PRISON RECORDS........ Eliza Evershed The First Prisoner to pass away at the Gaol. A few days prior to her death she was to be released from the Gaol, but had fallen ill due to the fact that she was an elderly lady who was not only ill but had nowhere to go. The prison staff decided to officially release her, then kept her at the Gaol and nursed her back to health. Sadly this was not to be, as Eliza passed away a few days after her release date. Eliza Evershed is among the inmates who now rest in a “Paupers grave” at the Gladstone Cemetery. Died:- 16th September 1882 in Gladstone Gaol, sentenced for 14 years. The “description of prisoners Gladstone Gaol” says, she was committed 26th August 1881 aged 58 years and had arrived from Sydney 1841. Ah Hang (Chinese) Burra, Charged by Christopher Savage with stealing 50 shillings from him 27th October 1888, from his bedroom in the Kooringa hotel. Aged 17, height 5’ 4 ½”, single, illiterate and suffered gonorrhoea. Sentenced to 17-24weeks in October 1888, and was transferred on 5 November to Gladstone Gaol. The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931), Friday 1 January 1892, page 6…… The Gladstone Gaol and Messrs, Castine and Giles. W. INNES McDONALD (Late Chief Warder H.M. Gaol, Gladstone.) To The Editor Sir, will you permit me to protest against the statements made by Mr. Castine and Mr. Giles when the Estimates were under consideration in the House of Assembly, Mr. Castine stated that the gaol was purely maintained for the benefit of perhaps one prisoner and that the warders had nothing to do beyond praying for a dust storm to give them occupation. Mr. Giles stated that he was informed that there was often no more than one prisoner in the Gladstone Gaol. From my own experience of the Gladstone Gaol and I can speak with considerable authority having been chief warder for four years, I would inform these gentlemen that their information is distinctly unreliable and that they do not know the condition of the institution. The average number of prisoners incarcerated in the gaol is 20, some undergoing life sentences, others undergoing sentences ranging from 7 to 10 years, besides other prisoners for various offences. These are all occupied in various ways, such as woodcutting, quarrying and breaking stones, mat making, bag-repairing, etc; which require the full attention of the staff at the gaol and it often happens that prisoners have to be specially attended to at night by the warders, especially those suffering from delirium tremors, and this means extra hours without the slightest compensation or allowance off regular duties. When Messrs, Castine and Giles speak they should speak from more reliable information. Had it not been that I was suffering from a severe attack of influenza and unable to read the papers at the time the above statements were made and knew nothing about them until pointed out to me by a friend a few days ago I should have before now sought the privilege of using your valuable columns to contradict such erroneous statements. (National Library of Australia) The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931), Monday 16 October 1911, page 9…. -“TWO PRISONERS ESCAPE” FROM GLADSTONE GAOL.- The Commissioner of Police has received information that during the early hours of Sunday two prisoners, Alfredo Alveta and Edwin James Murch, escaped from the Gladstone Gaol. Both men were awaiting trial under committal from Port Pirie courts to the Circuit Court. The charge against Murch is one of having forged a telegram and Alveta is accused of larceny. The accused were not associated with each other in respect to the offences with which they are charged. Alveta is a native of Italy, 33 years of age and is a labourer. He is 5 ft 6 ½ in height, has dark brown hair, large brown eyes and a dark complexion. There is a prominent vein on his forehead, running from the side of his left eye to the roots of his hair. On each arm are two vaccine marks and the right upper arm is freckled. His left leg has a scar upon it above the knee. Murch, who is also a labourer, is a native of Port Adelaide. He is 30 years of age, 5ft 8in in height, with fair hair, fair moustache, light blue eyes and a ruddy complexion. He bears numerous tattoo marks. On the back of his right hand are branded a rose, shamrock and a thistle, with a woman’s head in the centre. A bracelet is imprinted on the right wrist and there is a heart and dagger between the thumb and finger of the right hand. On the front of the right forearm are the letters “E.M.” over a star and “E.J.M. Port Julia”, above a crown, while on the left muscle is a wreath surmounted by a flag and a star, with the figures “1881” in the middle. On the left upper arm is a lifebuoy with “1907”, in the centre and a star below. (National Library of Australia) Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW: 1888 - 1954) Monday 24 March 1919, page 1 TRIAL OF WILLIAM BUDD STARTS AT GLADSTONE TUESDAY DEMEANOR OF THE ACCUSED Adelaide Monday….. The trial of Percival William Budd, who was arrested by Detective Mattin in connection with the death of Harold Sidney Jacques, will be opened at the Gladstone Court tomorrow. It is expected that the case will occupy the attention of the Chief Justice, Sir George Murray, and a jury for at least three days. Evidence for the prosecution, which will be given by 21 witnesses, will be on similar lines to that given at the inquest. The evidence will cover a chain of events from the time that the late Mr. Jacques was engaged at the North Terrace ‘Motor Stand’ to drive a man to Crystal Brook and back, to the arrest of Budd following upon the discovery of the missing man’s body in the back yard of a residence at which the accused was boarding. Budd, who is only 25 years of age, will be defended by Mr. W.F. Owen. During the time that Budd was in custody at Port Pirie he exhibited no signs of feeling the seriousness of his position and seemed to be quite calm and collected. Just prior to being removed to the Port Pirie Court house to attend the inquest, he requested a police officer to bring him one of his collars and when he found that the one handed to him did not match his shirt, he asked for “the striped one”. The officer told him that he was not going for a picnic. Since his committal Budd has been an inmate of Gladstone Gaol and it is reported that during the interval his demeanour has not changed and that he has put on weight, having a good appetite and never being restless in his sleep. He has given the gaol authorities no trouble. (National Library of Australia) The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931), Wednesday 18 November 1908, page 9 DEATH IN GAOL The Gladstone case. Gladstone, November 17. An inquest was held at the Local Court today on the body of the prisoner, John Elliot, who died in the gaol on Sunday last. Mr. W. Hancock was the coroner. Robert McDonald, keeper of the Gladstone Gaol, deposed that Elliot was transferred from the Yatala Labour Prison to the Gladstone Gaol on October 29, under sentence of twelve months imprisonment for larceny. He was very delicate on arrival and had been under medical treatment ever since. He gradually became weaker until Sunday, when he died at 7 o’clock a.m. During his illness he had been well cared for by the medical officer and well nursed by prisoners Allen and Lockwood. Dr. C.H. Chansellor, medical officer to the gaol, testified that when Elliot arrived at Gladstone on October 29, he was suffering from consumption. On October 31 he examined the deceased and found active tubercular disease in the right lung. He at once put him under proper treatment. A few days afterwards Elliot complained of loss of appetite and his diet was altered to milk food etc; on the 8th inst. The witness was notified that Elliot was worse and had him removed to the hospital. His condition then was serious and the witness found that the disease had spread very rapidly. Next day he found that the whole of the right lung showed evidence of disease. Elliot was carefully nursed and the witness visited him once or twice during the day while he lived. The diagnosis was perfectly evident all the way along. Elliot was well looked after by the officials of the gaol and the witness was particularly pleased with the nursing of the prisoners Allen and Lockwood, who were most kind and careful and kept good nursing notes. The wives of the gaol officials and female officers supplied the deceased with all necessary delicacies, due. The cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis. After Allen and Lockwood had given evidence, the Coroner returned a verdict of “death from natural causes, in accordance with the medical evidence”, adding to his finding that “the prisoners, John Allen and Ebenezer Lockwood are to be specially commended for their kindly care and attention and splendid nursing of John Elliot during his illness”. The remains of the deceased were, by request of his relatives, taken to Adelaide on Monday by train for internment. (National Library of Australia) 24 Nov 1905 - LAW COURTS. CIRCUIT COURT - GLADSTONE. Thursday, November 23. (Before Mr. Justice Gordon and Juries.) Thomas Stanton, labourer, was charged with breaking and entering the dwelling of Patrick Jones, of Beetaloo and stealing therefrom one gold watch and chain and gold nugget, valued in all at 14 pounds. He pleaded guilty, and also admitted the larceny of a rifle, watch and chain and two brooches, valued at 2 pounds, from the house of Charles Martiz? of White Park. The prisoner stated that it was his first offence in the State and that he had 12 stitches in his head. Sentenced to nine months imprisonment in Gladstone Gaol………………… JOHN IRVING, an aboriginal, aged 19 years was charged with stealing a horse, saddle and bridle the property of G.E. Maslin at Jamestown. He pleaded guilty. His honor, in view of his youth and the fact that he was an aboriginal, gave him some kindly advice and sentenced him to one months imprisonment in Gladstone Gaol. His honour called before him the person who purchased the horse from the aboriginal and informed him that to purchase a horse from an aboriginal at a ridiculously low price made him as bad as the prisoner………….
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 05:47:14 +0000
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