RAZORS IN PRISON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21618, 10 October 1933, Page 11

RAZORS IN PRISON

SYSTEM AT MOUNT EDEN POSSIBILITY OF DANGER COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE Comment upon tho practice of allowing convicts in Mount Eden gaol to use blade razors was made by Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, during tlio hearing of charges against two prisoners, Harris O Neil I and George Eden Charles Ha}ward. Hie matter arose whon evidence was being given by Mr. C. E. Spittal, chief warder at the gaol, rcgarding a charge of stealing two razors from a house at One Tree Hill. Two ordinary blade razors were exhibited in Court by the police, and, against a suggestion by the accused that the articles were their own proMr. &pittal said in evidence that the razors were not the kind used in prison.

Are the men in prison allowed to use blade razors?" asked the magistrate. "I should think safety razors, e\en if they are not so economical, would be preferablo." Witness replied that numbers of blade razors wero allowed tho men, but control was exercised by the authorities regarding tho matter. The Magistrate: You say there aro numbers of blade razors about tho prison. Could they not be possible weapons ?

Witness: For-that matter, a safety razor blade might be fitted into a handle for use as a wfeapon. All the razors aro kept under control. The Magistrate: A prisoner might attack a warder with a blade razor. Witness: That may be so, too. Wo have a bootmaker's shop, and there are dozens of knives there, and they would be more effective than razors. " Continuing, witness said there were knives in use in other parts of tho prison, but it, was to be remembered that all prison razors had a broad arrow marked upon them.

Is it not a fact that on numerous occasions contraband razors have been found in the prison without the broad arrow i asked Havward, during a cross-examination of the chief warder. W'itness: That is quite true.

\ou have put into circulation in the prison razors which are contraband? Oh, yes. We always make good use of them, and they are marked with the broad arrow.

Tho Magistrate: They have the broad arrow, too ? "I brand them myself, on the steel and on tho handle," replied witness. Hayward theg commenced to address some remarks to the Court, and he alleged that there were contraband razors in tho gaol which did sot bear the broad arrow. They had not come under the notice of the authorities.