WELLINGTON GAOL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2217, 10 June 1865, Page 3

WELLINGTON GAOL.

(To the Editor ofthe Wellington Independent.) June 7, 1865. Sic, — Having been lately incarcerated for upwards of three months in Wellington Gaol as a committed prisoner awaiting trial, lhave naturally been enabled to have a good idea regarding the manner in wliich affairs are generally carried on j there. It is my wish to bring to the notice of j the public in general of this town, the wretchedness and misery of the above named place, and I feel sure it will at once be clearly seen by the following report that it is a habitation more fit ; for wild beasts than human beings. I sincerely trust notico will be taken of it, and steps taken by the head authorities to enforce i that, which in all fairness and by regulations made by Hi 3 Excellency Sir George Grey, ought to be, but is not dona. I will first remark, and that in order that a slur may not be thrown upon my letter to you, that a gaol is a place of punishment and not pleasure, but let every man have his rights whether he be criminal or innocent — whether he be poor or rich — and especially when it is permitted to him by others. I would then first ask, i 9 a committed prisoner a convicted prisoner ; if not, ought there not to be a distinction made between them. At tho gaol here there is not this distinction. Committed prisoners and convicted are all in one. They diet, sleep, and associate with one another, and but with few exceptions, are treated in every respect alike. A committed prisoner (that is awaiting trial) is allowed, if able, to keep himself, butpnany cannot afford this. This then is the only luxury, if I may so call it, a committed prisoner has. Allow me here to show you an instance of a convicted prisoner and committed one being treated alike, in order that I may prove my words as true. A man is brought up for assault, drunkenness, and such crimes, and sentenced to a month's imprisonment without hard labor. He gets the same rations aa a committed prisoner, is allowed the same exercise, and in fact in every manner is treated the same. Is this fair ? Certainly not ; a man awaiting trial is not guilty until found so by twelve of his own countrymen, and ought not to be mixed up with common low drunkards. If the committed prisoner gets acquitted on trial, he then meets outside men who are known drunkards, and they consider him tlieir friend. Naturally on liis being seen speaking to such characters, he is discarded and disowned by those who otherwise woidd associate with him. You may say, why not pass them. True. But you then chance being insulted, and remarks made perhaps in a public thoroughfare aa to your having associated with them in gaol. As regards then the second point, what rations does a commited man awaiting trial get ? The following will shew, — Three- quarters of a lb. of bread, half a lb. of meat (generally neck and gristle), half a lb. of potatoes. Tliis then is to support a man for a day ; no tea being provided, consequently he is supposed to receive water. Picture to yourself a cold day, rainy and wet, a man upon these rations, and tell me if you don't consider it a shame. It is very well for people outside who have enjoyments and comforts surrounding them, not to think of it ; bufc remember these men in gaol are our fellow brothers, and as good as us in the sight of God. Ought we not then, I ask, to give them a thought ? Thus far as to committed prisoners. But one slight remark more I would make about them, viz. — should a man awaiting trial -wish to lay a complaint before a visiting Justice, he is allowed to write to him, and the answer he receives is, "If the Warden of the Gaol likes." What is the Warden of the Gaol then, I ask ? Did he make the rules ? _ Certainly not. Then if a man always receives tliis answer, visiting Justices had better be at once dispensed with, and Mr Read made Warden of the Gaol, Governor of the Colonies, and Visiting Justice ; then let Mm make rules and have Ins own way ; but until this is the case, let Mr Read remember he is but a servant under 1 the Visiting Justices, and he has no right to say I a word beyond seeing that the prisoners behave i themselves. I will now give a rough outline of 1 the customs ofthe gaol, having said enough about i committed prisoners awaiting trial. Prisoner^ j arc called at six o'clock in the morning, smoke for I quarter of an hour, and then have breakfast. At I eight o'clock they go in different gangs to work Jon the roads. They work till twelve, when half ■ a pound of bread and a pannikin of tea is given J to each man, and they eat by the roadside for an | hour. This tea and bread is given them by the { public of this to -on. They continue work till i fom*, and then return to tea, after which they have a quarter of an hour allowed them to 'smoke, I and retire to rest for the night. Thus they pas*} j day by day. Now I particularly wish to bring to notice a few remarks as regards the extra bread and tea ; they are allowed by the public. lam not certain, but imagine the public pay for them to receive bread and tea daily, whether wet or fine — holiday or no holiday. If this is the case, allow mc to state as nn eye witness, that they do j not receive it. Then because a holiday is given I them, as i'or instance, Good Fiiday, Christmas j Day, Queen's Birthday, &c., &c., are they to rej ceive less rations than on other days, which is the i case, as their half pound of bread and tea is re- ' tamed. And more than tliis, if the public do pay | for it, and they (the prisoners) do not get it, who ■ receives it ? I am, as I said before, uncertain 1 whether the public pay for it or not, but if it is paid for and withheld, I ask you is it not a scandalous shame ? I can only say, I am astonished that the public should allow a youngster like my- • - self to write and not take it up themselves. However, I trust some will be on my side, and view things as I do and not let poor men who are imprisoned for years be deprived of that of which they have a right. Again, is a Doctor allowed to the Gaol ? if so, I am astonished he docs not attend to liis business better. Ho perhaps may tliink a man who commits a crime deserves no thought; if so, great shame is attached to him. I During my imprisonment, there wore several sick, and especially one, a youth about IG ; he asked to see a doctor, and was informed the medical man could not be sent for in the wet. Then is ho to be left; to die aud nobody care for him ? Why cannot a doctor be sent for in the wet, when prisoners are made to work in tho wet ? Instances have also occurred where a man has fallen sick and could not work, and beoause he could not, he was locked up upon less rations than Mb right, in a cold miserable cell, with boards on all sides, until a doctor comes, wliich is not perhaps for two days. This is humanity, and the way to treat a sick man,; I cry shame on them, and think you will also. Allow me, as I am late hi finishing this letter, to state that I am open to answer all letters against this, if any one can possibly deny I am right in what I say, and also to state that a3 time will not permit, I will finish my letter in time for your newspaper. But ere I close, I wish people to remember, I stand, _ unfriended in Wellington ; and as they will sec my namo in full at the bottom of tliis, they might think bocause I was arraigned at the Court on tho charge I was, (the other day) therefore I have no right to make these remarks ; but I toll them I was imprisoned awaiting trial, and that for a crime of which I was not guilty, and I am not ashamed to see or bo seen by any one. Allow me then just to remark that my prosecutor has received an order for payment for his money, and has not been defrauded as the Judge remarked. A prisoner is not allowed, wliilst awaiting trial, to write to or see his prosecutor, consequently I "jj could not arrange to pay him before j for by so> doing, it might appear that I attempted to bribe Mm. I therefore sincerely trust the inhabitants of this place will not rnistrust'or look down upon me, and will, not for my sake, but for the sake of others, tako up this cause with me, wMch is a just one. Apologising for taking so much room in your paper, and begging you to tako notice also of it, I am, Sh*, Your obedient servant, ' W. F. M. Wabmen, .... Late Ensign H.M.s 34th. Regt.,. Madras, N.I.