PORNIC PRANKS IN PRISON.

NZ Truth, Issue 124, 2 November 1907, Page 7

PORNIC PRANKS IN PRISON.

LOVE LAUGHS AT IRON BOLTS. The Warder's Daughter and Boy Murderer Phillips. A Remarkable Intrigue. An erstwhile Pentridge prison secret of fatuous sensuousness has slowly filtered through the high sombre walls of the penal establishment, says Melbourne "Truth." The subject matter is comprised m the startling and sensational doings of a young woman and a prisoner who is incarcerated for the term of his natural life. The precise identity of the damsel "Truth" is not at present inclined to disclose, except to say that she is young and prepossessing, but the immediate publication of all other available details is regarded as a public duty. Sometime ago there was cosily domiciled m the luxuriously furnished official quarters of the A Division the heroine of this PRISON-GIRL ROMANCE, a daughter of a gaol official. The outcome of her love-making nearly proved most disastrous, and had her s'ug-' gestions been acted upon by the prisoner, the Commonwealth would have revelled man unparalleled sensation. However, the plot was s discovered, and the whole affair wa"s carefully hushed up and sunk m official oblivion. But "murder will out." When the Holy Trinity choir capers at Coburg, which "Truth" exposed four years ago, were. at flood-tide, our charming Pentridge belle, was one of the , PRINCIPALS IN THE PEW ROMPS and church-yard flutters, and appear? to have had her spirits appeased by the Rev. Caton's surpliced flock, but a cessation of this indulgence, and a closer surveillance over her actions, caused her to seek fresh woods and pastures new, and she transferred her affections to the prisoner, and she discovered m William Myles Phillips a young man only too well qualified to reciprocate. His past success with women had given him expertness, and the amour between the kindred spirits developed with such rapidity that Phillips, as opportimrty offered, changed his hard celebate cell for a better bed. Phillips is the erstwhile surpliced choir boy, who, according to his own version, was led astray by William Brady, whom he shot m 1897, conchulihp: the murder by cutting his victim's throat. In view of the Pent-i ridge episode m which he plays so | conspicuous a part, a copy of the confession which he made prior to his trial will be of interest :— "At the age of 14," he said, "I left school, and entered the employ of Messrs Cooper and Sons, ironmongers, Elizabeth-street. T was then a bright, intelligent boy of happy nature and thought, and desirous of only making ny w.y in the world. I was placed under the care and control of Brarlv. who was accountant to the firm. Daily Brady conversed freely mmy presence about his ADVRNTTTRR<3 WTTH \VOMF,N of immoial character, and of \v'< successes m seduction. At last he

took mo entirely into his confidence, and frequently sent me with written messages to the women. I was flattered with his confidences, and full of admiration for him. Al-; though I had learned a great deal of immorality, I had not"" yet felt any desire to follow Brady's example. I was.five years under his influence, arid as I grew older I began'more and more to think of women and act towards them as Brady did. I proved a most apt pupil, and thought of nothing else but women. He informed me of the best and quietest houses of assignation, and he advised me where to send a woman m case my intimacy with her had resulted m her becoming enciente. I ;was only m receipt of 10s per week, and mv successes with women increased my vanity to such an ex'tfent that I ' TOOK MONEY FROM THE TILL for the purposes of dress. My excesses at last began' to tell upon my mind and constitution. I began to have strange ''fits of melancholy and depression/then sudden outbursts of violent temper and passion." Subsequently Brady accused Phillips of, stealing £20 from the till, and the latter shot his accuser. Seeing that his. victim remained. alive. Phillips cut his throat. For this, crime he was sentenced to imprisonment ,for his natural life, and has now. served 10 years. . /■.... ; This is the man upon whom the Coburg Trinity choir girl bestowed her affections. And that the couple were so successful is a reflection on the discipline of the penal establishment, which is. supposed -to exercise a dismal routine pf austerity from which there is ho' rescape. The intimacy was ■DISCOVERED BY "STIFFS'*. (m the form of love letters) which Phillips had m his! possession. These incriminated the girl. • The concents of the letter "Truth" has been unable to obtain, but if ,^hey have not been destroyed they Should be made available with a view to a full inquiry being instituted. The girl also sent her paramour "photographs of herself, and it is. hinted, but not definitely authenticated that SHE ARRANGED ASSIGNATIONS /it her quarters. The worst feature of the strange story is. however, m its finale. It Is": said that Phillips coulrl. had he chosen, arranged himself m feminine attire, and. _ thus.-dis-guised' as a-'niember of .the official household, have wa'lifed out of the establishment unchallenged. Whether this statement is based upon the do.cmnentarv evidence contained m the love "stiffs," or whether it is mere coniecture. based upon the cirl's infatuation, combined .with Phillips's effeminate, appearance, "Truth" is not prepared to say ; i(btyt it is freely stated that bad 'the, prisoner been darinsr enough, he could, easily have effected his escape m the 1 manner indicated. He has a SMOOTH, HAIRLESS FACE, which would lend itself readily to "the deception. . The suggestion, it is said, emanated from the girl. It is not clear whether Phillips funked on attempting such a darintr feat or whether he vacillated until the discovery of the pi of made its accomplishment impossible. The latter is the most probable theory. Had he escaped, the assumption is that the fair one contemplated, joining him with a view to elopement. . When the matter came officially under the NOTICE OF THE GOVERNOR, a secret inquiry was held. The result was the transference of Phillips from the A Division, occupied by first-tim-ers, to the B Division, amonrc the long-sentenced men. The girl remained unpunished, excenti that she was removed from the institution. Of the two, she wps'..undountedlv the most culpable. Phillips confessedly had seduced women when a freo mnn. but m this case the woman seduced him. Conveying "stiffs" to prisoners is a most serious offonce m. itself, but planning an escape is criminal. .Since the scandal. "Truth" understands reforms have been instituted, and under existing conditions the committal of similar offences would be impossible without imrne.diatp detection "Truth" does not complain that sufficient remedial action tq nrnvont repetition was not taften promptly, but it obiects to the conspiracy of "hush" which surrounded the discovery of the plot.