A GAOL VISITOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1922, Page 6

A GAOL VISITOR.

SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS, rSMUGGLING TOBACCO ALLEGED. CHASED BY WARDERS. A remarkable story of a visitor to the forge at the New Plymouth gaol late at night, when it was alleged he was a link in a system which supplied tobacco to prisoners, was told at the Magistrate’s Court at New Plymouth yesterday. The central figure in the adventure was Thomas Joseph Spalding, and the charges against him were: Firstly, with being found by night on the premises of the blacksmith’s shop at the New Plymouth gaol, and secondly, with loitering about the same premises for the purpose of delivering tobacco to prisoners at the gaol. Senior-Sergeant H. McCrorie appeared for the police, whilst Spalding, who pleaded not guilty, was represented oy Mr. F. E. Wilson. Both charges were taken together. The story that went to make up the charges against the accused had rather a dramatic touch to it, consisting as it did of a trap laid by the gaol officials, the appearance of a man under cover of darkness at the -forge at the gaol, and a chase over Marsland Hill, in which the intruder temporarily beat the opposition forces, which were desiring further acquaintance with him. However, Spalding had been subsequently identified as the nocturnal wanderer, hence his appearance in Court to answer the charges. THE ADVENTURE DESCRIBED.

Gaoler Downs unfolded the story oi the adventure. The gaol officials, he said, had suspicions that tobacco was being secreted in the blacksmith’s shop for the use of prisoners, so on the night of Sunday. September 10, he and some of the warders laid in wait, and, after two hours, their vigil was rewarded about 8.15 p.m. by the sound of approaching footsteps. Presently a man appeared at the forge entrance and came inside. His muttered query and comment, “Where’s the b shavings? The gaoler must have been here,” proclaimed that he was a man with an errand to perform. Convinced of the correctness of his conclusion, the man made a speedy ercit from the forge, travelling fast in the direction of Marsland Hill, so fast, indeed, that the gaol officials who gave chase could not catch up with him, though the man was seen to disappear in the direction of Baines Terrace. The watchers knew Spalding, and. as he turned sideways to step over a wire at the entrance of the forge, he was recognised.

Further clues to the identity of the man were provided by a trail of matches, -cigarette papers, some tobacco and a pen-knife which the intrude!: left in his wake. Some scraps of a letter, which, from the comments and nicknames had a prisoner as its prospective recipient, were also found en route. The suggestion was made that the hand-writing in the letter resembled the accused’s signature on the charge sheet connected with an offence for which he had served a term of imprisonment. The gaoler said Spalding had been released from gaol on the previous Saturday morning, so that there was no chance of mistaken identity. Those watching could have touched him if they liked, so close was he to them in the.shop. The gaoler’s story was corroborated by Warders Arnold and O’Donnell, members of the ambush party. Counsel, in the course of cross-examination, remarked upon the -fact that three “hefty” warders should be unable to catch a man who evidently came within their reach. It was explained, however. that they were instructed not to touch anyone who might arrive until they saw the plant of tobacco made. Evidence as to having seen Spalding at the corner of Gill and Brougham Streets on the Sunday night in question was given by Constable Butler. The man was coming down Brougham Street, and witness noticed that the man was glancing behind him as if fearing someone was after him. ACCUSED'S DEFENCE. For the defence it was claimed that the evidence of the prosecution was founded on mere suspicion, accentuated, perhaps, by the fact that Spalding had been recently discharged from prison.

Spalding stated he had 2s fid on leaving the gaol. He stayed at a boardinghouse in town over the week-end, leaving on the Monday morning for M aitara. He borrowed 4s from a Mr. Bennett and 5s from a fellow lodger, and, after paying his board he had 3s left. It cost him half a crown to travel to Waitara, where lie arrived with fid, with which he had a drink. He therefore had no money with which to buy tobacco. Defendant denied being in the vicinity of the gaol on the evening in

question. Answering the sen:or sergeant, Spalding, whilst admitting the writing resembled histown, said he could not account for the scraps of letter found. “Give this small parcel to Paddv.” was written on the note, but ne had no idea of what this meant. Commenting on the evidence tendered, the magistrate said the evidence on

the second charge was purely a matter of suspicion. On the other charge, how - ever, the gaol officials had postively identified Spalding as the intruder. On that charge, therefore, the accused would bp sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment.