sign-in
Home
/
Convict Conditions
/
Image 32
Convict Conditions
Image 32
image 32 of 78
If you need a symbol, fraction or a wider dash please highlight, copy (Ctrl C) and paste (Ctrl V): £ — ¼ ½ ¾ ⅓ ⅔ ⅛ ⅜ ⅝ ⅞ ⊚ 🡹 /|\
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH, 1898. [AT FREMANTLE GAOL.] Present: Dr. ADAM JAMESON, Chairman. Mr. F. Craig, Mr. H. Stirling, Mr. E. W. Mayhew, Dr. Lotz. No. 2507, examined. 428. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Forgery; 12 months. 429. REMISSION.—I am working in the drive and earning special remission. I understand that the ordinary remission, that is the remission earned before one is put on to the special work, is not allowed in the case of those who go on to the special work before they have been six months in the prison. [It was explained to the Commission by the Superintendent that it was not the practice to allow any but the special remission in cases where prisoners were permitted to commence earning special remission before they had served six months.] 430. DIET.—I consider the rations of the men engaged on special and laborious work are not sufficient to keep the men in health. No. 3380, examined. 431. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Larceny; two years. 432. PERSONAL.—I am a native of Ceylon. I have been 14 years in the colony, and have served several well-known employers and borne a uniformly good character. [Employers mentioned.] I have lived carefully and economically, had good pay, and saved a good bit of money, which I invested in property at Coolgardie. I was charged at Coolgardie with the larceny of £12 from the safe of an hotel keeper there. The prosecutor came to see me whilst I was awaiting trial, and induced me to sign a document which, it was explained to me, was a formality which would lead to my release. After I was sentenced, I found that the prosecutor had seized all my property, amounting to the value of £500, or over, and claimed that I had, by the before-mentioned document, assigned all I possessed to him. In addition to being condemned for an offence which I did not commit, and had no temptation to commit, I am stripped of everything and ruined. The principle point against me was the finding upon me of a key which would open the prosecutor's safe. I never saw the key before. That key must have been placed in my coat by some one when it was hanging up just before I put it on, on the occasion when I was taken into custody. No. 10535, examined. 433. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Shooting with intent to murder; 10 years. 434. PERSONAL.—I have petitioned, but the petition was returned without any action being taken. My petition was on points of law. [Witness proceeded to describe the points on which he relied, but was informed that the Commission could not interfere.] I have no statement to make beyond what relates to the legal points in my case. No. 10542, examined. 435. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Forgery; five years. 436. AGE.—23. 437. CASE OF L. L. LOCKE.—This prisoner was sentenced to two years for complicity in the offence for which I am sentenced. I would like to say that she is innocent. There was really no forgery at all. I wrote out a cheque-form for £1,000, and gave it to the other prisoner at a time when we were both drinking heavily. There was no forgery, for this was no signature and no imitation of a signature. There was merely a succession of wavy lines in the place where the signature ought to be. The cheque was presented by my fellow prisoner through the Bank of New South Wales, and after a somewhat unusual delay, was returned by the Bank on which it was drawn marked "no account." They could make nothing of the signature. No doubt my fellow prisoner believed the cheque was all right when she received it from me. We were both in a maudlin condition through drink. I had previously suffered from sunstroke and concussion of the brain, which caused alcohol to take a great effect upon me. Even now, I cannot recollect very clearly what happened, but I know I was astonished to find the cheque was presented. I never saw the female prisoner before I came to Western Australia, and I did not owe her money. (The Commission adjourned.) WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, 1898. [AT FREMANTLE GAOL.] Present: Dr. ADAM JAMESON, Chairman. Mr. F. Craig. Mr. H. Stirling. Mr. J. Gallop. Mr. E. W. Mayhew. Dr. J. W. Hope, Medical Officer of the Gaol, examined. 438. BATHING OF VENEREAL AND SYPHILITIC PATIENTS.—Although the same bath is used for venereal and syphilitic patients, it is washed out after each man who uses it. I can understand the venereal men not liking this, but I think it is some extent a sentimental objection. However, it would, no doubt, be better to keep two baths, one for the use of the venereal and the other for the syphilitic patients, and it could be very easily arranged. As to the towels, I am surprised to learn that they are not disinfected. In that case my orders have not been carried out. My instructions are that disinfectants shall be used in the washing of the towels. I supplied some hyper. chlor. for that purpose yesterday. I will see into the matter. Undoubtedly the use of disinfectants in connection with the towels is necessary. It could be arranged also with advantage that the towels of the syphilitic patients should be kept separate from those of the venereal patients, and reserved specially for the use of the former. That is not done at present. 439. EXAMINATION OF ALL PRISONERS ON ARRIVAL.—I approve of the suggestion of the Commission that it is desirable that all prisoners should be examined by the medical officer on arrival at the gaol. All that would be necessary would be that the new arrivals, who now come in at various hours of the day, should be kept separate until a certain fixed hour when I could examine them. I think it would be very desirable that that should be done. It is, I understand, practically the universal custom elsewhere, and it much facilitates the classification of prisoners. There is no classification here, but where that system obtains, the medical examination largely determines the class of labour to which the prisoner is put, on his physical condition and capacity being ascertained. I produce my journal for the examination of the Commission. [Book produced showing records of diseases of prisoners, and instructions as to certain prisoners being kept separate from the rest.] Dr. Hope subsequently handed in the following memorandum:— "To the Chairman of the Commission.—VENEREAL CASES.—I find, from Warder Woods, that the men swill the towels. Afterwards the cleaner takes the towels, and, with boiling water, washes them. In future the towels will be at once, after use, put into carbolic solution, then washed, as before, by cleaner. 16-11-98 (Signed) Jas. W. Hope, Medical Officer." No. 2153 and seven others (who had previously given evidence) examined. 440. REMISSIONS.—We complain that we have been specially singled out for classification, although there is no provision for classification in the rules. The matter all arose, originally, out of a disturbance in the yard in connection with some parcel that was supposed to have been thrown over the wall. Some of us are due to go out shortly. We have repeatedly applied to the Sheriff and to the Superintendent about our remissions, and to find out how we stand; but we can get no satisfaction out of anybody. We think it hard we should lose our remissions, because we have been before Mr. Fairbairn, the visiting justice. Even what remission is given does not appear to be in accordance with the scale posted in the division. [The Commission explained how the apparent discrepancy was occasioned.] (The Commission adjourned.) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH, 1898. [AT FREMANTLE GAOL.] Present: Dr. ADAM JAMESON, Chairman Mr. E. W. Mayhew. Mr. H. Stirling. Mr. M. L. Moss. Dr. Lotz. No. 10513, examined. 441. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Assault and robbery; 10 years. 442. PERSONAL.—This was a case of alleged assault and robbery at Bunbury, for which a man named Jackson and I were convicted. [The Commission informed witness that they had the facts of Jackson's case before them, and recommended witness to apply to the Sheriff for permission to petition.] I am what is called a "second timer." If it had not been for that, I should not be here now. I was sent out from home for an offence of which I was found guilty there. I do not think that that should be treated
Save edits
prev
|
next
|
all images
|
history