Fearful Tragedy in Nelson Gaol.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4544, 28 July 1883, Page 2

Fearful Tragedy in Nelson Gaol.

A Warder and Prisoner Silled.

[Pbb Pbess Association.] , „ \ , Nelson, This day. she and half-past six this oPrnifg«a mest dreadful tragedy was rapted |t the Nelson gaol. At present it asbeapthat the only warder in charge w% Jtohn Adams, and he must hare allowed tiamuel Davidson—the -prisoner ser? ing alife sentence for the manslaughter of Denis Qninlan at Lyell-$o leave* his cell, probably to enable him to go to work in the kitchen. Davidson appears to hare been looked upon as a very quiet man, for although special precautions were taken with him after he was sentenced, he seems to hare been so docile as to hare averted any apprehension of his becoming violent. Warder Adams, after liberating the prisoner, went into the yard, and then came the dreadful deed. The prisoner was left without control, and., probably seized with a desire to escape, be seems to have taken a tomahawk and smashed in the guard rootn ; dopr; that done, he seized; a couple ofip|d«x} revolvers, and with one hastened toUhe yard where poor Adams waj^jn* shot the warder, through the •*te^3. The deed was unwitnessed, but from the surrounding circumstances itwould appoar that this was the course pursued. The noise of the revolver awakened Mr Shallorass, the gaoler, and Mrs Shallcrass, and both, having bat,an indistinct idea that there was something wrong, hastened into the gaol. ; In the corridor they were met by Davidson with two reTolvers, which he was presenting. The gaoler spoke to the, man firmly but kindly to induce him to retire. Mrs ShaUcrass asked him where Adams waa, and to this the prisoner said:" Oh ! jes; he's" in the yard all right." Mrs ShaUcrass then entreated him to lay aside the weapons, and he parleyed for a considerable time, and appeared tc be somewhat pacified. ±te then demauded of Mr Shallcrass that he should let him pass and escape from tb»>a«f r and although unarmed, the gaoler oppota4.hu?; Davidson then spoke of the Lyell murder, making a charge against the woman concerned therein, ana asserting his own innocence; and while Mr and : Mrs Shallcrass were doing all they could to pacify him, the man put the muzzle of one of the revolvers in his mouth, and in an instant fired and was dead/ Warder' Adams" came nejje irbm Wellington recently, and b*d a wife and four children, the Youngest of which is only two months old. , _ _. „ Latkb. Mr Sh*llwa«f, the gaoler, was very lwt!oe»t thiftjuonitngt but it now appears

that the warder, Samuel Adams, was •tabbed in the beck of his head, and also in the abdomen by Davidson, who was employed in the gaol as cook. He used one of the kitchen knives. The event has caused a great sensation here, and the authorities are greatly blamed. An inquest will be held this afternoon.