DARTMOOR RIOT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 188, 1 April 1932, Page 5

DARTMOOR RIOT

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bFFICEKS' EVIDENcI [bVERNOR'S ORDER DISAGRELD [ WITIJ BY CHIEF I WARDER I how convict was sh-ot

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I Rec. Mar. 31, 5.5 p.m. I LONDQN, Wednesday. . I At the resumption of the Partmoqy Iquiry, Officer Winter said that ,pn j I day of the mutiny 60 conyicf§, 1 |med with pick handles and, stakes, ' ider the leadership qf a man named lonning, demanded_the release of 13 leupants of separate eells. One of Ie accused, James, quietened the loters and advised witness to release le prisoners, which, being in f ear, I: did, though some remained in their Blls throughiout the trouble. ISubsequently, when the police arIfed, Conning offered unconditional ■rrender, but another of the aceusI Stoddart, demanded better food Kd no victimisation. Witness noted I down and promised to place the ■atter before Colonel Turner, when ■other niob rushed out shouting: Ko surrendel*." ■ Chief .Officer Smal.e, whom the riotKL stoned, was locked in the hall with Ksoners and other oecupants, but ■me out when the police arrived. ■is statement that he saw no officers ■ the parade gi-ound after the riotIv began, provoked laughter from ■edock. Witness said he had ordered ■s subordinates, in view of the un■st, to act with serupulous fairness. ■e convicts who started the riot were § 0ut of the hall on the orders of Klonel Turner and the Governor, Mr ■obei'ts, though witness did not agree »h this course. ■ Officer Friend described how the es■pees dropped inside the wall on ■eing his revolver. ■ Officer Moss said he wqs one of ■veral officers firing carbines at the ■nvicts on the roof. Apparently con■ct Mitchell was trying to escape ■ien he was shot, though witness and ■hers fired over his head. ■One of the accused, Delniar, was ■mmitted for trial and the others ftre aeain remanded.