TRAGEDY AT ARMLEY GAOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9082, 16 June 1888, Page 3 (Supplement)

TRAGEDY AT ARMLEY GAOL.

ONE PRISONER KILLS ANOTHER. As uunsual and deplorable incident occurred a few days ago within the precincts of Arniley Gaol. Sad to say, this was the ( killing of a prisoner, during an untoward moment, by a criminal who, only on the previous Wednesday, had been certified to be insane. The unfortunate person who thus met with an untimely end was James Edward Taylor, said to be a Bradford man and repu ■Jα to be well connected. He was about forty years of age, and would on the expiration of another month have been entitled to his discharge from prison. The man who killed, his fellow-prisoner was William Sissons, aged twenty-four, from Shcrburn, near South Milford. Both were committed to Armley Gaol in the early part of last year ; but events have proved that whilst Taylor earned, by a good character, the confidence of the prison officials, Sissons developed such a measure of mental disorder as to require more than ordinary care at the hands of the authorities. These unfortunate symptoms came into striking notice in the beginning of December, when Sissons threw himself from the top landing in the central hall, and after falling £i considerable distance came into contact with the oflices, and, rebounding, fell to the floor. The chief warder was in the oflice at the time, and was for the moment muclr alarmed by the unusual occurrence. Sissons received a severe wound on the head, and was prostrated for some time in consequence; and although he recovered his ordinary bodily health, his mental condition in no way improved. An inquiry took place into this incident, and at that time Sissons was said to be not responsible for his actions. It would seem that soon afterwards Sissons was "placed in association" with two other prisoners. The plain English of this euphemistic phrase would appear to be that Sissons was put into a cell double the size of the ordinary apartments in which criminals are detained, and there attended or watched by a couple of more reliable prisoners, of whom tho deceased man Taylor was one. Sissons suffered from epileptic fits, and at times was very violent. On Friday he wa,s in the care of Taylor and another person named Lawrence Mansergh. At about five o'clock in the afternoon Sissons was seized with one of his customary attacks, and he eventually recovered, and no indications were apparent at that time that ere the night closed one of the attendants would have been tragically relieved from the duties put upon him. The three men had supper, and retired to their beds at about eight o'clock. Sissons and Taylor, according to a statement made by Mansergh, slept soundlv, but the third man never became thoroughly unconscious to his surroundings. He asserts that close upon ten o'clock he heard a slight cough, and turning in bed at that moment, he saw, the gas being alight, Sissons standing over Taylor's bed with a three-legged stool raised aloft in both hands. Mansergh, with commendable presence oi mind, rushed to Taylor's bedside ; but at the very instant, and before he could intervene, the stool was brought down with immense force upon Taylor's head, inflicting a fatal blow. Self-preservation dictated that further action was essential, and Mansergh at once laid hold on Sissons, and a severe struggle took place. Ac one time even more serious consequences seemed to be threatened, as in his endeavour to strike Mansergh, Sissons brought the stool in contact with the gas and the light was extinguished. Eventually, however, tho attendant succeeded in getting Sissons within reach of the bell which communicated with the warders, and pulling the rope, three prison officers immediately obeyed his summons. Sissons was then put under restraint and removed to another part of tho prison. According to Mansergh, Taylor's end must have been very sudden, as all that escaped from him was a very slight groan. Mr. Edwards, the gaol surgeon, who resides at the prison, was quickly called in, but he found life extinct. On Saturday morning tho police were duly acquainted with the regretable occurrence ; and during tho day Manpcrgh's statement was committed to writing by Mr. John Thornton, magistrate's clerk, in the presence of Mr. Ellershaw. At the inquest on Monday the Governor of the Gaol stated that he had not the slightest knowledge that Sissons had any homicidal mania, and he never anticipated any violence. The medical evidence was to the effect that death was the result of one blow, and must have been almost immediate. A verdict of " Wilful murder" against Sissons was returned. An addition to the finding to the effect that Sissons was in an unsound state of mind was withdrawn, at the request of the coroner, as beyond the scope of tlie inquiry. The evidence given before the coroner was repeated at a magisterial investigation before Mr. Bruce on Wednesday. When giving his evidence, Mansergh stated that Sissons, after he had killed Taylor, said that he had been waiting for an opportunity for a long time, for Taylor was as bad as the doctor in wanting to jxiison him. He had managed it at last with one blow. The prisoner : I didn't say so at all. When I went to the back of the door, Taylor laughed at me, and said I should not live long, as the doctor was poisoning me. He (Mansergh) has sworn false. I should not have struck him unless he had said tho doctor was poisoning me. I had always thought the doctor was doing the best he could for me. When asked it he had anything to say after Mr. Edwards, tho gaol surgeon, had given his evidence, the prisoner replied, " I was badly at the time ; 1 am very sorry." Whilst the depositions wore being read over to the witnesses, Siseons said, "It is all a made-up job." In answer to the charge, which was again read one to him, he repeated that Taylor told him that the doctor wa? trying to poison him, and had sent for four or five men to take him homo to die. He was cut up about it, and he didn't know what he did to Taylor. He was very sorry if he hurt him. Taylor always told, him not to toll any of the officers, or anyone, what ho had told him (Sissons) about the doctor, for as soon as he got out he was going to America. Taylor told him three or four times that the doctor was poisoning him. Mr. Bruce committed Sissons to take his trial on the charge of murder at the next assizos.