THE BAUME INQUIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1926, Page 11

THE BAUME INQUIRY

REPORT IN DUE COURSE EVIDENCE OF GAOL OFFICIALS PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT DENIED By Telegraph.—Pres* Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the Baum® inquiry, the magistrate (Mr. Riddell) said that the inquiry related to the treatment alleged to have been given to Baume while in the Terrace Gaol, a period of only a few' days? Evidence was given that there was no unusual delay of the transfer of Baume to Waikeria and that during the interval he was not given any preferential treatment. No instructions were received from* the x Controller-General with regard to the treatment of Baume. The prison surgeon (Dr. Gilmer) examined Baume and gave a certificate that he should be given milk chocolate and eggs brought by his mother, as such food, in the opinion of the doctor, was necessary to the boy’s health. It was not unusual on a prison surgeon’s report to give eggs, even to long-sen-tence prisoners. Prisoners going to the Borstal Institute wore their own clothes when being sent there. Pyjamas were provided by the department for such prisoners. It was usual for prisoners being sent to Borstal to receive extra food from relatives or the department for the journey. The superintendent of the gaol said that the statement that seven or eight prisoners under Borstal sentence on November 4 were to work in prison garb was untrue. There were only three Borstal inmates at that date and they were made to carry out certain duties as provided in the regulations. The Rev. Howard Elliott did not appear, but Mr. R. H. Boys said he was instructed to attend on his behalf and to protest against the inquiry proceeding. It was submitted that Mr. Riddell had no jurisdiction and that was incompatible with the principles of British justice for the inquiry to proceed. It would mean the enactment of a solemn faree, the outcome of which must have been apparent from the start. HOWARD ELLIOT'S ALLEGATIONS. Wellington, Last Night. At the Baume inquiry to-day, Mr. Macassey, for the Prisons Department, submitted to Mr. Riddell, S.M., a lengthy document containing twelve allegations made by Rev. Howard Elliott and the replies of the department to the same. The evidence of Jeremiah Charles Scanlon, formerly superintendent of the prison, and who was in charge of the prison when Baume was in that institution, was then taken. Mr. Scanlon said that Baume was received in the prison on February 4, 1926. Baume’s trial followed on February 10. He communicated with his head office regarding Baume’s transfer on February 11, and he received the written direction of the Controller-General to transfer Baume and the other prisoners to Waikeria prison. There was no unusual delay in the transfer of Baume to Waikeria. During the time Baume was detained in prison he W’as not given any preferential treatment. He received no instructions from the Controller-General in regard to the treatment of Baume. Dr. Gilmer, the prison surgeon, examined Baume and gave a certificate that Baume should be given milk, chocolate and eggs brought by his mother, as such food, in the opinion of the doctor, was necessary for the boy's health. It was not unusual, on the prison surgeon's report, to give eggs even to long sentence prisoners. BORSTAL PRISONERS. Witness also said that prisoners sent to a Borstal institution wore their ordinary clothes when being sent there. Pyjamas were provided by the department for such prisoners. It was also usual for prisoners being sent for Borstal treatment to receive extra food from their relatives or the department for the journey. Certain extras were allowed to be supplied by Baume’s mother for Baume’s use on the journey, provided it was shared with the other prisoners. Such a thing was frequently done. Baume was not treated differently' from any other offender under similar circumstances. William Robert Cook, chief warder at the Terrace gaol, said that Baume was given no preferential treatment. He was supplied with five- eggs, under the instructions of Dr. Gilmer, the prison surgeon, during the period February 5 to 12. Evidence was also given by the following warders of the Terrace who all testified that no preferential treatment was given to Baume while he was in that prison: Peter S. Watters, Ezra Woodley, Arthur 0. Bellamy, Alexander Hayward, Charles Gibson, and Alexander Adamson. The statements made by the Rev. H. Elliott, as printed in the Press, as to the alleged preferential treatment of Baume, were read to the witnesses and were denied. Mr. John Down, the superintendent of the Terrace gaol, said that the statement “that seven or eight prisoners under a Borstal sentence on November 4 were made to work in prison garb,” was untrue. There were only’ three Borstal inmates in the gaol on that date and they were only made to carry out certain duties as provided by the regulations. The published statements by Mr. Elliott, appearing in the Wellington Press, were then put in by’ Mr. Macassey. This concluded the hearing of evidence. Mr. Boys asked His Worship if he would make it dear, whether he intend ed to consider the point raised as to His Worship's jurisdiction. His Worship: “I rule that I have jurisdiction. I do not propose to make a statement at the present time. I will report in due course.” The inquiry then closed.