GARROTTE ROBBERY IN A GAOL.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 259, 30 May 1868, Page 3

GARROTTE ROBBERY IN A GAOL.

(From ilie New Zealand Herald.) There is in the new division of Mount Eden Gaol, Auckland, nineteen prisoners awaiting trial for criminal offences, In the same division are confined debtors and females. Some of those persons awaiting trial are old convicts, and men-of the most violent and desperate character, as the sequel will show. There are but three officers in charge—one who is stationed at the front gate, another on the platform behind the establishment, and the third in charge of the prisoners within the building. On Saturday afternoon, about half-past three, Warder Andrew Dunn, when locking up the prisoners, observed that one of them was behaving in a manner that looked suspicious. The name of this prisoner is Goldsmith, who is committed for trial for an act of highway robbery on the North Eoad. This man was observed to loiter behind, as if intent on some purpose of insubordination. Two other prisoners named Bryant and Kersting—the same ruffians who recently committed the savage assault upon Mr Caley in Sy-monds-street—were locked up with other prisoners in one of the cells into which Goldsmith looked. Dunn suspected that Goldsmith might have passed something into the cell. The warder also looked in, and while so engaged he was seized from behind by Goldsmith, and throttled. Ha was thrown down, when Bryant and Kersting rushed out of their cell, closing the door on the other prisoners. The object was to prevent any assistance from being given to Dunn. Having garrotted the officer in the manner described, they proceeded to rifle his pockets. They took from his pockets two sovereigns in gold, and eight shillings, and a gold ring from his finger. The purpose of these men is disclosed by the fact that upon examination it was found they had made ropes of their blankets. Dunn very soon became unconscious, and his assailants succeeded in tying his hands, and having ill-used him in various ways, by covering his mouth, they kicked him brutally in the stomach. The unfortunate man, however, was enabled to make his cries heard by another prisoner of the name of Twohey, who at once ran to his assistance. The conduct of this man, who is called a billet hand —that is, a prisoner who is employed about the gaol—is deserving of the greatest praise, and we trust he will not go unrewarded. He found Kersting on the landing with an axe, which had been obtained from the cook-house, in his hand, which he succeeded in wresting from the villain's hands. He succeeded in obtaining assistance, and secured the assailants of Dunn until constable Mai tin and other officers came \ip and over nvered them. Doctor Philson was se :, and Com-

missioner Naughton arrived after a lapse of about twenty minutes. It was found that Dunn had been greatly abused, but though injured, the injuries were not of a dangerous kind. The poor man was quite speechless, and utterly unable to <j;ive anything like a complete account of the affair. Dunn was removed to: his quarters and his wants attended to. To prevent a recurrence of such attacks, a blacksmith was sent for to Newmarket and the prisoners were heavily ironed and removed to the criminal side of the gaol and placed in solitary confinement. An examination of the prisoners was at once instituted. It was elicited that Kersting had been seen to throw the ring away. Bryant had also been observed to throw away some silver. It was alleged that he had swallowed the two sovereigns, which would not be a very remarkable exploit by a man of such determined character.