CONVICTS' MUTINY AT DARTMOOR.

NZ Truth, Issue 145, 28 March 1908, Page 8

CONVICTS' MUTINY AT DARTMOOR.

Fierce Fights with Warders.

Officers and Doctor Severely Mauled.

'A; series of assaults took place at Dartmoor Prison on Sunday, writes a- Scottish exchange, and included a fracas of a serious character. The first occurrence was shortly after dinner, when, the convicts were on the parade ground for exercise. While some of the men from No. 4' prison were waiting m the hall, AssistantWarder Somers had occasion to speak to a convict named J. McCarthy, who sprang from -the ranks '.and" struck Somers a violent blow on the cheek, felling him to the ground. The convict pounced upon Somers, and As-sistant-Warder Birch was obliged to use his staff before McCarthy'desisted. The convict was eventually reamoved to a separate cell. A little, later a second assault was committed on No. 2 parade ground by a convdct named Benjamin Evans, who was reprimanded by Assistantsarder Cole for ■■■>■'■ talking.. Evans broke from the ranks, and refused to return to his place. A. severe struggle ensued" with the warders. As efforts were being made to handcuff Evans, about half a dozen other convicts became restive and abusive, but quietened down as he was TAKEN TO THE CELLS, STRUGGLING VIOLENTLY THE WHILE. About 4 o'clock the most serious attack occurred. As about 60<convicts were being escorted from the- Roman Catholic chapel to the cells, Henry 'Johnston struck Assistant-Warder Birch. Assistant-Warder Bailey went to the assistance of his fellow-warder but half-a-dozen convicts joined m. the melee, knocking both officers to the ground and kicking them. ' Missiles, including water jugs, and coal, were hurled at the officials, and a large bin containing ashes was emptied over the prostrate warders. An alarm being given, warders rushed to the liall m which the fracas was going oh, and the convicts ran to their cells, thus rendering it difficult to ascertain those actually concerned m tha assaults. Birch and Bailey were badly injured. While the outbreak was taking place a concert party w ( as giving selections m the Protestant Chapel, a large number of convicts being present. Another account of the outbreak says i<— The convict prison at Prince.tow.n was on Sunday THE SCENE OF A SUCCESSION OF SAVAGE ASSAULTS " upon warders never previously equalled m the history of that establishment. Under Borstal system of treatment, the Governor of the prison invited a concert party from Plymouth to give a concert at the prison vfor the enjoyment of the convicts. This was to have been given m the infirmary, but the venue was changed to the Protestant Church, and all not regular attendants at these services were excluded. . Either because of this or from the fact that a large number were required to, guard the concert audience, the opportunity was seized by the remaining prisoners to revolt. Following upon two separate upon a warder while parties of convicts were parading for exercise after dinner a serious • outbreak occurred at 4 o'clock while the concert was m progress. A party of convicts were being escorted from the Catholic Chapel to- the prison, and on being halted before being sent to the respective wands a convict named Johnson suddenly sprang from the ranks and struck Assistant-Ward-er Birch ' a severe blow. AssistantWarder BaiJey wept to his assistance, but afeout a dozen convicts thereupon participated m the attack. Both officers were THROWN TO THE GROUND AND SAVAGELY KICKED, while missiles of all kinds, including water- ju^s, coal and coke were hurled at them. In addition, a quantity of aslres from the dust-lrin were emptied over the prostrate warders. In response to signals, a young warder named Trent dashed to the rescue > but a convict picked up the dust-bin,, and, aiming a deadly blow at Trent, cut clean through his hat, whale another convict .threw a water-jug at him. Meanwhile other warders, responding, to signals, rushed to the scene, and their approach was met by a , convict shouting,' '''Look out, guard coming." Thereupon all the convicts rushed to their cells, and were promptly locked m. Their action t rendered it " difficult to ascertain * those who actually participated m the assault. Warders Birch and Bailey were picked up from the ground covered with 'blood and m an almost^ unconscious • conditibn. . They were> surgically attended to. Chief Warder Kelly, Who led other warders to the rescue, was struck on the 'back of the head with a lump of coke. Johnson, after the use of considerable force, was placed m another cell, and a» number of convicts were examined with a view to ascertaining who were really" concerned m the assaults, and who were the ring-leaders beyond 1 Johnson; There has recently been considerable unrest amongst the convicts at Dartmoor, resulting m attempted escapes and a series, of assaults upon warders and other convicts. The- insubordination ■ amongst, convicts at Princetown was continued on Monday. The prisoners concerned m the mutiny of Sunday had to submit to medical examination by Dr. Murray prior to going before the Governor, m order that it might be ascertained what punishment they were physically able to bear. While Dr. Murray was examining convict Benjamin Evans, the latter deliberately struck the doctor a savage blow, on the nose, causing blood to flow freely, and also. DISCOLORING HIS EYES. Warder Rundle, who was m charge of tlio prisoner, endeavpred to present his doing further mtischief, and hinaself received a savage blow on th« forehead. The convict was overpowered and handcuffed, and taken before the Governor. Evans, who ar rived at Princetown 18 months sip-o. was flowed at Portland' far assaul 1 .r*on an officer of that prison. Ten '^nvicts were reported on Monday m

connection with Sunday's mutiny, four being charged with assault and four for inciting, others to mutiny. Assistant-warder Bailey is reported m a most precarious condition and almost unrecognisable. It is feared Vbhat he will lose /the. sight of one eye. On Friday, when a farm party were clearing a piece of land, four convicts refused to work because of the cold. They were handcuffed and marched- back to prison. PREVIOUS ASSAULTS. It is stated that there has recently been considerable unrest among, convicts at Dartmoor. About ten days ago a man named 1 Bridge, engaged m the store sheds, was sent, by the officer m charge of the tool chest for the purpose of exchanging tools. On the way 'back he made a remark to another convict named George Lawrence, who at once took up an iron roller 2ft. lons and struck Bridge a violent blow across - the forehead, knocking him down. Had it not been for the intervention of Warder Hatt and Inspector Cole he would have renewed his attack on Bridge. Lawrence is the convict who four years ago escaped from Dartmoor Prison quarry while under the charge of Warder Hamlyn. He concealed himself m the prison plantation, but was recaptured two hours later by an officer named . Trapp. In November last a convict named Ludwell badly assaulted Assistant-Warder Brennan while working m some fields outside the prison boundary. He was sentenced by the visiting Justices to receive two dozen strokes with the cat, and the sentence was carried out last month. \ v