A SCENE IN A GAOL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2234, 15 May 1880, Page 2

A SCENE IN A GAOL.

That disturbances will sometimes occur in the best regulated families has been proved by an interesting scrimmage which occurred the other day in the Nelson Gaol. Three prisoners named Ferdinand Dencker, George Thompson, and John S.Hutchinson, prisoners at the said gaol, were charged before the visiting justice with assaulting, wounding, and illtreating one William Carter, a fellow prisoner, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. On the charge being read neither of the prisoners bad anything to say with regard thereto, and the following evidence wns then taken : William Carter deposed—l am a prisoner at the Nelson Gaol. On Tuesday evening last, May 4, having just obeyed the order of the chief officer, I sat down on a stool in the dining room. The prisoner Ferdinand Dencker said to me, “ I’ll give you a game of drafts,” and I said, “ Not to-night, thank you, I do not feel very well. At that time Mr Bourkc, the warder, came in, and I went to get the “ Home News,” and sat down opposite the door to read it. After reading a few moments I looked up and saw prisoner Thompson standing on one side of me and Hutchinson on the other, and whilst I continued reading, Thompson “launched out his arm and struck me, cutting my upper lip. I said “Good God what do you” before I could get the word “ mean ” out Thompson said to Hutchinson “ put the clout on him and I’ll put the hug and grip on him.” Hutchinson then threw a big red serge shirt over my head, and at the same time Thompson caught me by the windpipe, which has been swollen ever since. 1 futchiuson said “ give it to the , and I’ll hold him tight.” Thompson then began to boat me about the forehead and face with his lists and made the marks which are now visible. Dencker then said to Thompson “ mind yourself and you’ve no boots I’ll kick his guts and ribs in,” and he then kicked me. 1 being held on the floor with the red shirt round me by Hutchinson. While Dencker was kicking me he sang out to the others “ Here is White,” meaning the Chief Warder, and they then let go the red shirt, and I ran out of the room. The Governor and two officers came in and found me bleeding. By the Court—Thompson said nothing before striking me. When they saw Warder White, Thompson said “ that’s for your three pannikins of tea.” Dencker said “ that’s for your stoning and smoking.” These prisoners never threatened to dome bodily harm before, but I have had words with them owing to my being wardsmau and keeping the dining room clean. 13y the Court —I did grumble at the cook for cutting my bread rather short about a month ago, but I did not say I would pay him out for it. Two or three days after this conversation there was coal or dust in the porridge. I gathered the pieces, but did not say I would bring them into Mr White. I went to the kitchen shortly after, but did not say “ where’s the coal ?” I did not blame the cook for it. I was not sent into this room by Warder White to challenge any of you to fight. Leonard George Boor, medical officer

of the Nelson Gaol, deposed—On being sent for on the 4th inst., I arrived at the Gaol about 10 o’clock, and saw prisoner Carter in his cell. He was complaining of great pain on the right side over the ribs, and had difficulty in breathing. I examined him carefully and found a large bruise and great tenderness on touching, but the rib was not broken ; the bruise was about 2t inches long and about If inches] broad. He was also much bruised about the scalp, and the upper lip was much swollen. The front of the neck was red and swollen, and, and the shoulders were also bruised. The three prisoners were comitted for trial. Abridged from the “Nelson Mail.”