THE SHAM INQUIRY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 266, 7 June 1878, Page 23

THE SILAM INQUIRY.

(From the Nation.) A move heartless imposture than the sham inquiry of the Government into the causes of the death of Color- Sergeant M'Carthy it would be impossible to imagine. Not a single chance did they allow to exist of its being a fair, impartial, and satisfactory investigation. Deliberately and carefully they so ordered its arrangements as to ensure to themselves the verdict they desired. What course would a Government take that wished to have an honest inquiry into the fac^s of the ease? Anyone can tell, for the answer comes up at once to every mind. They would select to conduct the 'investigation two or three independent gentlemen likely to be free from any bias in the matter, — *anditf whose honour all parties could fairly confide, and then they T would authorise those gentlemen to take evidence in the case, publicly, and on oath, from all persons who could give material testimony as to the facts. But wh.it did the Government really do 1 It confided the inquiry to one man, and that man a Bow-street police magistrate ! And what did he do ? He went to the prisons in which M'Carthy had been confined: he there had some private conversations Avith the turnkeys and the jailors, he asked some questions of the doctors, and also of a friendly member of the profession, named Pitman, whom we believe he took with him from London. On one of his visits he was accompanied by Mr. O'Connor Power, but that gentleman, soon discerning the hollow character of the proceedings, declined to be any party to them, and instead of approving of the sham, denounced it. Under these circumstarice Sir James Ingbam, the Bow-street police magistrate, got up h\s report. And, sure enough, it makes them delightfully pleasant Vfor the Government. The hardships to which the unfortunate prisoner was subjected, while his health was being ruined, are glossed over ill the lightest manner, almost as if they were agreeable incidents of hia life. Dr. Pitman is continually referred to by this genial magistrate) Dr. Pitman tuinks the ventilation of M'Carthy's cells was adequate ; Dr. Pitman thinks McCarthy's food was suitable and sufficient (he did not say luxurious); Dr. Pitman thinks M'Carthy's strength was equal to the tasks imposed on it. In short, it would appear to have Ibeen the opinion of Dr. Pitman that " everything was lovely," The prisoner had been iv

a cell the ventilation of which, was complained of — Dr. Pitman found that there was a valve somewhere in the ceiling which he could have opened at pleasure. The prisoner was removed to an interior cell from which there was no ventilation into the open air — Dr. Pitman thinks this cell, was an improvement on the other. And then, to sum up, " Dr. Pitman is of opinion that the regular and tranquil life of the deceased in prison was calculated to alleviate his disease, and that he might have lived some years longer if he Tiad not been set at liberty." Hear ye this, all manner of people, and believe it who can ! If there be any truth in this story, ought there not be a rush of people afflicted "with disease of the heart to Chatham convict prison to experience the life-prolonging charms of penal servitude ! That " regular and tranquil life," we are asked to believe, tends to alleviate the disease from which poor M'Cartby was suffering. Had he only remained in that delightful retreat, prison fare would have nourished him, prison toil "would have invigorated him, the prison uniform would have cheered him, the frowns, commands, and threats of the warders would have soothed him, association with English cutthroats and murderers would have elevated his thoughts and refined his feelings, and he would have lived in a blissful state of existence for years to come ! But liberty killed him. The free air of heaven, the loving faces of friends, the warm grasp of their hands, the tender ministration to all his wants, the sight of his dear native land, the sound of Irish music, the hope of seeing his wife and children — these things, we are asked to believe, shortened his days. "My conclusion is," says Sir James Ingham, "1. That the death of the deceased was not hastened by his treatment in prison. 2, That the deceased was treated with as much leniency sis was consistent with penal discipline and the precautions which bee ame necessary to prevent his escape." But we believe the conclusion of the Irish people on the whole case will be very different, and will ran in this wise : — 1. That Charles M'Carthy was done to death by the cruel treatment dealt out to him in English prisons. 2. That the pretended investigation into the facts of the case is but a mockery of justice, an outrage on public fueling, and a disgrace to the Government that contrived it.