SCENES IN NELSON GAOL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2309, 11 August 1880, Page 2

SCENES IN NELSON GAOL.

It was the publication of the following statement in the Wellington “ Chronicle ” by an ex-warder, that induced the Government to order that a strict inquiry shall be made into the management of the Nelson Gaol. Wo would merely add that if a tithe of “ ex-warders” allegations prove true, the matter should not be allowed to end with the inquiry. “The first thing that struck me was the total disregard of all humane principles in dealing with refractory prisoners and the easy manner in which inquiry into complaints made by the prisoners to the visiting justices was avoided, neither the prisoner who complained nor any other witness being called to give evidence. One instance of this kind will suffice: a prisoner named Thomson was transferred from the

Wanganui to the Nelson Gaol to undergo a sentence of eighteen months’ hard labor. Before ho was sent to Nelson lie was examined by Drs Tripe and Earl, and pronounced insane. He was therefore, sent to Nelson in a straight jacket, and there placed in the Lunatic Asylum. After remaining there some time he was sent back to the gaol, but it was observed that he frequently showed symptoms of incipient insanity On one of these occasions he was committed to the solitary cell for fourteen days for refusing to go to work ; and, as it may be easily imagined, one effect of such solitary confinement upon one bordering on insanity was that he made use of obscene language. This proceeding being objected to, Police Sergeant Nash and Constable Withers were brought to the gaol at midnight and instructed to hand-cuff the iirisoner’s hands behind his back. After this was done, a rope was lashed round his ankles and then passed between his arms and drawn tightly up, so that the prisoner’s position was that of a man kneeling with his hip resting on his heels. This was apparently not thought sufficient punishment, and a gag was hastily improvised out of a piece of wood, and after being fitted in the prisoner’s mouth it was found to be rather small, so a rag was procured and wound round the wooden gag, to completely prevent the prisoner from speaking. He was left in this position for three quarters of an hour, and when the handcuffs were removed it was discovered that his ankles and wrists were swollen to a fearful extent. The man was terribly exhausted, and could scarcely articulate “ wafer.” I am quite aware that the Visiting Justices professed to have inquired into this gagging case, but I positively assert that the man who was gagged was not brought before the Justices, neither were any of the gaol officials concerned in the matter, examined. The solitary dark cell, or, in gaol parlance, “ the dummy,” is an apartment where a prisoner under sentence is compelled to remain in total darkness. Two blankets are allowed but no mattrass. I have known when an unfortunate wretch has been inured in this cell, that water has been poured under the cell door to frighten the prisoner, who, being in total darkness is unable to ascertain or imagine the cause.”