WAR-TIME CHORUSES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17740, 29 March 1932, Page 9

WAR-TIME CHORUSES

DARTMOOR CONVICTS PROCEEDINGS AT TRIAL LONDON, March 28. Dartmoor prisoners charged with participation in the riots shouted wartime choruses to-day as they were driven from the prison to Prineotown for the resumption of the inquiry. Officer Wilson, describing the mutiny, said that six .pl' the accused broke parade, shouting to the warders, “Draw your sticks, you !” Officer Halls said that, the convicts Stoddart, Smith and Bullows put themselves at the head of SO mutineers armed with pick handles, sledge hammers, iron bars and* stones. I Officer Hutt identified Bullows, Muir, Stoddart, Cosgrave and Tappenden as among the rioters who broke into the prison kitchen with sledge hammers, departed laden with food, and then fought over it.

Officer Hicks said that when Colonel Turner tried to calm the rioters, they' attacked him and threw porridge over j him, and distributed his cigarettes among themselves. Hicks described how a loyal convict was shot in the arm in . the boiler-house where the | gauges had been broken in order that I the escaping steam should expel the mutineers. It was suggested that the' steam prevented Ilioks from seeing the . loyalist. j Officer Stacey admitted that lie was outside Beadle’s cell when Beadle ’s head was split open ou February 23, but he was not aware why this had been done. He added that Beadle had smashed up his cell. Mr. S. T. James, who is appearing for some of the convicts, commented: “Though this occurred a month after the mutiny,' it was part of the system started before the mutiny, and is still continuing. ” “Hear, hear,” exclaimed the prisoners from the dock.

Under a heavily-guarded 'escort the convicts returned to Dartmoor in motor lorries, crooning the sentimental waltz tune “Sleepy Valley.” The Evening News understands that •16 convicts were punished at Dartmoor for offences during the week-end, when a demonstration of restlessness was made.