THE GAOL RIOT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12634, 22 March 1905, Page 3

THE GAOL RIOT.

PRISONERS BEFORE THE COURT. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 21. An exciting scene occurred in the Police Court to-day, when five prisoners concerned in the disturbance at Mount Eden Gaol were on trial. A prisoner named Ashton, in giving evidence on behalf of accused, made an' insulting lemaik to the Magistrate,, who ordered his vemova: from the witnessbox. One of the accused men, named Williams, thereupon used - obscene language, and struck Constable. Moriarty in. the mouth. -A policeman seized Williams, whereupon Ashton fnshel-tothe assistance of Williams, but;was seized by a-warder. and'removed from "the Court amid a volley of oaths. The case' then- proceeded. The defence of the. accused men appears to-be that they asked.for water, and it was je : fused. In reply' to this the gaol officials state that prisoners- had waLer when removed from another ce 1 !. " The governor cf the gao* said that there was an organised conspiracy to terrorise the warders, and thus secure an opportunity of escape. .... The accused, declared, that when they complained of want of water the same Justice of the Peace was always sent for, and he.did not give them justice. After hen ring the evidence of the warders and the prison chaplain, accused were sentenced to 14 days bread and water, and 2439 marks were taken from them—equivalent to a loss of one 3-ear's remission of sentence.