ROWDY PRISONERS. AUCKLAND. March 21.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 13

ROWDY PRISONERS. AUCKLAND. March 21.

As a sequel to tlie di->turbaiicr> at llount Kdon Gaol on Saturday five piisonoi-^. named Thomas Ram c ay, Thomai Lindsayalias Bell. Goorgr Williams, J;>me, Cnri-min-j, and George Harrison, appoaicd I^fove Mr M'Carchy in answer to a charge of committ'rq :i breach of "The Prison Aft, 1882," by wilfully breaking the pruon wndows and otherwise destrcjrinft pri=on property. The men all pleaded " Not Quilty." Mr Severne, go\ernor of th/ 1 gaol, coiiductrcl the prosecution. Heurj- Foicman. warder, said that on Saturday, 18th inst.. he was on duty m the central Ming About 20 minutes past 2 he hoard the sound of smashing windows from the cells in which the mon were lodged. He reporced to the chief v, ardcr, and some time after, in company with tho gaoler, the chaplain (the Rev. E. C. BudcH. and two other warders, witness visited the cells and found all the windows and furniture smashed in each cell. There was a complete wreck — tables, chairs, utensils, and windows beiucr completely destined. Francis Severne said that on Saturday morning he gav-e orders for the men to be put in the central wing. Those, were not punishment cells, and wove as pood as those they had left. They took their cell furniture with them, and that would include water tins. etc. Witness wont over about a quarter past 2. and met Mr Budd. They heard a great shouting and disturbance, and on arriving- in the central wing they found that the men were smashing the cell furniture and creating a groat noise. They were- in such a state of fury that it would not have h-een safe to open their cell doors. As far as he knew they all had water with them,, which had be>en brought from their other cells. The noise continued until late at night. On Sunday morning he had the prisoners removed to the basement. It was an organised conspiracy to terrorise the warders, and thus provide a chance of escape. Mr Budd, called by accused, said that he was present during the progress of the disturbance. The prisoners asked for water, and used terrible language. He stayed till about 4- p.m. endeavouring to pacifj' the men, who were very excited. Witness met Foreman, and asked him to give the prisoners water, but ho said he had orders not to. Witness said he would take the responsibility, if Foreman would no-b g-ive th© water he would. He accordingly gave each man some water. To Mr Severne: He did not see any cause for the disturbance, though there was a certain amount of dissatisfaction among a certain class of men. He had never seen any prisoner badly treated in gaol. He had seen a warder knocked about, and he had great sympathy for the warders in the work they had to discharge. Accused contended that they were put in the cells and refused water. When they had any complaint the same justice of the peace was always sent for. and they did not get justice. Accused were sentenced to 14 days' bread and water and 2439 marks were taken from them, equivalent to the loss of a year's remission of sentence.

During the hearing of the case there was an exciting scene. A prisoner named Ashton, giving evidence on behalf of the accused, made an insulting remark to the magistrate, who ordered his removal from the witness box. One of the accused men (Williams) thereupon used mast obscene language, and struck Constable Moriarirv in -the mouth. The policemen seized Williams. whereuDon Ashton rushed to the assistance of Williams, but was seized by a warder and removed from the court amid si volley of oaths.