MAKING CRIMINALS.

NZ Truth, Issue 73, 10 November 1906, Page 3

MAKING CRIMINALS.

TO THE EDITOB.

Sir.— Knowing that your columns arc always open to expose abuses that exist m the Government service I crave your indulgence m publishing the following scandalous proceedings by Warder Hawkins, of New- Plymouth gaol. I was discharged on 28th September, after completing a sentence of two years, and as some of my fellow prisoners had been, kind to me during my incarceration, naturally I wished to reciprocate the feeling ; and immediately on my release purchased a few sticks of tobacco and took it to Western Park— a public park where the prisoners are workingr— and left it there for them. I had asked another man to accompany me. and no sooner had I left the tobacco during the dinner hour of the prisoners than I and my companion were pounced upon by Detective Boddom and a posse of police. We were handcuffed brought through the streets, charged and sentenced to one month's hard labor, or a fine of £5. The injustice that I complain of is that Warder Hawkins admits that he telephoned the police that I was being discharged, and that I would m all probability leave tobacco, and advised them to secrete themselves and secure me. Do you not think, or will not any right thinking person

maintain that the only and proper course to have been taken by this person was to have told me that the police would be on the alert and that I would be arrested if I attempted such a fearful outrage as to

plant a little tobacco for my fellowprisoners. But no\ he gloated over it, and, on the face of it, it appears , as if he wishes to enoourage crime to j keep him m his fat billet. The police ■ I cyan did not know the date of -my discharge, and have no possibility of knowi'it" only through pimps like this fellow, who not only told the police, -but some of my fellows-prisoners, knew c?f biv danger but had not the opportunity of letting me know. To show how he timed ..the affair, another prisoner v was discharged the same mornine as I was, but was let out at 10 a.m. and I was not, let out till *11 o'clock, showing that Hawkins had, a job on of which I was to he the victim. ; However, I am glad to state, for the sake of the prisoners, that Hawkins, who has been m charge of New Plymouth gaol; is now supplanted by 1 t.ht3 Chief ■• warder from Wellington, who is gaoler now, and I am confident will not allow any of these low-down warder gaol tricks to be played upon discharged prisoners. Although I have been m gaol I had no idea that it was a crime to go to a public park and leave some tobacco. If I had taken any article that would be considered contraband I could understand, but tobacco is served out to prisoners. Apart from that I went m broad daylight on a public thoroughfare. I cannot appeal, but with your kind permission I can at least make the facts known. Apologising for trespassing; so much on your valuable paper.— l am <&c. CYRUS WILSON. Riverview House, Wanganui.