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Convict Conditions
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167. ABSCONDING.—I absconded because I was pestered so much by the officers in the workshops. Warder Pond, in particular, annoyed me. I wanted to do my sentence quietly, if allowed to do so. 168. LATEST OFFENCE.—The larceny was one committed at Coolgardie. I was drinking and drunk at the time. The whole value of the things taken was under £5 considerably. I pleaded guilty. 169. PUNISHMENT.—For the absconding I got 12 months in irons. I think that sentence was severe. 170. DIET.—Much improved lately. Ten times better than it was a year ago. 171. SECRETION OF IMPLEMENTS BY PRISONERS.—I have taken tools from the workshop on to the parade; passed the usual inspection, and carried them to my cell. I intended to break through, but altered my mind, and decided to get over the wall, which I did. I have carried ½inch augers 9in. long concealed about my person, and passed the examining warders with them. 172. COMPLAINT OF INACTION OF WARDERS.—The warder in charge of my cell knew that I had tools in the cell, and should have removed them or reported the matter. I ought not to have been allowed to retain them there, or, in a way, tempted to try to break out. 173. RULES AND REGULATIONS.—The penalty for absconding should be read out to prisoners. I did not know what absconding would render a man liable to. 174. IRONS.—I suffered a good deal from the irons, because they were too small and chafed, and I had some difficulty in getting them changed. 175. BALANCE OF SENTENCE.—I Have been two years in the prison and still have about six years and six months to do on the original sentence of five years, with the cumulative sentences included. No. 10530, examined. 176. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Manslaughter: seven years. 177. PERSONAL.—When tried, I had £104 in cash in the Savings Bank, and possessed the furniture of a ten-roomed house. Messrs. Haynes & Purkiss, my solicitors, had authority from me to realise my estate. I should value the furniture at £50; say £150 in round figures for the whole estate. Out of this I have received from my solicitors 30s. only. I have received from them no bill of costs or statement of account of any kind. My solicitors called no witnesses. The police handed over to my solicitors even the cash trinkets I had in my pocket. There was £2 8s., being two weeks' pay due to me from the Corporation in Perth. That was sent down to the gaol, otherwise I suppose that would not have reached me. I have called the attention of the Sheriff to the matter, but it appears to have been overlooked. [The Commission undertook that the Sheriff should be communicated with.] 178. NO COMPLAINTS OR SUGGESTIONS.—I have no complaints to make as to treatment or suggestions to offer. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, 1898 [AT FREMANTLE GAOL.] Present: Dr. ADAM JAMESON, Chairman. Mr. E. W. Mayhew Mr. Horace Stirling. Dr. Lotz, and the Secretary. No. 3284, examined. 179. PERSONAL.—I have no complaints to make, but would like to offer some suggestions. 180. TREATMENT OF BOY PRISONERS.—There are about twelve boys in the gaol, aged from 14 to 18. They are shut up from morning till night, with an hour's exercise or so during the day. They get schooling for one hour a week only, on Wednesday afternoons. No one takes the slightest notice of them. I fear vicious practices are common amongst them; at least it may be expected, with no one to tell them of the ill effects. They have next to no work to do except scrubbing the corridor. On one occasion there was a boy who was a little off his head. He was taken into the hospital where he had a fit. There he was badly knocked about by the prisoners. Warder Woods sang out to the man to give the boy a good hiding. I was ordered with another to bathe the boy. We could keep him quiet enough as long as Warder Woods kept away, which I begged him to do, but he would annoy the lad by poking fun at him. 181. LUNATICS.—There are five or six lunatics in the gaol. I know for a fact, and several of the prisoners know it, that lunatics have been polluted in the yard by fellow prisoners, in the closets, and sodomy has been committed there. I spoke to Warder Compton about it. He said: "But is it really true?" I replied: "Yes, I know it to be a fact." The occasion I specially refer to was about six weeks ago. I said that the lunatic ought to be taken out of the yard. He was taken out of the yard for a time, but he is back with the rest of the prisoners in the yard now. This sort of thing has not occurred once only, it has happened repeatedly. A warder was in the yard at the time, but at the other end of it, and he could not see what was going on, but several of us did. Lunatics ought not to be kept with the other prisoners. 182. WARDERS.—Out of 30 or 40 warder in the gaol I don't think there are more than half-a-dozen who are fit for the posts they hold. They are without experience, judgement, or tact and are mostly chosen because of good physique. 183. DISCIPLINE.—There is really no discipline worth the name in the gaol. The Superintendent is all right to the men so long as the keep out of trouble. A good deal of what trouble there is, is undoubtedly the fault of the men themselves; but a little discretion and tact on the part of the warders would enable trifling matter to be passed over which become magnified by injudicious handling. As a rule the warder are drawn from an unintelligent and untrained class of men. No. 3292, examined. 184. DIET.— Considerably improved since appointment of Commission but still very unclean. As the result of carelessness in the preparation, the gruel was half full of tea leave yesterday at dinner time.The tea is placed in soup cans, and grease floats on the top of it. The potatoes are bad, but I do not blame the authorities for that, because it is difficult anyhow to get good ones. Gruel should be given in the morning instead of at noon. The bread allowance is insufficient when the men are engaged on hard work in the quarries. 185. WARDERS.—Reports for not working properly mean punishment; but frequently the officers in charge do not understand the nature of the work or whether the man is loafing or not . 186. DISCHARGE.—I confirm the previous evidence. 187. SHAVING.—The arrangements for shaving are such as to facilitate the spread of skin diseases. 188. BEARD.—Three months previous to discharge should be allowed to let the beard grow. 189. CONDEMNED CLOTHING.— The system condemnation of clothing of prisoners in for more than 12 months is bad. I had a pair of braces which I especially valued, because they were the work of a sister now dead. These were offered for sale in the yard for a few sticks of tobacco. A suit is given to prisoners when they out. It is worth a few shillings. I saw the suit worn by the prisoners discharged today, the suit which the Commission saw. That was the best I have seen. No one need to ashamed to be seen in that. 190. DARK CELLS.—I have been in the dark cell. I got 24 hours, but really got nearly 30. I think, if the magistrate orders 24, the punishment should be limited to what he orders. I did not find the darkness effect me particularly; but the ventilation was bad and the bedding dirty. 191. MEDICAL TREATMENT.—Previous to the appointment of the Commission, men who might be suffering from a disease were not required to report it. I believe that rule has been posted up now. Prisoners having venereal disease use the same blankets and clothes as are supplied to the other prisoners. 192. WASHING.—The washing of the clothing is badly done. I have myself received a pair of trousers with excreta left in the seat. Every prisoner should be supplied with his own regular clothing. My sheets have been washed twice in six and a half months, and the blankets are dirty, and in some cases very old and thin. 193. MEDICAL OFFICER.—I think the Medical Officer of the gaol does not sufficiently assert his position, and allows his orders to be overruled by the other authorities. 194. WARDERS.—Many of these do not understand their duties. 194A. VISITORS.—When my wife came here to see me, Warder Richards used very abrupt language to her. I spoke to him about it. The time being limited, only a few visitors can get in, and the rest have to wait for another occasion. No. 10537, examined. 195. DIET.—Improved lately. Potatoes have been very bad. I find the food personally insufficient. 196. LIBRARY.—The Roman Catholic library requires more books. 197. LIGHTS IN THE CELLS.—By 7:15 p.m. all lights are put out. This does not leave sufficient time for reading. From November 1st no lights at all are allowed in the cells. You cannot read after 6:30 p.m. without artificial lights in the cells. 198. PETITIONS.—I complain that my petitions have not reached the Governor, not being forwarded by the Sheriff. I was charged with wounding with intent; but the prosecutor distinctly stated that I did not not assault him. [Witness described the circumstances of his trial and the absence of depositions, with which he ought to have been furnished.]
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