A PRISON EPISODE.

Taihape Daily Times, 4 February 1919, Page 7

A PRISON EPISODE.

NIKE DAYS' BREAD AND WATER A Special Court was held by Mr T. A. E'. Bailey, S.M., at thy Addington rii.>oii a few days ago to try Mary Sheedy upon a charge of committing an aggravated offence under the Prisons Act, in that she used personal violence towards a prison officer.

In a torrent of words Sheedy detailed her grievances to the mgaistrate. She had been kicked brutally until she was back and blue, she said, and she had been put in the "dumpy" at night without any sheet. The prison officials had a '-'down" on her from the day she entered the prison. She certainly pleaded not guilty to Tne charge preferred against Her.

When accused had to pause momentarily to recover her breath, Susan Walsh, the Avardress assaulted, was given a chance to tender her evidence. At 9 a.m. on January 15th, she said, she told accused to have her bath, but Sheedy replied tat she did not feel well enough. At 1 p.m. on the same day accused rushed to the bathroom, saying she would have a bath, at the same time using obscene language, Witness told her she could not have a bath, and turned to unlock the door, and accused, then struck her violently on the back of the head, saying that she would push her face in. Accused went to strike her a second time, but another person came along and pulled her away.

Accused said Walsh had struck her over the head with keys and pushed her. She alleged that Walsh had struck prisoners in other jails. Walsh denied the allegations.

A prisoner of Maori birth, stated to be a first-offender, was produced as a witness. She said accused had struck. Walsh and she had gone and pulled accused off. Sheedy said the witness was telling lies. For that reason she would ask her no questions.

Christina Eawson said accused pushed Walsh, and then Walsh, pushed accued. .Walsh raised her keys, but witness did not see if she struck .accused or not. Accused's nos'e bled afterwards.

Walsh denied using the keys in the manner indicated. Sheedy brok? out into a fresh flood of talk. "I will never do my time," ohe said-. "That i« <*:*•«\ght. <• They h'avp a down on me land Mary Mcprison alive, . she declared; there Kegn'ey." She would never leave the would be murder and she would hang for it.

The magistrate said accused's ac- j tions that afternoon f proved what manner of person she was. She would b'c sentenced to nine days' bread and water at periods of three days each, with two days' intervals between.