against Murphy, and was not a general inquiry into the gaol administration. He (Mr Jellicoe) considered a general investigation imperative, but he would not be a party to such farcical proceedings bb were contemplated by the Commission, and he advised Wilson not to do so either. Later. The Halawell Gaol Enquiry Commission took further evidence of prisoners to day as to their experiences with Warder Murphy, some of them alleging instances of roughness on his part.