PRISON REGULATIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1708, 26 March 1906, Page 3

PRISON REGULATIONS.

A PECULIAR INCIDENT,

(Par Presa Association.) Wellington, Saturday. i Tlioro has been a stir In Blenheim oon« : corning a prisoner who was sent from the treo planting prison oarnp at Dutngroo for treatment at tho Waira.i Hospital’ It scorns that a man namod Allan, who was serving at Dumgroo a sontenoo for forgery, beoamo ill with typhoid, and was soul to bo treated at Blenheim, whore, under the onto of Dr Bennett, ho rooovorod and was disohnrgod from tho hospital. Aooordtng to tho Marlborough Herald tho doctor then i notified tho authorities, and asked them to ] tako the prisoner baok. They replied that they had nothing to do with him, as ho was under tho supervision of tho Wellingion authorities. -The latter, when appealed to, seemed doubtful as to their position io tho matter, and gavo no indioation of the proper plaoo to apply. Moanwhilo the I convict took full advantage of the uncertainty of tho authorities on his oase, and ga'livnntod round the town. In tho oourso of tho article it was alleged that tho prisoner had been in communication with the Minister for Justioo (tho Hon. Mr MoGowan), who replied to him instead of directing him to apply to the prison authorities. Whon this Btatoment was brought under

the notice of Mr MoGowod, tho latter | learned that Allao had boon petitioning for a remission of sentence, and that reoontly a telegram oamo from Blenheim on tho matter. The Minister thinking it had come by permission of Dr. Bennett, who was teohnicilly Allan’s gaoler whilo ho was in the hospital, sent an answer to tho doctor. There was no truth in tho assertion that tho Minister had ropliod direct to Allan.

Tho Minister oxplaioed that when a prisoner was sont to tho hospital he was in charge of tho hospital people until belter, and when he was better it was the doty of the hospital authorities to let. the Prisons Dopaitmont, know, and to retain their patient until he ooold be takon- over. "'Colonel Hume, Inspector of Prisons* explains • that the. notification from the hospital doctor to the gaoler at Dumgreo that Allan wbb better and fit for removal was dated March 17(b. The gaoler got it on the'lß b, and on tho 20th it reaohed Colonel Hume, The same date a warder went over from Wellington to Blenheim for Allan, and he is espeoled to return to Wellington' with his prisoner by to day’s steamer.