LYTTELTON GAOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2996, 16 August 1911, Page 9

LYTTELTON GAOL.

PRISONERS’ FALSE CHARGES. CHRISTCHURCH, August 9. A special sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was held at Lyttelton Gaol this morning by Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M. Robert M'Garthy and Frederick Dennett were charged with having on June 20, at Lyttelton, while prisoners, committed an aggravated prison offence—namely, preferring 'a false complaint against Henry Edward Anthony, an officer of the prison. The complaint was that he did traffic with prisoners. The visiting justices found that the prisoners committed the offence, and ordered the charge to be heard before a magistrate.

Both prisoners stated that they had made a mat and two whips for Anthony, and that he had given them some in return. Mr A. W. Ironsides, gaoler, stated that the charge had been inquired into by the visiting justices, and was found to be absolutely untrue. Anthony gave an absolute denial. Frederick Hall and John Trembath, prisoners, and Charles Spittal, warder, stated that they believed the charges to be false. The Magistrate found the accused guilty, and ordered them to be kept in close confinement for 21 days in light cells, without irons.