THE HALL CASES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3746, 4 October 1886, Page 3

THE HALL CASES.

♦ Thomas Hall and Margaret Graham Houston, the prisoners who stand committed for attempted murder, left for Christohurch by the early train on Saturday m chargeof Warder Thomas Donovan and an assistant. There wero very few persons at tho station, and tho prisoners were got away quietly. In our issue of tho 21st September m writing of the Hall Houston case, wa took particular notice of the warder, that came from Lyttolton m chargo of prisoner T. Hall. Wo referred to the way m which ho conducted tho prisoners Hall and Houston before the R.M. Court on tho 20th, that thero was no shakinghands.orany other familiarity allowed as formerly carried on between the male and female prisoners m open court, m the eyes of tho public. The public saw this Lyttelton warder standing between the two prisoners ready to suppress nny of the former privileges mado uso of by tho prisoners. This took tho prisoners by •urpriso, more so when Miss Houston ontered the R.M. Court, and comiug closo up to tho prisoner Hnll put out her hand expecting hiß hand ns beforo, but to her surprise she received the wardor's hand instead. He kept the two prisoners nt a respectful distance from ench other, standing between the two. Tho public wero well pleased by tbo way the warder performed his duty. On making enquiries we find his name is Thomas Donovan, and that he had formerly served m H.M. 4th Dragoon Guards," from August, 1869, to September, 1876, alit'le over seven years, this regiment bcingonoof the oldest and highly respeci ed cavalry regiments under the British crown. Purchasing bis discharge he left as a rough riding corporal, and on recommondntion to tho Secretary of Stato ho wns appointed to one of the largest convict establishments m England (Dartmoor). A mutiny taking placo nt the Criminal Prison, Singapore, smong tho prisoners, m which Pirn, of the English staff was murdered, Mr Donovan was ono of six warders who wero selected, and sent out to help to reorganise and restore order nt tho prison named. Fulfillinghisengngcmentof 3 years he returned to the service ofthe Homo Department, where he was reinstated m his , old post nt Dartmoor Prison, by the Hon. tho Home Secrotary. Warder Donovan left tho English service m April, 1884, nnd enme out to this colony, to make himself acquainted with our prison service, entering it m Nov. 1884. We are sure from the qualifications he is m possession of that he will turn out a useful member to our prison staff. It reflected great credit on the chief gaoler of Lyttelton prison selecting such an officer as this, for tho duty he hod to perform m referenco to the prieoner Hall. Wa-der Donovan was left hero specially wbile Hall remained at Timaru Gaol till the order came for him to be removed to Christchurch to take his trial. Tbo next time the warder is henrd of it is hoped that he will be m n higher position. The officials of the service should feel proud that they oro ablo to foll back on men liko tho ono m question.