A PRISONER’S STORY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2231, 7 November 1907, Page 3

A PRISONER’S STORY.

ALLEGED COUNTERFEIT COINAIAKING IN GAOL. Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 6. A prisoner named Clias. Newton alias Alurray, sentenced at- Napier to six years for theft and burglary, who attempted to escape from the local prison gang on Thursday last, and pleaded not guilty at tho S.AI. Court yesterday, was beforo the Alagistrate at. the prison this morning, and mado some interesting statements with regard to the Cook gaol. Accused read a lengthy -story stating that he pleaded not guilty in order to ventilate grievances. He alleged that he was treated unjustly on account of having caused the dismissal of ono of tho warders at Wellington, and made a statement that with the connivance of a wardor of Cook Gaol he was engaged making counterfeit coins therein, and that tho coins were still “planted” in Cook grounds, others, lie alleged, having been put in circulation by warders. Ho alleged favoritism and laxity with regard to tho local prison, subsequently withdrawing the application for an inquiry thereto. He stated lie was innocent of tho cliargo for which ho had been sentenced, and had wished to prosecute tho police for perjury, but believed his petitions had not reached headquarters. Accused received a gonuino surpriso on learning that his sentence was only six years, having believed tho fifteen months additional imposed for liis previous attempt to escape was cumulative. Had lie known it was concurrent he would never have attempted to escape. Fifteen days’ solitary confinement was imposed, the gaoler undertaking to afford tho prisoner facilities to communicate with the Alinister of Justice.