FIGHT IN CELL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 194, 9 April 1932, Page 6

FIGHT IN CELL

THREE WARDER S STABBED BY PRISONER WITH KNIFE. BARR'ICADED WITH TABLE . NEWCASTLE, Wednesday. The climax to a good deal of trouble caused by two prisoners in Maitland Gaol, came shortly after midday meal, when one of the two attacked three warders, who were stabbed with a table knife. The two prisoners, who were locked in adjoining cells, became noisy during the midday recess, and the door to the cell of one recently sent from Parramatta gaol was found to be barricaded with a table. Pushing against the door, three warders eventually gained admission, and were immediately attacked by ihe prisoner with a table knife which had been sharpened to a point on the stones. in his cell. The other prisoner, who had been sent from Bathurst gaol — also for reformatory treatment — encouraged the Parramatta prisoner in his attack. Senior Warder Albert Buttery was stabbed about the body, and. FirstClass Warder Thomas McGreal was wounded in the head. Third-Class Warder Robert Ryan was also wou'ided, but was able to return to duty this morning. . The prisoner, a well huilt man, ! whose name is Thomas, is serving a j sentence of two years imposed on him at Sydney by Judge Armstrong, who declared him an habitual criminal. He was overpowered and, later, was placed in an isolated cell. The uniforms of the warders were badly cut about. Those who know the routine of gaols' are at a loss to understand how the prisoner came to be in possession of a table knife. Mr. C. Cosgrove, now secretary of the Police Association, but formerly a gaol warder of long experience, said that each prisoner was issued a knife and fork at meal times. * After the meal, the prisoners paraded out of the dining quarters and dropped their eating utensils in a box while a warder stood by and lccpt a close check. If a kn;fe or fox*k were missing — and the check should show it immediately — an immediate search would be made of the whole wing of Ihe gaol. Maitland gaol is one of the cldest in New South Wales. Each gaol in the State is classified for a certain type of criminal, and Maitland holds sexual offenders. Comparatively few prisoners of honiicidal tendencies are sent there.