DEATH OF A PRISONER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 211, 31 May 1919, Page 6

DEATH OF A PRISONER

'■ —»— . ■CJ3KJBBBO-S.PTNAT. M.I3NLXGITIS ' SUSPECTED, B.*..Tolc£raph—Press Association Napier, May 'SO. When .Tack Peat, who was arrested il Wellington chargv , '! with fliefl, appeared before the ITagistrnle's Court on Tuesday, ho acted peculiarly, and a medical certificate put in said accwei was pre> tendjng insanity, and had so done virile waiting in gnol. Accused pleaded guilty, aiid was committed to (lie Supreme Court, for. sen ten oo and removed to jraol./ His condition became 'worse, .and .he was taken to (ha hospital, where lie wns m>l down as α-suspectnl 'case of corebro. spinal meningitis. To-day lii.s condition was very low. Peat is a single man. who was employed 'at the TTawkvs Ba? Club. He had only been in Napier .% few "months. Tt is .believed ho has mj relatives in the Dominion. Tt .is .alleged that he was preparing tn leave thb connh'v when arrested in Wellington on a nliarge of stealing a revolver from ih« Hawke's Bay ClnL Iv. is- understood that tho man is well connected at Home, nnd had served in the war. Later. The nian John Peal. ttlio was admitted: to hospitirt ytstwiinr irum Napier Gaol, died at noon to-day. It. is supposed tlmt ho died of corebro-spinnl inpniiiffitis, but tho-en use of death will not bo_ established until bacteriological examination*, which are now being m.idi>. are completed. .An inquost will be held.