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Convict Conditions
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261. CHURCH.— I do not think the prisoners should be compelled to go to church. It only encourages hypocrisy. 262. DIET.—The potatoes are not good. Those served to-day are a fair sample of the average. 263. CELLS.—The cells are badly ventilated and too narrow. The stench arising from the ground in the cells on the ground floor is bad in summer. 264.BEDDING.—Not properly washed. 265. PETITION.— I have written several letters about petition, but have never received any replay. No.1786, examined. 266. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Idle and disorderly ; nine months. 267. REMISSIONS.—The remissions might just as well be done away with. They are only a source of aggravation. I have been reported for supposed malingering when I was really bad. I lose remission for that, and remission is lost every time one is reported. 268. DISCIPLINE.—There is little discipline among the warders themselves. One of the warders suffers continually from the effects of drink. It affects his temper and he is very irritating to the prisoners. 269. DIET.—The food is very bad; but if it were good in quality, the quantity would be sufficient. No. 1192, further examined. 270. PERSONAL.—At one time I assisted in putting out a fire. I understand from the Superintend that a sum of money was paid for the services of the prisoners; 50s. I have got none of it. My share would not be much, but it might come in handy if I am discharged penniless. One man I know got his share. 271. VISITING OFFICIALS.—My idea is that Dr.Hope, the Superintendent, the Sheriff, and Mr, Fairbairn are too much of a clique. If you see one you see the lot. They have worked too long together. For my part, I have always said that I would just as soon see Ki Sing, the lunatic Chinaman. I have pointed out to them that they were driving young Beck crazy, merely because he ran away. If my time were not so near up, I might run away myself if I got the chance. No.10551, examined. 272. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Assault; three year penal servitude. 273. PETITION.—I want to petition through the Commission. I have not been in trouble before. I believe I was sentenced because the man who was with me had been previously convicted. [Witness informed that any petition must follow the ordinary prescribed course and go through the Sheriff.] 274. DIET.—The food generally is bad in quality. No. 10465, examined. 275. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Incest; 20 year penal servitude. 276. PERSONAL.—It is very unjust that man should be found guilty of such a brutal crime as I was charged with on the evidence of his children. I am an innocent man and have been four years in the prison. I gave my solicitor the names of witnesses who could have proved my innocence, but he never called one. Lots of other girls were in and out of my place all day at all times, and is it likely I should, under such circumstances, be guilty of the brutal crime charged. 277. DIET.—The food is sufficient; in fact, more that sufficient, for my purposes. ( The Commission adjourned .) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND, 1898. Present: Dr. ADAM JAMESON, Chairman Mr. F. Craig Mr. W. E. Mayhew Mr. J.Gallop Mr. Horace Stirling, and the Secretary. No. 3378, examined 278. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Larceny; two years. 279. ALLEGED UNJUST SENTENCE.—I was sentenced to two years for alleged larceny at Kalgoorlie. I had nothing to with the robbery, and, had I had the means to pay expenses of witnesses, could have proved an alibi beyond doubt, as, at the time of the robbery, I was away at Boulder City. The cause of my conviction was that I had thrown a bottle at the policeman named Anderson, who came sneaking about my place one night in the dark. I was charged with the assault, but discharged by the magistrate, who remarked that it served the policeman right, as he had no business on my premises. Anderson, however, threatened to "fit me," as he said, before long. Accordingly, I was charged with stealing a cash box from Hans Kinsman, and found guilty on the evidence of a little girl of fourteen, who swore she saw me enter the window of the premises where the cash box was. My lawyer was unwell in the day of the trail, and the Crown Prosecutor pressed the matter of my throwing the bottle at the policeman (Anderson), although it had nothing whatever to do with the alleged robbery. This prejudiced the jury. Since I have been in goal a policeman named Whelan had been to see me, and told me in the presence of Acting Chief Warder Webster, that he knew I was innocent, and that he also knew now who was guilty. He added that it was my own fault that I was in goal, as I should have told the police at the time who it was who committed the robbery. I had good reason to know who it was, but i did not consider it necessary to express my suspicions concerning a man who was spending money freely at my place in the course of business. Was it my duty to tell the police that a man was at my place spending money freely, and that I did not think earned the money? I understand Whelan is leaving the police force, and that both he and Anderson know perfectly well who the real criminal was. I would like to have my innocence proved, but would be even more glad to get out the Colony. I have means, or could get the funds in 24 hours, to return to my wife and two children in Tasmania. I have never been in gaol before. I have got a five years' character which I produced in court. I was a mining labourer, and also worked as engine cleaner for Mr. Hedges, the contractor. I was well known as steady man among the contractors for railway work. On the occasion when Whelan saw me, Mr. Webster remarked that he could not properly hear all that Whelan was saying, and told him to speak up. Acting Chief Warder Webster examined. 280. ALLEGED INNOCENCE OF NO. 3378.—I remember Constable Whelan having an interview with No. 3378. I was present. I heard Whelan say " I will put that property all right for you. I am leaving the force." Something was said before that by Whelan, which I could not hear. He was talking in confidential and low tone, and I told him he must speak up. No.3378 recalled. 281. ALLEGED INNOCENCE.—What Acting-Chief Warder Webster says is correct as to the words he heard, They were actually used by Whelan, after he was told to speak up. Whelan had no property of mine. I understood him to mean that he would see me righted. He had previously, in a low tone, told me what I have said. Prisoner No. 3504, now in gaol, was also told by Whelan that I was innocent. No. 3504, examined. 282. ALLEGED INNOCENCE OF No.3378.—Whelan, a member of the police force, told me, on one occasion, that No.3378 was innocent, and that he was coming down to visit him at the gaol, and tell him that he knew this. He added that he was sure that he could get No. 3378 out of gaol, and would do his best with that object. No. 10511, examined. 283. AGE.—22. 284. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Receiving stolen goods; five years. 285. PERSONAL.—I pleaded guilty . A brooch which had been stolen was found on my father's premises. I thought my father could not prove his innocence, as the property was found in the sand just close by his bed, so I pleaded guilty to save him. I think the sentence was sever considering I got five years for one brooch, and another man, at the same time, got only two years for four brooches. As a fact I never received any brooch at all, and knew nothing about the matter.
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