CHAINING A CONVICT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3726, 25 June 1883, Page 4

CHAINING A CONVICT.

AVith a view of putting a stop to the murderous assaults that have recently been committed on warders by convicts at the Dartmoor Prison, in England, ancl in order to maintain the discipline of the establishment, the authorities, actingunder directions from tho Homo Secretary, put Thomas Jones, a convict from Liverpool, upon his trial for maliciously wounding John Staddon, assistant warder, on January 9. Tho prisoner was bought from his punishment cells to tho offico, in charge of two warders. He walked quietly enough to the oflbc, apparently in ignorance of what was about_ to take place. Directly he was brought inside the door and was confronted by the magistrates, governor, deputy-governor, and others inside tho railings, ho appeared stupefied for tho moment, and then suddenly remembering where he was, he said to tho warders, in an insolent and defiant tone, "What's the matter?—what are they going to do? " Ho was told by the warders to bo quiet and behave himself. Jones, however, violently exclaimed " Hang me if you like, but don't shoot me " ; and immediately, although he was held by two power-fully-built warders, struck out right and left, kicking at the officers and ferociously endeavoring to bite them. One warder promptly twisted his leg around Jones to prevent him kicking, a second firmly gripped his arms from behind, whilo a third, who had rushed to their assistance, grasped the nape of the prisoner's neck, in order to stop his endeavor to use his teeth. Even tho efforts of these three men to hold Jones was insufficient. Handcuffs were slipped on tho wrists of the prisoner, who, however, still resisted savagely, endeavored to bite the officers, aud although held bodily by the warders, continued his mad struggles. A pair of shackles were sent for, and on these being brought into the office the prisoner, Avho had evidently been shackled before, shuddered, and struggled more fiercely than ever. He was eventually jerked upon the ground and thrown on his back, where, after a most exciting struggle, the irons wero tightly fastened around his legs. These measures failed to subdue tho spirit of the prisoner, who violently wrestled in the hands of his keepers. A chain covered with leather was next procured, and this was passed around the waist of tho prisoner and then tightly secured to the iron gates or railings running across the room. Jones then worked himself up into a towering passion, and it required the combined efforts of tho warders to hold his head and shoulders. During the examination of the principal warder (Moore) the prisoner's violence was even intensified ; he hissed and spat at the witness, and uttered incoherent exclamations which it was impossible to understand, biting at ovcrybody and everything like a mad dog thoroughont the hearing. He was eventually committed for trial at the Devon Assizes and carried back to his cell, where the handcuffs and shackles were removed. He thereupon smashed tho window panes, tore his clothes to shreds, and attempted to committ suicide by twisting his braces around his neck. The warders at once rushed to the cell, and on opening the door wore again attacked by the prisonor. Once moro tho man was secured, his hands manacled behind his back, and ho was finally removed to a dark cell and locked in, in tho condition of absolute nudity to which ho had reduced himself.