CLOSE CONFINEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 3 June 1938, Page 16

CLOSE CONFINEMENT

PRISONER SENTENCED, ASSAULT ON GAOL OFFICIAL (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 2. A sentence of four days’ close confinement. the accused to be fed on bread and water, was imposed on an inmate of the Auckland prison, James Toko, aged 34, a Maori, by Mr C. R. Orr Walker. S.M.. in the Police Court. The accused, who was charged with using personal violence against Deputy Principal Warder McLeod, pleaded S Superintendent Leggett said that the accused, who had cut his finger while working in the prison quarry, paraded with the others on the sick list, but apparently did not want to go before a medical officer. He was told by Warder McLeod that he would have to see the doctor, and, taking the officer unawares, he struck him in the face with his fist. “Actions of fiis kind are particularly serious in respect to the discipline of the prison," said Superintendent Leggett. “The accused is a man given to violence. He is serving a sentence of two years’ imprisonment and has been declared an habitual criminal.” ~, , . The magistrate said he did not want to make the period of close confinement too long, but the accused had to be shown that he could not disobey orders, and that he had to learn to keep his temper.