CONVICTS RIOT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1932, Page 5

CONVICTS RIOT

MUTINY AT DARTMOOR. . GOVERNOR SAVED BY LIFERS. (United Press Association.— l?v Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.; LONDON, January 2J. | On tht! occasion o! the Dartniooi Prison mutiny, the alarm was first communicated to the Prince town residents by it warder, whose nose had been broken in the lirst scuffle. He rushed outside the prison gates with blood streaming down his face, and told sonic women, who were waiting, having been alarmed by the noise, to return to their homes and to lock themselves in. Many nearby farmers were advised by telephone of the possibility that the convicts would make raids. | The Rev. Mr Scholes, a Prison Chaplain was also attacked, some of the convicts taking his keys and releasing others, who joined their comrades, they shouting: “Set fire to the prison! Let’s get the Governor!” Governor Roberts vainly tried to reason with the mutineers. Eventually he found refuge in a cell. The convicts also assaulted a Prison Commissioner, Colonel Turner, whom tlie loyal convicts—who were serving life sentences —freed and locked safely in n. cell. The police officers admitted that it was one of the most critical situations that they hndover faced, HISTORY OF THE PRISON. BIGGEST OUTBREAK SINCE 1880. LONDON”, January 24. Dartmoor Prison is a granite stronghold. It is a bleak situation, being three hundred feet above sea level, on the Devonshire moors, which are threaded by streams and morasses, and are often strnuded in fogs, and there are few roads, thus making escape difficult. The prison was built in tlio year 180.9, to house the Napoleonic prisoners of war, and it was the scene in the year 1815 of the shooting of Seven American prisoners of war after the war in 1812.

The only instance parallelling the present outbreak was a fatal mutiny in the year ISBO, when a quarry gang attacked a warder, and the ringleader was fatally shot, and the others were recaptured. POLICE BATTER CONVICTS. THE END OF THE TROUBLE. LONDON, January 24. When the Plymouth police arrived at Dartmoor and marched in, they found the convicts armed with table legs, axe-handles, stockings filled with nails, and brickbats, and perched on the roofs of sheds. Chief Constable Wilson tried to parley with the prisoners, and he was greeted with showers of brickbats. He then turned and said: “Get at ’em, boys! No good talking!” The police, armed with their truncheons, rushed the walls and roofs, and they dragged the convicts oil' them. It was a case of hitting hard and hitting quickly. In ten minutes the convicts thereabouts had disappeared. Thereafter, there was not much difficulty in rounding all of the prisoners up, and placing them under lock and key.

CONVICT SAVES COMMISSIONER. (Received this dav at 9.2 b a m) LONDON, January 25. One hundred extra police remained in the vicinity of Dartmoor the night long. Many warders went about their duties swathed in bandages. The courtyard was flood-lit and armed guards patrolled the prison. Two machine-gun squads were ordered to Dartmoor at the height of the riot, hut were not required. It is revealed that a life sentence prisoner, Donovan, saved the life of Commissioner Turner, who was visiting the prison to inquire into the grievances. Donovan rushed between Turner and a band of convicts, armed with crowbars, and it looked as if the pair would be killed, but Donovan outfaced them and displayed the greatest pluck and turned the attack. Donovan with two others was convicted of murder in 1928 and was reprieved an hour before his execution. He is now a changed man. and says if ever he lias the ‘luck to come out of prison, lie is going to show the people their is an “unseen.” INJURED LIST REDUCED. LONDON, January 25. Latest reports from Darlmeor stale that, only five warders were injured and eighty-four convicts were shot or lialoned, whereof ”0 were hospitalled. There is a dailiage of Cl(J.tKK’i largely by fire Uchel convicts raided the. ollicers canteen and drank freely until a Plymouth

contingent, of police arrived in ears. Governor Roberts encored the prison service as a warder after the a roi i.-d ice. having served ill 11i-■ Scots Greys lie was noted a mono the prison governors for Ids advanced views mi the treatment. of prisoners and Inis been described as (lie most humane in the Govern men i service. MUTINY PLANNED MONTHS AGO. LIVING DEATH, AND BAD FOOD. (Received this dav at, 11.1/5 a.in.s LONDON, .Iminai'v 25. "The mutiny was planned months ago.” declared Jacobs Vand.vn, who was reeenl.lv released from Dartmoor. ”1 was asked to distribute keys to des

penile elm meters, who intended |o release flic other prisoners. overpower the warders and eweape during a l"g----gv night. Dartmoor is so tLsnial Insr Dm men will do anything to escape the terrible monotony of a living' death. The walls are so da:mp that water trickle. nil the heads of sleeping convicts. The porridge is mica (able owing to the ■oafs being stored in I lie damp, and the bread : s SO leal that barrels w'-eiy idled with leavings. The Governor :is disliked desoit" his- eonsidera 1 inir. Hie

food was the nrinciole eam.o of disemi|e,|| and the warders wane decent, fellows who -.imply did I hi ■■■ d it\ • Sir 11. ; el eoni'erred will.' G»* Home Ollier oliieials and discussed the punisheuiii-, of I lie ring leaders. and | lie exercising ol ! e 111 ell e fn Donovan and other special eases. Residents wHo , limbed the trees when the lighting wo.s at its Imi.gl I, declared that they saw several slirol. The authorities decline l<< make anv statement, lull additional doctors have been summoned.