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श्यालावास जेल के कैदी लटूरमल मीणा की बिगड़ी तबीयत, अस्पताल में मौत के बाद परिजनों का हंगामा और धरना Dausa News: श्यालावास जेल में बंद 49 वर्षीय कैदी लटूरमल मीणा की तबीयत बिगड़ने के बाद जिला अस्पताल में मौत हो गई। घटना के बाद परिजनों और ग्रामीणों ने जेल प्रशासन पर लापरवाही का आरोप लगाया है।...
श्यालावास जेल के कैदी लटूरमल मीणा की बिगड़ी तबीयत, अस्पताल में मौत के बाद परिजनों का हंगामा और धरना Dausa News: श्यालावास जेल में बंद 49 वर्षीय कैदी लटूरमल मीणा की तबीयत बिगड़ने के बाद जिला अस्पताल में मौत हो गई। घटना के बाद परिजनों और ग्रामीणों ने जेल प्रशासन पर लापरवाही का आरोप लगाया है।...
“REGAN SAYS GUARDS BRUTAL 'SOMETHING IN IT’ - SEDGWICK,” Toronto Star. February 6, 1933. Page 30. ---- Conclude Special Investigation Into Death of Burwash Prisoner ==== COPY EVIDENCE ---- The admission that he thought there was some justice in Mr. Regan's claim that Frank Smith, ex-inmate who died on July 12 from broncho-pneumonia at the Burwash Industrial Farm. had been used. cruelly was openly made by Jos. Sedgwick, solicitor of the attorney-general's department. at the conclusion on Saturday afternoon of the special investigation into Smith's death.
"If the great feature of reforming Inmates at these institutions is going to be nullified by brutal guards, then It should be corrected at the earliest possible moment," submitted Frank Regan, counsel for Walter Lasher. ex-inmate hospital orderly, whose charges of cruelty caused the investigation.
On a day to be set after the evidence is transcribed, and a copy presented to him. Mr. Regan was promised, he is to have a chance to give. his interpretation and make suggestions.
A surprise late on Saturday at the final sitting was the statement of Dr. D. R. Gunn, the physician at Burwash. that he may have been wrong. when he announced earlier that Lasher's temperature and pulse record book was destroyed. It was from this book that the nurse made her official clinical charts. upon which the Burwash authorities depended principally in the investigation to show that Smith was given proper medical treatment. Accordingt o Dr. Gunn. the book may still be at the prison camp.
“What significance would there be in not producing it,” inquired Sedgwick. ‘Well, the clinical charts were made from this book of mine by the nurse,’ replied Lasher.
It was a surprise to the investigators, also, to learn that progress reports were often made up after the patient had left the hospital, and, sometimes, not at all.
Not Kept In Bed Mr. Regan, towards the conclusion, also challenged the treatment of Smith in allowing him to get up out of bed and go for an X-ray treatment when he had broncho-pneumonia.
"Do you think he should be allowed to get up and go to the bathroom. Do you think that's proper treatment for a man when he had broncho-penumonia to your knowledge." "At that time I thought. there was no contra-indication," replied Dr. Gunn,
"But you knew he had broncho-pneumonia.
"I thought it was all right for Frank Smith to go," said the doctor.
"Because you thought he was malingering."
"Why didn't you contradict Lasher when he told the superintendent you didn't write an order in the book? and you didn't say a word."
"I would have if the superintendent had asked me."
"And yet you want us to believe you did write orders in that book?’ Yes."
"And yet you sat there and listened to serious allegations regarding your professional integrity and you didn't deny it or ask for the book to be produced?"
"Mr. Oliver accepted my word?" suggested the doctor.
"Did you tell the superintendent you wrote orders In the book?" asked Mr. Sedgwick. "No," replied Dr. Gunn.
“The superintendent accepted Lasher's word," declared Mr. Regan.
"Do you think a man with pneumonia should be forced to take several quarts of milk and some egg nogs a day" asked Mr. Regan.”Yes,’ said the doctor.
"Is Lasher right when he said he gave the man the digitalis on his own initiative" "Yes, that's perfectly true
When Doctors Disagree "And Lasher is right when he says you stopped it after Dr. Cook had said it was all right?" "Yes," said the doctor.
"You never mentioned digitalis to Dr. Cook?" "No. It just came up casually. Dr. Cook said it would be all right and I ordered it. I put down fifteen minims on the order book every four hours."
“Those are the pages of the order book missing?” “Yes." Dr. Gunn stated that he stopped it later because he did not consider it necessary.
"Dr. Cook suggested it would do no harm to use digitalis," said Dr. Gunn again.
"So that is the principle on which you used it: that it would do no harm?” asked Mr. Regan. "That's the first principle of prescribing medicine." "Doctor, you tell us that this temperature book of Lasher's which is becoming more and more important. was destroyed. Who destroyed it?"
The doctor started to answer at length. The commissioner instructed it was a fair question.
“You said it was a book destroyed because it had only duplications, do you know who destroyed it?” "I was talking to Cameron Hayes yesterday and he gave me to understand that it was not destroyed."
"Where is it?" "Up at the farm, I guess." "I'd like to have that book produced. Why wasn't It brought down?”
“My answer is that it wasn't an official record." "You have no reason to doubt its correctness?" "No." "But no official records are made from it," emphasized the doctor.
"No: but official records are made from it," said Mr. Regan. "Yes."
Questioned about Lasher's charge that Dr. Gunn did not apply any death tests to the dead man Smith, Dr. Gunn denied it and told about testing eyes and looking at the veins of the neck, as well as other ordinary tests.
“Was his head swollen up?" "No, I didn't observe it." said the doctor.
"Well, Lasher said his head was all swollen up." countered Mr. Regan.
Claims Easton Knew "Easton saw it," ejaculated Lasher to his counsel.
“Yet if you examined his eyes, as you say you did, you must have seen it?” declared Mr. Regan.
Quoting from a morning paper that Investigating solicitor had come to the conclusion that because most of the 41 prisoners who gave evidence at the Burwash sitting of the inquiry had used almost the identical language, and had, therefore, drawn the remark from Mr. Sedgwick that their authenticity was doubtful, Mr. Regan protested that the guard had said only a few words in such tones that it would be impressed upon the men.
Mr. Sedgwick emphasized that this was not his attitude at all.
Mr. Regan finally waived going to Burwash to examine Sergt. Vincent and Nurse Evelyn Loper, and it was agreed that he would be given a transcription of the evidence after it was copied, and have a chance on some day afterwards, set by the commissioner, to present his interpretation of the facts and make suggestions to the commissioner.
"I think the condition will be commented on by the commissioner in his report,” said Mr. Sedgwick, regarding Mr. Regan's submission that cruelty had been used by Sergt. Vincent and others towards Smith. "I think there's something in it," said Mr. Sedgwick.
"People are supposed to be sent to these institutions for the purpose of reform." emphasized Mr. Regan, "After all, no nation can survive if is not administered justly impartially. If the feature of reform is going to be nullified in these institutions by the guards, it should be corrected at the earliest possible moment. The reformatory feature, I submit, depends upon the character of the guards. If we have brutal guards, then the character of penal institutions will go by the board."
“NO TRACE OF POISON FOUND BY ANALYST,” Toronto Globe. August 23, 1930. Page 1. ---- Accused Woman's Death in Cell Ascribed to Natural Causes --- (Special Despatch to The Globe.) Sarnia, Aug. 22. - A verdict that Mrs. Mary Richardson, aged 29, who died in the Lambton County Jail on Aug. 14, while awaiting trial on a charge of murder, came to her death from natural causes, was rendered by a Coroner's jury tonight, after a short inquest. The verdict was based on the report of a Provincial Analyst that no trace of poison was found in the stomach of the dead woman. The report also declared, that Clarence J. Richardson, husband of Mary Richardson, whose body was exhumed from Lakeview Cemetery two weeks ago, also died of natural causes.
Mrs. Mary Richardson was accused of the murder of her mother-in-law, Mrs. Catherine Richardson of Point Edward, by administering strychnine on July 18 last, and a question was raised later regarding the death of her husband suddenly in May, 1929.
The verdict draws the curtain on the tragedy that has stirred the Village of Point Edward. It is understood that Alex. Butters, held on a charge of vagrancy, will be released.
“MISSING PAGES CAUSE OF INQUIRIES AT BURWASH PROBE,” Toronto Globe. February 3, 1933. Page 1 & 2. ---- One Witness Is of Opinion Smith Was Not Neglected --- DETAILS OF STRAPPING ---- "From my observations, I did not think that Smith had been treated with unusual severity-and neither did I consider that he had been neglected," declared Frank Easton, 67-year-old Burwash hospital guard. in extensively testifying at yesterday's session of the Inquiry, into the circumstances surrounding the death of Frank Smith, an inmate of the Burwash Prison Camp, on July 12, now proceeding at Queen's Park before Inspector of Prisons, James Norris.
Yesterday's several hours' evidence -there were but three witnesses-was broken up into a sustained barrage by Frank Regan, counsel for former Orderly Walter Lasher, on whose representations the probe was instituted, seeking information as to "four" missing pages" froma medical record-book at Burwash Camp; supplemented by curiosity also as to "just what was meant" by the records not missing; as to the hand-writing behind those entries; and the meaning of varying shades of ink.
Temperature and Appetite. Testimony of a young orderly - now on parole - who was Lasher's assistant at Burwash, and whose duties. included entries over a given period in the mutilated record book, centred on a series of explanations, in reply to Frank Regan's inquiries as to how "an entry by the witness, indicating pulse of 102 and temperature of 94" against the name of the deceased "could synchronize with a notation of appetite good' under such conditions?"
Counsel followed the health records covering the deceased from day to day: endeavoring to establish that "while Frank Smith was in hospital 'for observation,' he deteriorated very rapidly," culminating - according to the record - on Smith's temperatures being taken every four hours, with a reading at 8 o'clock on Monday, July 11 - indicating Smith's temperature as 100, pulse 132, respiration 20 - and followed by the patient's death next morning at 4.25.
Turning momentarily from the day- by-day "temperature record," Mr. Regan asked witness if he thought Smith's condition was one in which, he should have been subjected to a strapping. "From what I know of him, I don't think so," replied witness.".
Back to "Bull-Gang." Q: - Do you think he was in a fit state of health to be sent back to the bull-gang, after being whipped?
A: - I don't know. Q: - How did you feel after you were whipped? A: - I slept on my stomach for the next two or three days. Q: - Would there, have been chance for Smith, had Dr. Gunn arrived sooner than he did?
Joseph Sedgwick, for the Attorney- General's Department, interrupted here with the inquiry: "Oh now, how does the witness know?" and Mr. Regan took a different line of thought. He inquired as to whose duty it was to make up the medical charts kept by former head orderly Lasher - to whom witness was assistant at Burwash - and was informed that work devolved on Nurse Loper of the prison hospital staff.
At this juncture witness made extended reference to "the milk situation" at the prison hospital. "On one occasion," he said, "there had been two quart bottles of milk in the ice-box, also two-third of a five-quart pitcher also full. It was all gone in the morning and there was none left for the patients," he said. Under further examination by counsel, witness indicated this situation as the basis of an argument with Dr. D. R. Gunn, who was reminded, according to the witness, "every one else has to pay for milk around here. I would have gone to Superintendent Oliver, only I was taking my orders from Walter Lasher, and didn't want to overstep my authority."
Witness then described the marks he had seen upon the shoulders of Smith. At this juncture, prior to closing his examination, Mr. Regan inquired of Crown Counsel as to the "parole" conditions as affecting the witness, and was assured by Mr. Sedg- wick: "We will take full responsibility for the witness being here. We merely want to thresh out this investigation through and through."
Frank Easton, hospital guard at Burwash, testified as to the condition of Smith, following his having had a bath on July 4. "I was standing right near him while he was having the bath," said witness. "He put his clothes on, himself, and walked up- stairs." Witness described the ringing of the emergency bell on the morn- ing Smith died July 12. "I went across to the hospital and found that Smith had died. I got there five minutes after the doctor." The details of the actual strapping of the deceased were also given by witness- who had wielded the strap. He recalled the intimate details of the, punishment, saying: "Smith cried out, and I stopped strapping. I'll go to work,' he cried, and I stopped."
Q: - What comment, if any, have you to make about Smith?
A. - The man was a natural rebel and didn't take kindly to any form of discipline. Denies Kicking. Q: - One of the witnesses here - Rhoades - has sworn that when Sergeant Vincent and you were going down the corridor with the deceased man, Vincent kicked him?
A. - That's not true.
For several minutes Mr. Regan closely questioned witness as to the authenticity of entries in the hospital record-book with reference to the movements of Smith back and forth from the "bull gang," via "light duty." to his hospital bed. Counsel pointed to missing follows from the record, also to contradictory entries with reference to the deceased, commenting: "I submit that there is a state of affairs that should not be permitted. Right here we have two pages with opposing records."
Mr. Sedgwick: - As I understand it, those records were kept by inmates. If a man was discharged from the hospital, and nobody else was available to do so, you would make the entry?
Witness: - Yes.
Mr. Regan: - If Smith was ordered for "light duty," why was he sent out to the bull gang?
Before the witness could attempt to answer the Court ruled: "Witness can have no knowledge of such matters."
Mr. Regan: - I understand Smith weighed only some 90 pounds when he died? A: - I cannot say as to that.
Competent Nurse. Q: - He only weighed 125 pounds when he went to prison originally?
A: - Yes.
When counsel inquired as to what witness knew of the actual physical condition of the deceased, Easton replied: "My friend, Lasher, was a very competent nurse. I had every confidence in him, and never interfered. I gave him no medicine at any time."
Mr. Regan: - A man suffering severely got no medicine whatsoever?
Mr. Sedgwick: - Witness did not say that. He stated that he gave Smith none.
This section of the testimony closed with a few further references to the prison M.H.O. in his alleged relations to the milk situation at Burwash.
The inquiry reopens at 9.30 this morning.
“Penitentiary Convict Died During the Night,” Kingston Whig-Standard. February 1, 1933. Page 9. ---- Convict Vito Delevicchio, an Italian prisoner of the Kingston Penitentiary, died in the infirmary of the institution last night.
The convict came here from Niagara Falls in January 1932, having been given a ten-year term.
An inquest was held at the institution at four o’clock in the afternoon.
Vito Delevicchio was sentenced from Niagara Falls on October 9, 1931, for the attempted murder of Vito Perri and Santo Menno. Both men were seriously wounded but recovered. Louis Gatto of Niagara Falls is serving a life term for participation in the shooting. Delevicchio is survived by a wife and three children.
"Claims Prisoner Cruelly Treated,” Kingston Whig-Standard. January 31, 1933. Page 11. ---- Evidence at Inquiry Into the Death of Man at Prison Farm --- BURWASH, Jan. 31. - Frank Smith, who died from broncho-pneumonia in the Prison Farm here last July, was treated cruelly and neglected, although fatally ill, according to prisoners who yesterday testified before officers conducting an investigation into circumstances surrounding Smith’s death.
Numerous prisoners, identified only by letters, said Smith was on the point of collapse, but had been sent to work and had been strapped when he refused to perform hard labor.
One prisoner, a youth, declared he himself had been given ten strokes of the strap but that they had not brought blood and he was able to be around afterward. However, he believed Smith was badly treated, he said.
Smith, twelve days before he died, was placed in a machine and given three strokes of the strap, previous evidence had shown.
Another prisoner testified that Sergeant M. Vincent had thrown a man out of the dormitory and “the man has never worked since but has been transferred to another institution." The man In question is now confined to the Ontario Hospital for the Insane at Mimico.
Further stories of ill-trcatment was told by another prisoner, a man who was injured during a crash while serving In the Royal Air Force. This man declared that he asked to be transferred from the “bull gang" to a lighter occupation but instead had been placed in the quarries where the work was much harder.
One guard had told Smith “he would like to take him down to the lake, tie a atone around his neck and drown him," another prisoner testified.
Prisoner “S" argued if Smith not ill, as stated, it seemed strange he should receive only three strokes of the strap prior to his death, instead, as is the usual custom, ten stroke of the strap.
The investigation into Smith's death continued yesterday before Inspector Norris and was prosecuted by Joseph Sedgwick of the Attorney-General's Department.
“Continue Inquiry Into Treatment of Prisoner,” Kingston Whig-Standard. January 30, 1933. Page 9. ---- BURWASH, Jan. 30— The statement Frank Smith was a “pitiful object” in the bullgang the day he was strapped was made to Investigating officers by a prisoner today when the Inquiry into Smith's death was continued at the Ontario Industrial Farm here.
The investigation resulted from charges Smith, who died from bronchopneumonia on July 12, was cruelly treated and neglected.
