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Convict Conditions
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558. DISCIPLINE.—Prisoners are entirely at the mercy of the warders, who can run them into the cells whenever they like,and they always "ready up a case" for the magistrate. If it had not been for the presence of the Commission here there would have been a riot in the goal last week—the feeling against the warders is so strong. No. 3320, examined. 559. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Embezzlement ; six months. 560. DIET.—Confirms previous evidence. 561. MEDICAL.—I was suffering from swollen testicles at one time, but was compelled to continue working at the quarry for fear of being reported. My eyes also became very bad, and I nearly lost my sight. I could not see to work . I was brought before the magistrate, who took my part, and said that I ought not to have been put in the cells for that. (The Commission adjourned.) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH, 1898. [AT FREMANTLE GAOL.] Present : Mr. E.W. Mayhew, Mr. F. Craig, Mr. H. Stirling, and the Secretary. No. 3007, examined. 561A. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE. —Larceny ; two years. 562. PERSONAL.—I am a Mahommedan. I ask for some change in the tucker, The food is not suitable for people of my religion. I have no complaints to make and nothing else to say. No. 10546, examined (through an interpreter). 563. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Manslaughter ; 10 years. 564. PERSONAL.—I am a Malay. I would like more rice to eat instead of meat, to which I am unaccustomed. I have no teeth good enough to eat meat. I am too old. I do not know my age, but I believe I am about 35. I have no complaints to make except that the bedding is bad. No. 10549, examined. 565. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Burglary and wounding ; 10 years and two years, concurrent. 566. PERSONAL.—It seems to me that being under the new regulations I get a longer sentence than a man would have got under the old regulations of he had been sentenced to death and reprieved. My sentence was given in this way : " Two years for burglary and ten years on the other count, to be concurrent." I think that meant I was to do two years only, and that was the general opinion of those who heard what took place. 567. DIET. —Confirms the previous evidence. 568. IMBECILES.— I have seen an imbecile prisoner severely maltreated by a warder. The prisoner's name was Miller. I spoke to the warder about it ; he made no reply. I was not reported for it. No. 10532. examined. 569. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Manslaughter ; life. 570. PERSONAL.—My sentence is under the old regulations. I have served nearly twelve months, and have about seven years and six months outstanding, with remissions to come off. I am employed in the bakehouse. 571. DIET.—I find the food sufficient. It is quite as good as any working man on an up-country station would get. It is the monotony of the food which is disagreeable. 572. CELLS.—The cells are rather close, especially at night. No. 3480, examined. 573. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Larceny ; 12 months ; two sentences of six months. 574. PERSONAL.—I would like the Commission to call in prisoner No. 1840. He can prove that I am innocent. i was a barber on the goldfields and went to Kanowna, intending to settle myself there. I got drunk; went to sleep in the wrong place, thinking that I was in the boarding-house close by, where I was camped. Next morning I was arrested with No. 1840, who pleaded guilty, but who did not know me, and had never seen me before. He can positively assure you that I had nothing whatever to do with the matter. I was a man well known on the fields, but a stranger at Kanowna, where I was about to open a barber's shop. No. 1840, examined. 575. CASE OF PRISONER No. 3480.—What No. 3480 has told the Commission is perfectly true. He knew nothing whatever about the robbery in which I was concerned. He was a perfect stranger to me. I received a number of sentences in connection with this business; one for robbery of a pendant, which I pleaded guilty to ; another for robbery of a chain and pendant. I pleaded guilty in that case, thinking it was the same article for which I had already got six months. Then I got twelve months for running away from the policeman who went to arrest me. I only ran a short way, and then altered my mind and turned round and gave myself up. 576. COMPLIANT AGAINST POLICE.—After my discharge from a previous sentence the police followed me up and reported to my employers who I was, and that I had been in gaol. They made it impossible for me to earn an honest living. I worked for a publican who told me three of the police had informed him I had been in gaol. [The Commission advised Nos. 3480 and 1840 to petition and set out facts of their respective cases.] No. 10534, examined. 577. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Larceny as a bailee ; five years. 578. PERSONAL.—I had not intended to volunteer any evidence to the Commission, as I intended, if the opportunity offered, to give what information I could after I should leave the goal. I was surprised when I found the Commission wanted to examine me, as I had not set down my name with the rest. The fact is I consider that a prisoner who puts his name down to come before the Commission becomes at once a marked man in the eyes of the prison authorities. 579. DIET.—There is a table of rations stuck up in the division, but we never get that, although, generally, I have quiet enough. It is not sufficient for the men who work hard in the quarries. The Commission sees the food at its best. They know when you are coming and everything is all right for you at dinner time. The porridge is really only skilly. It would be better to make less and make it thicker; a good deal of it is wasted now. Not only is the quality of the food bad, but the distribution of it is worse. It would be ample in quantity if the bulk of it were not all given out in the middle of the day. Potatoes are the only vegetable we get, and those only two or three times a week. The porridge should be served in the morning. That could be easily arranged, for it is now cooked early enough, but it is kept standing in tins until the middle of the day. 585. DISCIPLINE.—Prisoners are completely at the mercy of the warders. For my part I made up my mind to obey all orders, good or bad, and try and keep out of all trouble. At the same time it is no use disguising the fact that the warders can almost swear away a man's life without the least prospect of redress. 581. PETITION.—I understand that in my own case a petition is being prepared outside the gaol, the point in my favour being a legal one. [Witness described the evidence given at his trial.] No. 3859, examined. 582. OFFENCE AND SENTENCE.—Sly-grog selling ; three months and of £30, in default six months. 583. PETITION.—I have petitioned for reconsideration of my sentence, but have received an unfavourable reply. I have been here twice before, once for unlawful possession and once for forgery.
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