CRIME AND CRIMINALS; OR, . t .* REMINISCENCES OF THE PENAL DEPARTMENT IN VICTORIA. HENRY A. WHITE, SECOND OFFICER OF THE BALLARAT GAOL. $allanit : Berry? Anderson & Co., Printers, 20, 22, and 24 Ly diaid Street South M'DCCCXC. all lights reserved. BEERY, ANDERSON & CO., PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS, BALLARAT 430200 To Colonel William Thomas Napier Champ (Late Inspector-General of Penal Establishments in Victoria) Whose Impartial Administration of THE Penal Department Stands Unrivalled, These Reminiscences of a Warder’s Life Are Most Respectfully and Gratefully Dedicated by the Author. PREFACE. The author of this work has not resolved to launch his little craft on the great sea of literature without feeling that the winds and waves might handle her very roughly, but he trusts to the generosity of the public. His only qualifications for so difficult and important a task as that of recording 30 years of the history of penal establish­ ments are intimate knowledge as a subordinate officer of its details, and an honest desire to state impartially what he believes to be of interest to the public, and of undoubted fact. The accumulation of the materials of this work, involving much research into documents of the past, has occupied his leisure hours for many years, and as life is short and the present seems to be a time when there is no burning question before the public respecting the treatment of criminals, he deems it best to delay no longer its publication. He trusts that those who differ from his opinions as here expressed will yet overlook any imperfections in his style of narration, and that all his readers may have as much pleasure in reading these pages as he has had in compiling them. He tenders his most hearty thanks to the many ex-officers and other friends who have assisted him with nmch valuable information, to the members of the Press, and especi­ ally to those connected witli the Melbourne Argus. table of contents. -------------------------+-------------- - CHAPTER I. Introduction.—Influx of Criminals in 1851.—Foundation of Pentridge.— Mr. Barrow, First Superintendent.—Escape of Prisoners.—Black Trackers. —Two Careers of Crime. ... ... ... ... 1—16 CHAPTER II. Opening of Hulks.—Insecurity of Pentridge and Colling wood Stockades.— Increase of Crime.—Warder Adams Dismissed from the Service.—A Kush from the Quarries.—One Prisoner Shot Dead.—Marching Prisoners from Pentridge to Melbourne.—Description of Collingwood Stockade.—A Rush from it.—Two Warders Suspended —Insubordination on Board the Hulk “President.”—Sergeant Graham’s Nose Attacked by Melville.—Connor and Brady. ... ... ... ... ... ... 19—30 CHAPTER III. Death of Mr. Barrow.—Dangers of Employing Convict Labor on Roads.— First Workshops at Pentridge.—An Ex-convict made Superintendent of Convicts.—Thompson’s Attempt to Escape.—Assault on Mednyansyky.— Clever Escape of Edward Rider.—Father O’Hea Swims for His Life.— Captain Harrison. Prisoners’ Devices to obtain Tobacco. Mr. Price’s Peculiarities.—Description of the “ Crystal Palace.”—Ballarat Rioters.— Convicts’ Conversation.—Attempt at Night to Escape from “ Crystal Palace.”—McGuire.—Tools Missing.—The Kingstone and the Wheel.— Mr. Price’s Cow.—Sergeant Mathie and Mr. Kilmartin.—An Adroit Special.—Records of Ten Prisoners.—Humanity Mongers.—Causes of Crime in old Countries absent from this.... ... ... 33^—70 CHAPTER IV. Gisborne’s Rush.—The Citizens’ Committee.—Attempts of Convicts, headed by Melville, to Escape from Hulks.—Murder of Owen Owens and Death of Turner and Stevens.—Trial of Melville, Sentence of Death.—Public Meeting of Sympathisers.—Resolution Forwarded by Citizens’ Committee to the Executive.—Appointment of Select Committee of Legislative Council. Evidence given before it by Mr. Price, Dr. McCrea, Mr. Ronald Smith, Dr. Youl, Dr. Singleton, Mr. C. Tighe, Mr. McPherson, Dr. Webster. —Result of Evidence Favourable to Mr. Price.—Good Intentioned People. TABLE OF CONTENTS. —General -Insubordination Resulting from Outside Sympathy.—Murder of Mr. Price. Trial of the Murderers. Opinions of the Press. 73—104 CHAPTER Y. Public Opinion Modified by Recent Tragedies .—General Disorganisation.— My First Impressions of Pentridge—Night Alarm.—Warders’ Sleeping Accommodation.—Mr. Champ Introduces Milder Penalties forwarders’ Offences.—Death Bed of Sergeant Ellison.—I am Transferred to Colling- wood.—Firmness of Chief Warder Turnham.—Captain Payne Resigns.— Life on the Hulks.—Experience of Hulk u Success.”—Attempt to Commit Suicide.—Description of Hulk “ President.”—Early Career of Colonel Champ.—Appointed Inspector-General.—Improvements Effected on all Sides by Him.—His Retirement from Office. ... ... 107—133 CHAPTER YI. Improvement of Discipline in 1858.—Colonel Champ’s Second Annual Report.—Description of C Division.—The Enforcing of Silence.— A Night of Horrors.—The Colonel Shows that he can Rule.—More Crystal Palace Yarns.—Bernardo’s Lungs.—Unsuccessful Stratagem.—Great Rush of Prisoners. ... ... ... ... ... 137—160 CHAPTER VII. Mr. Claude Farie Appointed Inspector-General.—His Early Death much Regretted.—Mr. Duncan Succeeds Him.—Want of Fitness for the Re­ sponsible Position.—Dissatisfaction of Warders.—Warm Meetings.—I am Reprimanded, and Forfeit a Month’s Pay.—Mr. Duncan’s Retirement.— Trafficking—Mr. Buck and Mr. Gardner.—Mr. Castieau is Appointed Inspector-General.—Mr. Gardner Retires on Pension.—Subsequent Dis­ organisation on all Sides.—Tobacco.—Correspondence and Other Luxuries. —Chaos in C Division.—Dr. Singleton wants to Shake Hands.—The Smoking Yard.—Daring Attempts at Escape.—Boys in A Division—The Argus Turns on the Bull’s Eye.—Warders’ Statement to Chief Secretary. —Mr. Castieau Receives Six Months’ Leave of Absence.—His Retirement. —Mr. Brett Succeeds Him.—The Separate System.—Conclusion. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 163—184 APPENDIX. Malingering.—Assaults by Prisoners.—How “ The Vagabond” became Dispenser to Pentridge Ga-ol.—Sketches of Remarkable Criminals.—Poems by Prisoners.—Employment of Pi^soners.—How He got the Tobacco.— The Australian Larrikin.—Swagmen.—Reformation of Criminals. .................................................................................................. 187—248 CHAPTER I. 1851. CRIME AND CRIMINALS; OR, REMINISCENCES in the penal department OF VICTORIA. ----------»---------- CHAPTER I. ' Introduction.—Influx of Criminals in 1851.—Foundation of Pentridge.— Mr. Barrow, first Superintendent.—Escape of Prisoners.—Black Trackers. —Two Careers of Crime. The questions which interest all classes of men in the present day are, without doubt, social questions; those which affect the moral welfare and social comfort of our fellow-men as citizens. How to help the poor out of their poverty; to break up monopolies of all kinds; to give every man a fair chance in the race of life; to shorten the hours of labor, without injury to commerce; to educate all, that they may rationally enjoy those additional hours of leisure; the greatest good to the greatest number. These are the questions of the day, and both science and religion are valued in proportion as they contribute to a solution of these problems. Unfortunately, it is not only these bright and hopeful subjects which enter into our social questions. All our fellow-men are not temperate, industrious, and amicable; so largely, in fact, does the dark side of life enter into our social' questions that the very word social at once reminds us of what is called the “social evil.” Civilisation, alas, brings with it in­ creased vice as well as increased powers of good, intellectually and morally. So the treatment of criminals becomes a necessary subject of thought to all who wish well to the community; as we are 4 CRIME AND CRIMINALS. told that “the poor shall be always with us” by the Highest Authority, so it is a fact that our criminals, from generation to generation, still tax our revenues, lessen our social strength, and supply the philanthropist with food for sympathy, the economist with food for deepest reflection. What is the best mode of treating criminals ? Which system tends most to the re­ formation of the hopeful ones ? Is it not possible to make this class of men in some degree self-supporting ? These and many other questions will be answered in different ways by men of different temperament and degrees of experience. To some the thought of ‘any man being irreclaimable by kindness may seem an insult to our humanity, if not to the Great Creator of it; all these questions will, to such, seem easily answered, and their own panaceas irresistible ; to others with longer experience and, perhaps, less natural sympathy, all efforts for a system of reformation may seem Utopian, and they can muster a host of hard facts to prove that it never has been done and therefore cannot be done. Without attempting to solve these and other problems connected with penal establishments, the writer of this experience of 33 years in the penal establishments of Victoria desires to give as impartial a sketch of his own recollections as possible, leaving the facts for others to make use of and form their own conclusions from. Among the various places in the colony set apart for the deten­ tion of criminals, Pentridge Stockade is one of the most famous. It was founded in the year 1851, and proclaimed a house of correction on April 24th, 1852. Those were stirring times in this colony; the discovery of the goldfields caused the worst class of convicts to immigrate from Van Dieman’s Land and Norfolk Island to these shores. The result was that bushranging, horse stealing, murders, and in fact the whole catalogue of the most heinous crimes quickly prevailed throughout the whole of the colony. But this was nothing but wrhat might have been expected from the class of criminals that then formed so large a proportion of the population. While holding them in restraint, inspired as they were by dreams of easily gotten wealth, the Government of the day could afford but CRIME AND CRIMINALS. 5 very limited protection to life and property, and the commission of the most serious offences in the community, from this time until 1856, will ever form the darkest chapter in the history of the colony.