TRAGEDY IN NELSON GAOL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2761, 30 July 1883, Page 2

TRAGEDY IN NELSON GAOL.

I PRISONKB MURDERS A WARDER AND COMMITS SUICIDE. (By Telegraph.) Nelson, July 28. Between six and half-past th-s roornin?, a nost dreadful tragedy was enacted at the Ndson 3\iol. At present it is impossible to gather ill the particulars, but it appears that the inly warder m charg*. John Adam?, must bare allowed John Davidson, a prisoner, sen-ing a life-sentenco for the manslaughter of Dennis Quiolan, at Lyell, to leave hie cell ; probably to enable him to go to work m the kitchen. Davidson appears to bare been looked on b§ a very quiet man, for no precaution: were taken with him. After he was lontenred be seems to have been so docile, is to have averted any apprehensions of his becoming violent. Adams, after liberating the prisoner, went into the yard, and then came the dreadful deed. The prisoner was left without control, and was probably seized with a desire to escape. He seems to have taken a tomahawk and smashed m the guard-room door. Thst done, he seized a couple of loaded revo'veri, ai:d with one hastened to the yard where poor Adams wap, and shot him through the hear!. Of couree the deed was unwitnessed ; but from the surrounding circumstancea it would appear that thii was the course pursued. The noise of the revolver awakened Mr Sliallcrasi, gaoler and Mra 8h»llcraB», and both having bat an indistinct idea Hint there was something wrong, hastened into the gaol. In the corridor they were met by Davidson with the two revolvers, whioh he was presenting, when the gaoUr spoke to him firmly but kindly to induce him to retire. Mrs Bhallcrass asked him whore Adams was. To ibis, priioner said, " Oh, yes, ho's m the yard all right." Mrs Shallcrass then entreated him to Ist aside his weapons, and he appeared to be somewhat pacifiod. He then demanded of Mr Shallcrais that he should let him pail and escape from gaol, but though unarmed! the gaoler opposed him. Davidson then spoke of the Lyell murder, making a charge against the woman concerned therein, and asserting hii own innocence, and while Mr and Mrs Shallorass were doing all they could | to pacify him, the man put one of the revolvers m his mouth, and m an instant fired and was dead. Adams came here from Wellington recently, aDd had a, wife and four children, the youngest being two months old. Latee. Mr Shaltcrass, the gaoler, was very reticent this morning ; but it now appears that Warder Adams was stabbed m tha back of his bead, and alto m the abdomen, by Davidson, who was employed m the gaol as cook. He used one of the kitcben knives. The event has caused a great sensation here, and the authorities are greatly blamed. An inquest ia being held. THE INQUEST. July 29. The inquest en the g&ol tragedy was held yesterday afternoon. Mr Shallcrasf, the gaoler, deposed that at ten miontes to six m the morning be heard 5 scream, but thought it was from outside the gaol. He got up, and went down stairs and into the gaol, however, and on entering tbe corridor was met by Davidson, who stood eight paces off with s revolver m bis right band. Davidson said "If yon come another Mep, I'll shoot yon." Davidson also told him to open tbe front, door, but ho refuted, whereupon DaTidson again threatened to fire unless he did it. Shallcran then commenced reason* ing with and threatening Davidson, and managed to a 'art him off talking about his grievances. Mr* Shallcrass entered the corridor, and she asked Davidson where Adams was, to which the convict replied "Oh, he's all rieht." Tbey then went on parleying for about five minutes, when Bbal!crass .told Davidson he could shoot him, and Davidson replied " I'll be d— d, I am shot." Shallerass said "I would rather you take your own life thin I should do to." Davidson repeatedly put his revolver to bin own bead. After about 35 minutes, Chiaf Warder White oame on the scene, and commenced to expostulate with Davidson until at ieogth Davidion drew back to the wall, placed the revolver to his mouth and pulled tbe trigger, but the cap snapped. He tben examined the revolver again, put it to bis beaJ, fired, and fell dead. Shallcra«s then rushed up to see where Adams wa«, and found him lying dead m the yard. He had a wound m tbe back of his head, another m the neck and the back, and a frightful wound m tbe abdomen , from which his intestines were protruding. Three white prisoners were oonfined m the oellt m the corridor m whioh Davidson stood, and the latter, before shooting himself, shook hands with the ramates of two of the cell*, putting his hand betweon the grating. Before, however, Sballcrass left the corridor and went to his office to get his revolver, leaving Mrs Shallorass m the corridor, Davidson had then given up the idea of shooting. From the place where Davidson stood, he could see Adams lying m the yard, and must hava known he was dead. Davidson had been employed a* cook since May 18th, and was always very ord«rly and obliging. He agreed with everyone mnd never showed BDy sign of mentsl aberration. It was the duty of Adams to call DaTidson to light the fires, Ao. Davidson had access to knives, and a long butcher's knife was picked up beside Davidson's body. Adams' coat was m the yard and Davidson appeared to hare searched it for keys, as * key wasfoand m tbe gate between the yard and the gardan, but it was the key of an inner door and would not opan the gate. During his conversation with Davidson Shallcrass says Davidson drew b«ok for a minute after threatening him if he moved, and tben returned with two revolvers. 'The revolvers were kept m the armory, which wsj a cupboard within lha officers* room, to which Davidson had accass. A panel of this cup« board was broken. Two chambers of one revolver h&d beea discharged, and one m the other. Davidson was to have been removed to Wellington, and had not the s.s. Wallace been detained by bad weather, would have sailed. He did not appear to like the idea of going to Wellington, and said if he bad gone he would have jumped overboard. Shallcrass told him to la/ down tbe revolver, and then he could jump overboard. Chief Warder White corroborated Shallcrass' statements m all important facts. Tbe medical evidence was that Adams' death resulted from hemorrhage, but that had immediate as<iatance been available his life could not have been saved. Tho iury returned a verdict regarding Adams of wilful murder by Davidson, and on Ihe body of the latter a verdict of felo de ss. They then adjsurned till Monday to eoneWcr a rider. Opinions were expressed that firearms should not have been left where accessible to prironer*, and they also commented on a life prisoner of such obaracter being employed an a co)k.