A GAOLER'S LIFE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 67, 15 April 1909, Page 4

A GAOLER'S LIFE.

AX INTERESTING CAREER. The public generally take their lixed opinion of a prison from the exterior of its grim walls, in popular imagination the guardians or uiu prison are a human counter-part of their stern environment and they are pictured as rigorous servants carrying out the punishment the law demands. This, grim view hardly does justice to the good qualities of the gaol official. A gaoler does not come much before the public. At the various Supreme Court sessions might have been iioiiccu, among the police ollkcin, au old gentleman whose kindly face stood out hi human contrast over an official dark uniform. The wearer played a qoiei and unassuming part in the proceedings. The uniform signified the olncial costume of a head gaoler, in ordinary every day attire the wearer would have been taken for a quiet and thoughttiil citizen well worth knowing. Unfortunately it is in this capacity that Mr Michael Ftaucry, the officer under review, will in future have to be known as after 47 years ot faithful service he has reached the age limit which is for the future to terminate the official career of a servant of the New Zealand Government. / HIS VARIOUS POSTS.

Mr Flannery, who has the reputation of being one of the most humane gaolers ill the Dominion, has had a unique career in the guardianship of the criminal class. lie is a native of Sligo, Ireland, anil landed in New Zealand at Port Chalmers in 1802. He obtained employment tor a few months in a store in Uunedin, but in the lirst year of his arrival joined the prison service. He was appointed a warder at the Duncdin prison under the head gaoler, Sir Stoddart. About, two years and eight months later he was promoted to the position of sergeant-war-der, a position equivalent to that of a present chief warder, lie remained in Uunedin until 1884, when he was transferred to Auckland with the rank oi chief warder. In 1807 Mr Flannery was promoted to the position of gaoler .in charge of the Hokitika prison and he remained there until 1000, when he came to Napier in the same capacity. For the past nine years Mr Flannery has carried out his difficult duties with a degree of tact and thoroughness that has won the admiration of all who have had the opportunity of judging of the sterling quality of his work.

BUSHRANUING DAYS. In the* early days the New Zealand criminal was of it more desperate type than the class that now liud themselves in durance vile. This may bo a sign ot our colonial evolution, but the reason ol the evolving of a bettc'r class of criminal is due to tlie supply of the old convict stained material being cut off. When Mr Flaunery joined the prison service a number of Botany Bay ex-convicts made their way to New Zealand. In the Diroedin gaol he found such desperadoes as Garrett, Kelly, Burgess and Lawlur. These reckless* outlaws Had attempted to introduce Australian bushrauging methods in Otago and some of tliem jail "stuck up" peaceable homesteads at Maungatua and Tuapeka. Subset i .t...iijy they introduced murder into their category of crime, and for this outrage some of the gang were hanged ou the "West (Coast. In dealing with such men a warder required courage and tact, in tlie early days also the gaols were insecure.

THE NOTORIOUS BUTLER. A criminal of a different type with whom Mr Flannery was brought closely in touch was the notorious Butler, who perpetrated the Cumberland street tragedy in Dunedin. This plausible scoundrel had some of the attributes of a human iicud and was never to be trusted, although he could play the affable and docile prisoner when the occasion warranted. A DASH FOR LIBERTY. Mr. Flannery relates one exciting incident during his life in Duuedni. The gaol contained a prisoner named Henley, undergoing a long sentence for burning the Corn Hall ill Auckland and attempting to murder Mr Thomas Russell. Hcalev was with a gang under the charge of Warder Miller. At an opportune moment the prisoner grappled with the warder and attempted to seize his rilie. Finding himself outclassed in the struggle , he took to bis heels and ran. He made ' over the ground where the First Church now stands and leapt a huge bank. Warder Miller gave chase and called on the convict to stop. Henley paid no heed to the warning and was making Ids way down Morav Place when Warder Miller fired. The "shot missed, as it was intended to do, and llealey continued his dash for liberty. Warder Miller lired again with the same effect, llealey continued to run but courted danger too long. Warder Miller lired for the third time and shot the prisoner dead. At the coroner's inquest the jury returned a verdict upholding the action of Warder Miller in carrying out what was his unfortunate duty. SCENES AT THE GALLOWS.

There is one side of a gaoler's life that plavs with appalling force on the heartstrings. Few care to witness the final penally which the law demands, but it has fallen to Mr Flauncry's lot to be the official spectator of some notable tragedies at the gallows. The scenes have considerably impressed him although the stern voice of duly has forced nun to repress his human feeling. The first execution that was witnessed was that of Captain Jarvey, who was hanged in Dunedin for wife poisoning. While in the southern city Mr Flaunery was also called to play an official part in the execution of a man named Jones, convicted of a murder at Tuapeka, and also, of a Chinaman found guilty of murdering an old lady at Nascby. In Auckland he saw the perpetrators of the Great Barrier murder, John Caffray and Henry Albert Penn, walk the scaffold to their final doom. This was one of the most romantic crimes ever commuted in Zealand, and the chase of the mysterious Sovereign of the Seas will be vividly remembered. Mr Flannery speaks in warm terms of the courageous manner in which Calliav and Penn faced their death. I'eiiu had a particularly pleasant personality, and both men expressed the gratitude for the kindness that was extended to them during their closing hours. POETIC PRISONER.

One day in prison is very like another. The stent routine repels levity but here and there Hashes of humour come to the surface, Mr Flannery tells of one prisoner waiting trial who employed his time writ in" poetry to the most humorous Wl'ecl " lie headed one of his effusions

••The Steeplechase." and in racing parlance poetically pictured his trinl with the crown prosecutor as "starter" and the gaoler as " clerk of the scales." " FIRST OFFENDERS ACT. There is probably no man who has] been brought into closer touch with the working of the First Offenders' Probation Act than Mr Flannery. In this district he has had to deal with a large number of people under probation, and he states that there are very few defaulters. Occasionally they may not be able to make payments when stipulated, but their circumstances are always' considered and they are allowed tiuie. ( Mr Flannery. it is satisfactory to know, speaks in warm terms of the Act. which, lie says, serves a most useful purpose. SECRET OF SUCCESS. Mr Flaunery owes his success as a gaoler to the' methods he has adopted. He looks upon the convicts under his charge as a part of tlie great human fainiTv who require handling with tact. However great a criminal a man has been, it has always been Mr Flannery's endeavor never to further degrade him. but endeavour to direct his life into a useful channel if the opportunity oH'ered. Tn this connection he holds liniiiv letters of gratitude from ex-pri-sonei's who have been under his charge. Air Flaunery will remain in charge of the Napier gaol until Ihe end of the pre-M-ut mouth, when he will retire to reside in Wellington.- Napier Telegraph.