TORTURING A PRISONER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2368, 19 October 1880, Page 4

TORTURING A PRISONER.

SEQUELTO THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY. The following details of the treatment of “Joe,” the Fijian, after his arrest, are extracted from the “ New Zealand Herald ” of Oct. 11, and will probably be read with painful interest : “Joe” was captured after a desperate scuffle in which his arm, was broken at 8 o’clock on the morning of Sept. 28. He was brought to town escorted by policemen with bis arms firmly roped. At one o’clock of the same day he was brought pinioned and in custody to the Eden Vine Hotel, when the inquest of the bod} r of Fees was to be held. He was conducted into one of the rooms and the handcuffs were taken off him. It was seen that his left wrist and arm were very much swollen, but his features showed no indication of the pain he was suffering, although this must have been intense, as it transpired that the small bone of the left fore arm had been broken, evidently the result of some of the blows so well adminiistered by Mr Melville. Dr Philson examined the arm, and finding that it was broken he directed him to keep the hand in the breast of his singlet to prevent it from hanging. The prisoner did so for a time, but lie soon removed it again. When asked about his hurts he also pointed to the shoulder on the same side, and winced when it was touched. After being duly cautioned, he made a voluntary admission of his crime, speaking in a low tone of voice. During the sitting of the Coroner’s Court the crowd around the hotel increased, and the balcony was filled with eager persons watching to see him led back to the cab from the hotel door, while those on the road crushed eagerly to catch a glimpse of him. As the carriage drove off with tl'.c prisoner and police, the crowd gave vent to their feelings by loudly groaning at the inhuman wretch who sat cowering and shivering beside the constables who had charge of him. The following is an account of his treatment since sentence of death was passed : —The condemned murderer, “Joe,” continues in the same condition as already stated. He gives no sign to the Sheriff’a officers, who are in attendance, that he is in the least terrified by the near prospect of death, or that he is sensible of the solemnity of a public trial and execution. The only time he manifested any concern was when he was put under the standard to ascertain his exact height. He winced a little as he thought “ it was going to be done then.” But the exhibition is momentary. He says he “ knows he is going to be killed.” He spent a portion of his time on Saturday “ whistling” with apparent unconcern. Three Sheriff’s officers are appointed to be with him, each having a “ watch” of eight hours. He is therefore never alone. These attendants would have a good opportunity of marking any sign of fear or sorrow in their prisoner. But this great criminal is entirely passive. It would perhaps be more correct to describe his position as one of complete indifference. He was on Saturday visited by the Eev, Mr Fletcher, who speaks “ Joe’s” language fluently, but whatever may have passed between him and his spiritual adviser, no indication of its nature has been disclosed in anything the wretched man says or does. The Bov. Mr Fletcher proposes to visit him daily, in the hope of his ministrations being required. For a full grown man (Joe’s age is 25) he is of very short stature, measuring only 5 ft 2in. under the standard. He occupies the condemned cell regularly used for the confinement of criminals sentenced to death. Ho seldom moves from his bed, except when he is taken into the gaol yard by his keepers for exercise. He is in heavy irons, but he does not manifest an3 r excitement a their ominous clanking. The only thing he says when told of the approaching execution is ‘ that they are a long time about it. ‘He looks on everything except the delay as a matter of course.