“REIGN OF TERROR”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 343, 2 May 1928, Page 1

“REIGN OF TERROR”

escapees from borstal INVERCARGILL COMPLAINS evidence against warders Press Association. INVERCARGILL, To-day. At a meeting of the Invercargill Borough Council last evening, recent escapes from the Borstal institute formed the subject of discussion Mr. Tapley said that the whole district had been under a reign of terror during the past few weeks and, from the facts published, it appeared that there was some justification for the feeling which existed. The simplicity of the escapes was duo to laxity somewhere, said Mr. Tapley. Under the present system each gang was under the charge of one warder, and if a prisoner escaped the warder had to march the gang back to the institution and make his report. In the meantime the prisoner had ample time to make his escape. He thought they should take action by putting the question before the Minister cf Justice, the Hon. P. J. Rolleston, asking that, for greater safety, two warders be placed in charge of each gang. The Mayor, Mr. John Miller: Are you putting yourself forward as an expert on the question of how many warders should be employed ? Mr. Tapley: No. I am simply pointing out the weakness of the present system in the interests of the community. After further discussion it was decided to draw the attention of the Minister to the suggestion. CHARGE AGAINST WARDERS The publication of a report on Monday morning that the youth Flanagan, who was recaptured by three warders on Saturday, had been roughly handled, and had cried for mercy, continues to excite considerable feeling in Invercargill. A second eye-witness of the arrest, which was made a few miles out of town, states: “I was within 100 yards of the scene of the arrest. The first thing the warders did was to search the prisoner. * They took off his hat and coat and hit him from every quarter, f am quite certain the three warders .tpok part in the attack on the boy.” He adds that the youth obeyed the call, “Drop that bag and put up your hands,” and made no attempt to run away or resist arrest. This was mentioned by the Mayor at the council meeting. He said that he had received two letters alleging ill-treatment of the prisoner who escaped last week. The letters, together with verbal complaints, alleged that things were not just as they should be, and that, if necessary, the informants would be prepared to come before a tribunal to give evidence. The superintendent of the Borstal Institute states that a full inquiry will be made.