THE INVERCARGILL GAOL ENQUIRY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2311, 13 August 1880, Page 3

THE INVERCARGILL GAOL ENQUIRY.

[By Telegraph.] Wellington, August 12. The report of the Commissioners appointed to enquire into the circumstances attending the death of Wilson, a prisoner in Invercargill gaol, was laid on the table to-day. After carefully reviewing the evidence and commenting upon the difficulty of making a diagnosis of the disease from which AVilson is alleged to have died ( angina pectoris ), unless the sufferer is secu in the actual paroxysm of pain, the report goes on ; “ From a review of the whole circumstances, wc arc of opinion, as borne out by the evidence, that no different treatment from that he experienced could have prevented the prisoner’s death; but that if the prisoner had complained sooner, and if the medical officer had discovered the real malady, it is possible that the prisoner’s life might have been prolonged a short time.” In a letter accompanying the report the Commissioners say in effect that although it is not within scope of their inquiry, they consider it their duty to comment upon the fact, that according to the evidence of the gaolor no Justice of the Peace visited the gaol from Jan. 27 to April 17, 1880, and that previous to the former date no visit had been made since Sept. 19 of the preceding year. They conclude:—■ “ This would, in our opinion, account in some degree for an inclination to a laxity of discipline observable in the prison.”