MEETING AT CHESS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 3

MEETING AT CHESS

Judge And Murderer A former High Court judge has been paying frequent visits to Parkhurst prison, in the Isle of Wight, to play chess with a reprieved murderer, says the "News Chronicle.” The judge, Sir Cecil -Walsh, K.C., formerly of Allahabad, is a member of the island chess learn. which Ims met the prison learn, the Autolycan Club, in several loiirimmenls. At, the lasi tourney in the jail the ■‘Autolyeaiis" were represented by three reprieved murderers, a masler forger, streel bandits, and one of the Dartmoor mutineers. In addiliou Io Sir Cecil, llie visiting island learn ha s included Sir George Alan Thomas, ex British Empire champion. doctors, bankers, and business men. And at one male!) I lie banker was playing agaiusl the master forger. The tournaments take place bejiiud the barred windows of a recreation room with only the chaplain as an official supervisor. Warders are absent during the play, the convicts being on their honour not to exploit I he privilege. Visitors agree that the games witli llie convicts have been conducted with n courtesy one only expects in big toiirn.’i merit games. Only Hie drab grey cloth ami numbered arms have betrayed to which learn the individual players have belonged.