EXTRAORDINARY STORY FROM A CONVICT PRISON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2817, 2 August 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

EXTRAORDINARY STORY FROM A CONVICT PRISON.

Ax extraordinary ease was investigated recently by the i'oi'tsmoulh L'oroiigh Coroner, with regard to the death of a convict, named Andrew Burton, who hail died ut the l.'ortsea prison. The evidence add iced was to the effect that the deceased wis at work with his gang in Dockyard several days previously, when he complained to Assistant-Warder Message of feeling ill. Message suspended liini from work, and reported the case to lira principal ollicial, Warder Bennett. Tne latter, however, said the man was .'hamming, and, notwithstanding the protest of Message, who believed the man to be really ill, ordered the deceased to continue bis task, which ho did in evident pain. Message a"ain granted the deceased a temporary respite, but when Warder Bennett came round he declined to believe the man's story, ami after making limi try lo go' through the extension drill he took hold of the deceased's wrists, and endeavoured to force the nnu's arms backward, lie then ordered Burton to join the Mo ;« gang, the convict* to whom the Everest labour is given, and here the nun had to toil till the bell rang and work for the day ijen-od. The'assistant warder in charge of No. .'W was heard to observe to Message, "1 have given your man physic," meaning an exceptionally severe task. On reaching the prison, the deceased repeated his complaint of feeling ill, ami was at length admitted to the Inlirmary, where he died. The foreman of the ju.y impiired it that was the usual method the prison authorities had of dealing with sick convicts, but no answer to the question was _;iven, and oveniai ally the inquest ft~e, adjourned. The coroner gave strict orders to the police thai in •'eouvieU who were to be called as witnesses weic to give the outline ot their evidence to the intjueat ollicer when lone,