THE PRISONER PAWELKA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLII, Issue 5761, 27 July 1910, Page 3

THE PRISONER PAWELKA.

A MAiN OF DANGiEttOUS ABNORMALITY. WELLINGTON, July 22. A deputation waitod upon tho Minister of Justice to-iday with a petitian tlmt inquiry be made into the montal condition of tlio Prisoner Pawolka, with a view to a possible revision of tlio sentence of twenty-one .years imposed on him by Mr Justice Cooper.

After reviewing the case at length, the lion. Dr. Find lay, said ho ItWougM it was his duty to tell them that, although apart from any evidonce which was called at the trials ho had in lus possession information 'and medical reports which 'would rendor it necessaxy for tho prison authorities (including the Ministor of. Justice) to exerciso the closest scrutiny and investigation of Pawelka's behaviour before ho was again set at liberty. Tho Minister did not think the general publication of these documents would do good. lie did not wish, however, to make anv mystery about them, so ho read them to the deputation. Tt would, Dr. Findlay added, be seen that the medical roports showed Pawelka to bo a man of dangerous abnormality, who could only bo set at liberty, if at all, after ' a close scrutiny by trained authorities over a lengthy period. . Tho request to have the sentence reduced it waß the Minister's plain duty to doclino. In reply to a questiwl Dr. Findlay said Pawelka's mental condition would be reviewed from time to time. I