TRAGEDY IN NELSON GAOL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2770, 9 August 1883, Page 7

TRAGEDY IN NELSON GAOL.

A PRISONER MURDKR3 A WARDER AND COMMITS SDIOIDE.

(Bx Tbieobaph.)

Neisojt, July 28.

Between aix and half-past th-a morning, a most dreadful tragedy was enacted at the Nelson Gaol. At present it is impossible to gather all tlio particulars, but it appears that the only warder m charge, John Adam?, must have allowed John Davidson, a prisoner, serving a life-sentence for the manslaughter of Dennis Quinlan, at Lyoll, to leave his cell ; probably to enable him to go to work m the kitchen. Davidson appears 1 5 have been looked on as a very quiet man, for no precautions were taken with Litn. After he was eontenrcd be seems to have been so docile, as 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. That done, ho seized a couple of loaded revolver!, and with one hastened to the yard where poor Adams was, and shot him through tbo head. Of course the deed was unwitnessed ; but from the surrounding circumstances it would appear that this was the course pursued. Tho noise of tho revolver awakened Mr Shallcrasi, gaoler, and Mrs Shallcrass, and both having but an indistinct idea that there was something wrong, hastened into the gaol. In the corridor they were mot by Davidson with the two revolver*, which he was presenting, when tho gaoler spoke. to him firmly but kindly to induce him to retire. Mrs Sballcraes asked him whirs Adams was. To this, priconer said, " Oh, yes, ho'a m the'yord all right.'' Mrs Shallcrass then bntreated him to lay aside bis weapons, and he appeared to be somewhat pacified. He then demanded of Mr Sballorass that ho should let him pass 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 his own innocence, and while Mr and Mrs ShaHorass were doing ill they could to pacify him, the man put one of the revolvers m his mouth, and in' an instant Grod and was dbad. Adams came here from Wollington recently, and bad a wife and four children, the youngest being two months old. Latee.

Mr Shallcrasß, the gaoler, was very reticent this morning j but it now appears thit Warder Adams was stabbed m the back of his bead, and also m the abdomen, by Davidson, who was employed m the giol as cook. He used one of the kitchen knives. The event bas baused a great sensation here, and the authorities are. greatly blamed. An inquest is being held.