Prison Enquiry.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume IX, Issue 1197, 21 February 1902, Page 4

Prison Enquiry.

Per Press Association.

Wellington, February 17.

At the prison enquiry Wilson, having refused to give evidence, Warder Murphy, against whom charges were made, gave evidence, denying the allegations made, and his statements were corroborated by three ex-prisoners who had been incarcerated at Port Halswell.

Mr Garvey, gaoler, said every opportunity was given prisoners to bring complaints under his notice, but he had not received any from Wilson.

During the afternoon Mr Jollicoe appeared and explained tbat the statement which the commission had refused to allow Wi.son to read was in his (Mr Jellicoe’s) opinion as a lawyer within the scope of the commission. Eventually the document wa‘- read with the exception ol one paragraph. It advised Wilson that the enquiry was to bo limited to a specific charge against Murphy, and was not a general enquiry into the gaol administration.

Mr Jellicoe considered a general enquiry imperative, but he would not be a party to such farcical proceedings as were contemplated by the commission, and advised Wilson not to do so eithor.

February 18.

Tho Commission took further evidence of prisoners to-day as to their experiences with Warder Murphy, some of them alleging instances of roughness on his part. Wellington, This Day.

At the prison enquiry several witnesses at present serving sentences, deposed that at times the blankets were in a dirty condition and had seen the warder Murphy use rough ir atmeut to prisoners. On the other hand a number of witnesses, also prisoners, swore they never saw prisoners receive ill-treatment nor had they had dirty blankets issued to them.