A WARDER'S DISMISSAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20058, 22 September 1928, Page 13

A WARDER'S DISMISSAL.

EXHAUSTED MAN'S STORY. VICTIM OF AN IRON SYSTEM. The attention of the British Home Office has been drawn to the case of Mr. J., J. Gorboy, a temporary warder at Brixton Prison, who was dismissed for sleeping on duty. Mr. Corboy, exhausted and weak from four sleepless nights nursing his wife, who was ill following the sudden death of their three-year-old son, was compelled by force of circumstances to go on duty. Ho had already lost four nights* pay for being absent, and could not afford to stay away any longer. A few minutes before that night's duty terminated he fell asleep, and was dismissed. The man was turned out penniless to a sick wife and three children. Mr. Corboy, who was a sergeant in the Irish Guards, applied to the Sunday Express for employment, and reluctantly revealed his story. "I am not grumbling at the treatment I have received from the individual," ho said. "I was simply a victim of the regulations. On the night in question I was in charge of a hospital ward where there were fifteen men. two of them on capital charges and three with suicidal tendencies. It was essential theso men should be kept under close observation. "Five days previously my child, aged three, had been taken ill with diphtheria. He died in two days. I was suspended as a diphtheria contact, and the next few days, for which I received no pay, were a nightmare. - My wife became seriously ill, and I was unable to leave her. During the next four days I had only a few hours' sleep. " On the fifth night I found myself with no money, so I decided to go to work, although I was exhausted physically and mentally. How I struggled through I do not know. The temperature in the ward was eighty degrees and almost unbearable. Every half-hour I had to peg a clock, and I kept this up through the night. I pegged up the clock for the lasttime and then sat down on blanket at the gate for a few moments before I made my report. "I must have fallen dead off to sleep, and a few minutes later I awoke, but apparently the orderly officer had seen ma lying down as he passed the hospital Mv wa- T e for sixtv hours a week was 12s, and had it not boon for the fact I received no pay during my absence-i^n duty, I" Should never have dreamcJ going to the prison that nig" ™ rv - sorry "Tho governor said ho „' 3 Z, t h* forme. My rocord was clean, - compelled by the me."