THE DUNEDIN GAOL ENQUIRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2770, 9 August 1883, Page 3

THE DUNEDIN GAOL ENQUIRY.

(By Tblbgbaph.) DUNEDIH, Aug. 8. At the gaol enquiry to-day Captain Hume oroBS-examined Mr Caldwell at tome length. Amoug the answers elicited were the following i — Witness said he had reported to the Juaticet that Captain Hume's interviewing prisoners interfered with discipline, because he saw prisoners becoming uneasy after these interviews. He had refused to send Moffat to the hulk on the ground that he might jump overboard. Still he did not think Moffat had a suicidal tendency, and he allowed him a knife and fork for his dinner. Seven warders were dismissed m one day who had all given evidence m an enquiry concerning the alleged drunkenness of Sergt. Watson. He recommended these soven be dispensed with for the safety and well-beiog of the place. He remembered an inquiry about a female being left unlocked m the male quarters, but he could not recollect what took plac*. Mr Whitefoord remarked this was a pity as such inquiry was into a Berious matter. Witness said he had taken no notes of that inquiry, as he did not expect to be asked questions about it so long afterwards. Mr Whitefoord: We have heard about Chalmers Beid getting certain indulgences and allowances. I find that according to the default book he was one of the worst conducted prisoners m the gaol. Witness : At first he was very irritable. Mr Whitefoord : But I find that he was very insubordinate, and was charged with several offences until April of the present year, and all that time ha was reotiving speoial indulgences.

Witness: Yes, at the reqaeal of the Magistrates. Mr Whitcfoord : Out of twelve charges ho was never punished, and four oharges were withdrawn — some by you. Witness : They were all brought, as your Worships are aware, bofore the Visiting Justices. Beid would apologies for hii irritnble temper, and I would then ask permission to withdraw the charge. Mr Whitefoord : Another prisoner charged with insubordinate conduct was brought before ths Visiting Justices. No ovidenco is taken on that charge, but other charges are dealt with while that caie. is standing over his head. Don't you think that would tend to subvert the discipline of the gaol more than anything we have hoard of ? Witness : It might, Sir. This priionor was a man who gave considerable (rouble to every person m the place. Mr Wbitefoord : But it is the general system I am referring to. It did not seem to work well with this class of prisoners. Witness: No. 3hs Magistrates we™ anxious to give every man a fair chance of improving. Witness further stated that when o prisoner was brought before tbe Justices week after week, and remanded on any charge, he was not cautioned before being finally dismissed. He thought it vas objectionable for tho Inspector to see a prisoner alone. Witness had often questioned a prisoner when tbcro was no officer present. Possibly, if it was objectionable for the Inspector to intorview prisoners privately, itwai moro objectionable for tho Gaoler. It would hare been better for the discipline of (he placo if charges of insubordinate language wero dealt with at once, but hs never remonstrated with tho Magistrates for their delay*. Apart from this inquiry, he thought that warders should be shifted from gaol lo gaol, also that the Inspector should have fall control of the prisons. Mr Solomon addressed the Commissioners at great length. In concluding, ho adinittod that Mr Caldwell hud not been infallible during his term of office. He readily admitted that there had been acts of indiscretion andirregularity,butthey wero of a trifling character. There wai ccircely a gaol or extensive cstablishmant, penal or olherwijoon the face of tbe globe which could stand such a searching inquiry into six years of its history without some irregularities being shown. Ho concluded as follows : — I am quito certain that not one man m a thousand would have come out of such an inquiry at creditably as Mr Caldwell has done, and I only ask your Worships to find m your report what I am sure your own intelligence has already prompted you to find, that although as you might have reasonably expected, you find that Mr Caldwell has done some half dozen things whioh you consider to be nets of indiscretion, yet you cannot lay your hand upon one serious irregularity committed by him, and that m the exercise of his duties as gaoler of the Dunedin prison, be has proved himself a strict disciplinarian and a moet zealous and efficient officer. I have to thank four Worships for tho exceedingly fair and impartial manner m which Ibis enquiry has been conducted. Captain Hume then nsked leave to reply to Mr Salomon's personal allusions to himstlf, to which Mr Solomon strongly objected, and the Commissioners took till Friday morning to consider the point.