GRIM PICTURE OF DARTMOOR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19093, 28 January 1932, Page 7

GRIM PICTURE OF DARTMOOR

INMATES’ UGLY TEMPER GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF MUTINY. United Press Association -By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 27, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 26. A grim picture of the interior of Dartmoor is provided by a police official, who has been relieved after 48 hours’ duty. He says: “The conditions have been terrible. Apparently every convict in the two five-storey buildings, lined with cells, was incessantly either banging on the doors or stamping on the floor. A handful of warders were anxiously pacing the corridors realising that they had to deal with ' the scum of the earth. The ringleaders, rounded up by the police and placed in punishment cells, included a dozen of the worst desperados I have ever seen there.” “Terrible Possibilities.” “The terrible possibilities of the , mutiny are proved by the weapons, including ten butchers’ knives, pick handles, fire bars, that had been hidden under the flagstones of the buildings ( allotted to the prisoners classed as dangerous. ( “The experience of Sunday, when 40 police scattered three hundred, shows , that the convicts are abject cowards. “Lags” from London. “Nevertheless there was a tense atmosphere last night, when we heard that one hundred Tags’ from London’s underworld, had gathered in the J neighbourhood, and were planning for 1 a rescue. We saw the convicts signal- ‘ ling to each other from windows, and ( all night heard uncanny hoarse whis- ( perings and mutterings, with which the 5 whole prison was rumbling, but because < the convicts were talking so guardedly, i it was impossible to detect offenders, t ( Police Patrol Prison. -j “Twenty police, on duty in the prison, were given loaded revolvers and assisted in patrolling the cells. The presence of troops greatly eased the j situation. I believe the worst is over. , “Scotland Yard has begun to search London’s underworld to discover the extent to which well-known criminals ( are implicated in the raid at Dartmoor. ( It is ascertained that several are missing from their usual haunts.” A released convict states that the plot to escape was hatched inside the j prison, though men waiting outside with money and motor cars, inflamed j the convicts. Discoveries in the cells included ( grappling irons attached to ropes, to ( assist the escapees. Prison officials say, they do not anticipate further trouble inside, but they are not taking any chances. Further developments are likely outside, and the police, in conjunction with the military, are dealing with them. Further Trouble Unlikely. An official statement issued by the Home Office says: “No further trouble has occurred at Dartmoor.” Although the troops were withdrawn this morning, two companies of the Wiltshire Regiment, including machine gunners, were stationed on the crown of the hill all day in readiness, and Army lorries were provided to hurry them to Dartmoor if necessary. Precautions are regarded as essential, owing to the heavy fog. Police are patrolling the barricade approaches to-night, when the prison was again flood lighted. Warders are still attending the livestock and other farm duties. Inquiry Opened. Mr Herbert Parcq has arrived and opened the inquiry. The convicts expect to be permitted to give evidence.