Astonishing Revelations.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 27, 8 September 1911, Page 6

Astonishing Revelations.

In. view of the suddenly aroused interest in prison administration, quickened by Mr. F. R. Cooke's charges and Mr. Powelka's escape., we count the series of letters of which the following is the first, as extraordinarily important. As will be seen, Mr. Cooke vouches for the bona fide nature of the letters, and none wlio knows him will be disposed to question. Mr. Cooke's honest3 r , however much such may question his rebelliousness. We step aside to allow —first, Mr. Cooke's explanation, and, secondly, a prisoner's recital.

Dear "Worker," —If you can spare space for a few articles on jail doings by some of the poor wretches suffering tthe inhuman treatment of capitalistic society, I shall be pleased to submit a few which I have succeeded in getting into my possession. My incarceration was of so short a term that I can only give a superficial account of prison life, but during my stay I learnt sufficient to be able to discriminate n>3 to the accuracy of the statements submitted to my care for publication. My intention in this matter is to place before the public some knowledge of the injustices practised, on helpless men by our prison system. I wish also to make clear to those who do think a little for others what a small chance of redress a poor wretch has who has broken our capitalist laws a,nd has been sentenced by some careless magistrate, recorder or judge. The first article is in reply to a printed report of the Clhristchurch "Lyttelton Times. 5 ' The . article in question was supposed to be by a visitor to Lyttelton jail. You can publish it in the prisoner's own words. I have only altered it in so far as trying to prevent the man from being spotted. —Yours for the revolution,

FRED. R. COOKE