SUICIDE IN GAOL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 220, 28 December 1910, Page 5

SUICIDE IN GAOL

PRISONER HANGS HIMSELF. ' DANGEROUS CRIMINAL'S END. ' By Telegraph.— Ptess Association. Wellington, Monday. Between 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 1 8 a.m. on Sunday one of the prisoners of the Terrace Gaol, Bernard Alfred Gifford, committed suicide by hanging. Gifford was awaiting trial on several charges of! theft and one of housebreaking. Deceased, who had given the police considerable trouble before he was apprehended, was about forty years of age. An inquest was held at the gaol by Dr. McArtliur, coroner. Dr. Hamilton Gilmer, who was sum- <• moned when the body was found, said that death was due to strangulation, there being a deep impression of a rope on deceased's neck. Two letters were found in the cell. One was addressed to Messrs O'Regan and Dix. and purported to be a will,' while the other was' written to deceased's housekeeper. In the latter communication Gifford expressed his intention of doing away with himself. In referring to the charges preferred against him, he said he could give no explanation of his conduct. He had not attempted to dispose of any of the purloined articles, and he exonerated the detectives from any blame in regard to his arrest, as they were only doing their diity. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

GIFFORD'S. RECORD.' • When DetectiVejH&mmona arrested accused on December 20 he was disguised.. The. charges of theft against Gifford .totalled twenty. There were three charges of breaking and entering and one of arson. Gifford had only been discharged from gaol a few months ago after serving a sentence of. six years., He was regarded by the detectives as a very dangerous criminal. With regard to the charge of arson, the fire occurred in Mrs. Hilltt' iiittse, Wallace-street Mrs. Hill went out one . morning with her husband's' dinner. . ' During her absence Gifford, wijio 'had ieen seen at the corner of Hansen and; John streets, was suspected of entering the house during her absence by the back door and setting fire to the- place. In all * the cases of stolen property incriminating evidence Was either found on Gifford or missing 'articles were traced to bis possession. It is 'presumed by the' police. that deceased used to ransack the top storey of houses while occupants were enspiged on the ground floor. Deceased was a married man. His . wife is supposed to be in Australia, where deceased resided for a number of years. He was a plumber by trade, and in bis '.. earlier years had been in the employ of '■- the Wellington Gas Company. He had : announced his intention of commencing, ■■" business in Epuni-street. One of his business cards indicated that he had been in the employ of the Victorian Government. He was an athlete, standing sft l.lin in his shoes, and had accomplished some good v deeds on the cricket field, as a sunr; ner and as a swimmer. ; r ' "