PRISON MUTINY AT DARTMOOR.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19093, 27 January 1932, Page 7

PRISON MUTINY AT DARTMOOR.

ISSUE OF OFFICIAL REPORT VIVID PICTURE OF LIFE IN PRISON. British Official Wireless RUGBY, January 25. An offical communique issued by the Home Office regarding the Dartmoor disturbance states:— “While the prisoners were being marched into the chapel at 9.30 a.m., over 100 out of the total prison population of about 400, broke away, and the prison staff was unable for a time to obtain control. Some prisoners broke Into the Administrative Offices, and burnt a number of records. The prisoners also attempted to scale the walls, and it was necessary for the prison officers to use firearms to prevent escape. Some prisoners received shot wounds, and some were injured bystaves used by officers. It was necessary to summon police from Plymouth and Exeter to help the prison staff. They arrived at 10.45, and by 11 o’clock all the prisoners were under complete control, and the disturbance at an end. No prisoners escaped, and none were seriously injured. About 20 are in hospital with minor injuries. No officers were seriously hurt. A few received minor injuries, but none will require to be sent to hospital. ! "A large number of prisoners took I no part in the disturbances, and many j helped the prison staff. / “The causes of the trouble are not i known. The Home Secretary will arj range for an inquiry to be made at once j into all the circumstances. There will j be no difficulty in obtaining from other sources such particulars as are requisite to replace the burnt records.” Official Inquiry Ordered. The Home Secretary (Sir Herbert j Samuel) has appointed Mr Herbert Du Pareq, K.C., Recorder of Bristol, to hold an immediate inquiry into the whole circumstances connected with the disorder at Dartmoor. He will be assisted by Mr Alexander Paterson, of the Prisons’ Commissioners. | AFTER THE UPRISING, j SEEKING CAUSES FOR REVOLT. British Official Wireless RUGBY, January 25. All is quiet at Dartmoor to-day. Except for minor effects of rough handling, no prison officials or police were hurt, and only one convict was seriously injured. He is suffering from concussion caused by falling off the roof. Drastic Restrictions. All the convicts at Dartmoor were confined in their cells to-day. The guards were trebled at the chief points of the prison walls. Troops were in readiness at Plymouth but nothing happened. Newspapers give prominence to Donovan’s rescue of Mr Turner, publishing photographs of the convict j and details of the last minute reprieve from the death sentence in 1928, even after the scaffold had been erected. Correspondents are already suggesting Donovan’s release for bravery and offers of employment are being made. SENSATIONAL DISCLOSURES. GRAVE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PRISON CONDITION. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyrl ght LONDON, January 25. It is freely suggested tllat the amount of liberty allowed prisoners and their mingling in the yards and grounds enabled the plot to be hatched, the exact moment of the rising to be fixed and a collection of weapons to be made. The poor quality of the food, the dampness of the cells and general treatment are the chief grievances of the convicts, whose incendiarism brought its own punishment, the destruction of the heating system causing them to shiver in the cells on the season’s frostiest morning. Ex-prisoner’s Story. “The mutiny was planned months ago,” declared Jacobus Vandyn, recently released from Dartmoor.

“I was asked to distribute keys to desperate characters, who intended to release the other prisoners, overpower the warders, and escape during a foggy night. Dartmoor is so dismal that men will do anything to escape the terrible monotony of a living death. The walls are so damp that water trickles on the heads of the sleeping convicts. The porridge is uneatable owing to the oats being stored in the damp, and the bread Is so bad that eight barrels are filled with leavings. The Governor was disliked, despite his considerateness. Food was the principal cause of the discontent. The warders were decent fellows, and simply did their duty.” Official Reticence. Residents who climbed trees when the fighting was at its height, declare that they saw several shot. The authorities declined to make a statement, but additional doctors I have been summoned. Sir Herbert Samuel conferred with I Home Office officials, and discussed the

I punishment of the ring-leaders and ! the exercise of leniency to Donovan and other special cases. ARMED FORCES ON DUTY. ROADS BARRICADED AND CARS HELD UP. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 26, 7.0 p.m.) LONDON, January 26. One hundred steel-helmeted soldiers were rushed from Plymouth to Dartmoor late last night, with four machine guns, and were posted round the prison. The roads were barricaded and cars stopped, owing to the suspicion that friends of prisoners would be waiting with motor cars to aid escapees. Only five warders were injured. Eighty-four convicts were shot or hit with batons, of which twenty are in hospital. The rebel convicts raided the officers’ canteen, and drank freely until the Plymouth contingent of police arrived in cars. Roberts entered the prison service as a warder after the Armistice, having served in the Scots Greys. He is noted among the prison governors for his advanced views in the treatment of prisoners. He has been described as the most humanist governor in the service.