ACCUSATIONS AGAINST WARDERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8874, 7 November 1907, Page 5

ACCUSATIONS AGAINST WARDERS.

A PRISONER'S SENSATIONAL STORY. By Telegraph—Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, November 6. A prisoner named Charles Newton, alias Murray, sentenced at Napier lo six years for theft and burglary, who attempted to escape from' the local prison gang on Thursday last, and pleaded not guilty at the S.M. Court, yesterday, was before the Magistrate at the prison this morning, and made some interesting statements with regard to Mt. Cook Gaol. read a lengthy story, stating thai he pleaded not guilty in order to ventilate his grievances. He alleged that he was treated unjustly on account of having caused the dismissal of one of the warders at Wellington. He made a statement that with the connivance of the warders at Mt. Cook Gaol he was engaged in making counterfeit coins therein, and that the coins were still "planted" in Mt. Cook grounds; others, he alleged, having been put in circulation by the warders. He alleged favourtism and laxity with regard to the local prison. Subsequently in withdrawing his application for an enquiry thereto he stated that he was innocent of the charge for which he had been sentenced, and he wished to prosecute the police for perjury, but believed the petitions had not reached the headquarters. Accused received a genuine surprise on learning that his sentence was only six years, he having believed that the fifteen months' additional sentence imposed on him, for the previous attempt to escape was cumulative. Had he known it was concurrent he said he would nevei have attempted to escape. Fifteen days' solitary confinemenl was imposed, the gaoler undertaking to afford the prisoner facilities t( communicate with the Minister o: , Justice.