POWELKA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 89, 23 July 1910, Page 5

POWELKA.

VA MAN OF DANGEROUS ABNORMALITY."

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday

A deputation waited upon the Minister of Justice to-day with a petition that an inquiry be made into the mental condition of the prisoner Powelka, I with a view to the possible revision of the sentence of 21 years imposed on him \ by Mr. Justice Cooper. J After reviewing the case at length, Dr. Findlay said he thought it was nis j duty to tell them that altogether apart from any evidence which was called at the trials, he had in his possession information and medical reports which' would render it necessary for the prison, authorities, including the Minister of Justice, to exercise the closest scrutiny | and investigation'of Powolka's behaviour I before he was again set at liberty. He| did not think the general publication of I these documents would do any good. He i did not wish, however, to make any J mystery about them, so he rend them I to the deputation. It would, he added, be seen that medical reports showed; Powelka to be a man of dangerous ah-; normality, who could not be set. at! liberty, if at all, after close scrutiny! by trained authorities over a lengthy' period. As to the request to have the' sentence reduced, it was the Minister's plain duty to decline to comply. The j question, Dr. Findlay said, of Powolka's , mental condition would be reviewed, from time to time. !