Page 6 of Dec 21 1954 Issue of Winnipeg Free Press in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Winnipeg Free Press December 21, 1954 Page 6 old newspaper archives

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Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 21, 1954, Winnipeg, ManitobaPage 6 Winnipeg free press tuesday december., 21, 1954 More about jail from Page 1 May determine if fur the riots will take place this afternoon is visiting Day at the jail and gov. Weeks has decided to allow usual visits to prisoners from relatives and close friends with a few modifications to Lessen chances of trouble. I gov. Weeks whose said to be to Lessen tension among inmates also has tentatively decided to go ahead with plans for the jail s weekly movie show thursday night some of the guards suggested this was a risky procedure and were opposed to having to handle 365 Touchy men in one Large room. The thursday night show would offer the prisoners an excellent Chance to finish what they started saturday night if they chose to do so and unless precautions were taken by jail officers. Cleanup of the riot wrecked jail continued. While prisoners were released from clean up the mess guards searched the cages and found d. C. M. Kyle Cli airman of investigating committee the guaranteed approved hot water storage tank magnesium protected t 4 slim information phone Gre steel industries ltd., Winnipeg Iron fireman Oil burners 24-hour Oil Burner service Oil flow fuel Oil delivery service this year make your one responsibility phone 93-0341 Lyl Ruusi fuel ref Lead pipe weapons under Many of the mattresses. The six ramp officers who remained overnight in the jail in Case of further disturbances went Back to their Winnipeg Headquarters monday but feeling still ran High throughout the Day. One reason for not cancelling visiting privileges it is reported was because gov. Weeks believed it the younger prisoners saw. Their parents they might be persuaded to quieten Down. Meanwhile another sign that the situation is still tense came monday when the governor can celled All Days off for guards. Tuesday water was still off in some of the cages. Electricity was restored to All parts of the building except Cage 7. Where the first outbreak occurred Fri Day night. A Rumor swept through the i jail monday night that the i prisoners arc booked to go again later this but apparently no major outbreak occurred. Heading Ley officials Are wait ing permission to Transfer 21 inmates to Brandon jail the Imen to be moved Are All older prisoners and permission to make the switch was asked two weeks ago. A Story monday indicated that 50 prisoners had already been moved but this was later found to be incorrect. A further Check on monday s Story also revealed that the estimate of win Dows broken or damaged during the riot was much too no dormitories were seriously damaged As earlier stories had indicated. Television films shot outside heading Ley jail sunday by Csc cameraman Myron Hupchuk were destroyed by jail officials a Csc spokesman said. Hupchuk was escorted by guards to the jail office where officials demanded the film. At tempts to obtain the consent of the attorney general s depart ment to release the film were futile. It was ruined As soon As it came out of the camera. However before proceeding with such a statement it is desirable to Correct some of the erroneous statements that have appeared in newspaper and radio reports to Date. Most the re. Ports have been Correct in the main essentials but wrong in regard to details probably due to the fact it was obviously impossible to secure statements from responsible officials As they were busily engaged in restoring normalcy in the jail. No tear Gas the Laleme it guards hurled one or two tear Gas bombs at he prisoners but they were tossed right Bai at the guards is wholly incorrect. No tear Gas or tear Gas bombs were used. The statement that on Sun Day i met representatives the prisoners is wholly incorrect. I was not in the jail on sunday and i have not met any of the. Prisoners. The report that superintendent weeks governor a. G. Weeks had stated that Christ Mas festivities would be can celled and no visiting permitted is not Correct. He never made any such statement. The statement that More about statement continued from Page 1 guards Wilh rifles were patrolling the cell blocks is wholly and completely incorrect. No guards carried rifles at any time within the building and neither guards nor any police patrolled any part of the jail carrying rifles. No soijta1iy statement sunday night the pen solitary confinement cells were All filled by the ring with his fellow prisoners allowed All his usual privileges and Only restricted from moving within his cell Block. At noon on saturday one of the prisoners who1 is Well known to the jail officials As a trouble maker and psychopath created a disturbance at the Noonday meal refusing his food and making obscene remarks to the guards. As a result he was placed in cell Block 10 where All known agitators Are from time to time con fined. Windows of the jail of one Side. The St. James was called and quickly extinguished the fire. The prompt and efficient action of the St. James firemen was greatly appreciated by jail officials. As a precaution Ary measure the Deputy Supei Inte Lent at this time called the ramp for assistance and a Force of 30 constables was immediately sent to the jail As a precautionary measure., the ramp constables were stationed just in outside the main Gates but at no time was it necessary to Call upon them for assistance in quelling the riot and at no time did they proceed to the second or third floor where the riot was in Progress. Their pre sence at the jail undoubtedly was of very great value to jail officials from the standpoint of institutional morale. Wanton destruction or Public pro gation at once in order that the nothing further happened until the first sitting for supper at 4.45 that same Day saturday. At that time 150 prisoners proceeded to the dining room Lor supper. When supper was finished apparently without any objection As to i he food or ser vice at the time the prisoners at table one stood up to March but instead of doing this upset the table. This precipitated an uproar in the dining room. Some of the other tables were upset and some of prisoners started Yelling. Prisoners then ran out of the dining room and the Large majority of them went straight to their cell blocks and asked to. Be locked in. A relatively j Force but if the men did not in Small group the Active riot group mediately return to their cells he As it now appears ran up to the would be forced to use it. The Perty to this extent appears to be without justification and difficult to understand. It would appear that the prisoner Riviere who complained about his medical treatment May Nave in cited the other prisoners but it is equally Clear that he had the Benefit of specialist services and made no real trouble until he re fused to accept the diagnosis of the specialist and asked for a stronger and habit forming drug which he was very properly re fused. Segregation fit is also possible that the segregation of certain prisoners May have caused the outbreak but this is a minor punishment used in practically All jails and certainly on the facts As now before us justified in the in to them. Superintend Entine Hadj received no serious com is went up and two of the plaints of any kind from the in shortly Afler this the rioters j stances in question. Moreover who had barricaded the stairs the superintendent Stales that asked for someone to go up and Over a period of several weeks talk weeks prisoners accompanied him to his office and advised him that if he would agree to the terms they proposed they would Stop the riot. They demanded medical attention More news on the radio broadcasts Iree Issue of to Bacco and belter prepared food. Superintendent weeks slated he would not discuss terms with them he advised them that up that Point he had nor. Used second floor where their cell Block and where the Barber shop is instead of going into their cell Brock they entered the Barber shop and wrecked it. Started fire same group pulled the radiators from the floors and used the radiators and the bar Ber chairs to barricade the Stair Way leading from the first to leaders and another dozen the second floor. They then pro toners were handcuffed to their cell doors is incorrect. Who the ringleaders were is not yet fully known. One prisoner was hand cuffed to his cell door for one hour this for an offence not connected with he riot. As needed to the third floor and set fire to the screens and other material stored in a room immediately above the Barber shop. The smoke for dry the fire Bil Lowed out of the burning room into cell blocks seven and eight where. The prisoners were All to solitary confinement head locked in h Mgley has no con were taking no in Fin ement cells As explained later in this report. Little damage the statement that the Din ing room was wholly burned out is entirely incorrect. The dining room is on the second floor and suffered Little or no damage the statement that two the prisoners in these cell blocks claim they found the smoke suffocating and that they broke up the tables in their Ceil blocks to obtain Sticks wit i which they reached through the grills and broke the windows thus securing fresh air and Relief from the smoke. As the burning screens broke j. La in i leu i a it i guards were slightly injured sol nto they the men then went Back to their cells and the guards locked them up. Broke windows it now appears from the facts As stated by superintendent weeks that a considerable part of the damage to the building was caused by prisoners w h o were locked in their cell blocks throughout the riot who found their cells filling with smoke became excited and broke win Dows in to get needed air. The actual rioters who set lire to the storeroom material who barricaded the stairs and1 who were the Active participants never appear to have numbered More than 40 at the most. It is rather i significant that they dirt Little or no damage in their own blocks and the distress and Dis-1 Comfort caused by broken win Dows and the Lack of. Hent affected Many prisoners innocent of any rioting. The provincial architect or. Gilbert Parfitt has made a Thor Ough examination of the jail premises and estimates that the total damage will be approximately the wilful and mates. It would therefore appear that the complaints made by the prisoners after the riot Are made More by Way of justification and excuse than having any real basis n however the fact remains responsibility riot. May be properly assessed. There can be no legitimate excuse or Rea son for jail riots nor can they be condoned and for that reason it is necessary id properly assess the responsibility. At the same time while this is the main responsibility of the committee it will be asked to report on the management and operation of the jail what complaints the prisoners have and to make any recommendations in this re Gard they see fit. The committee will consist of or. Murray Kyle High sheriff the province or. ton civil service commissioner and judge Hamilton executive director of. The prisoner s Wel fare association. The committee will begin its investigation by a thorough inspection of the jail premises at once and will begin an Exum Nalion of. Jail personnel and prisoners immediately after Christmas. It is the intention of the government to make every Effort to get. All the relevant facts at the earliest possible Date and the committee has been instructed to that 15 Hurt in Tea plane Prestwick Scotland Reuters a trans Canada air lines plane coming into Prestwick Airport tuesday was caught in a Gale and suddenly dropped almost feet in a downdrafts. Members of the. Crew and 12 passengers bound for London were taken to Ayr Hospital with injuries. The Island of Malta British Bas Tion in the Mediterranean has an area of Only 54 Square Miles. Finkleman optometrists and opticians eyes examined Kensington woo. 275 Portnoi Avi. Cor. Smith a Portage 91-3496 93-3497 that a riot has taken place that Public properly damage to the value of has resulted. It appears to the government that it is necessary to have a com plete and searching investigation of All the facts and circumstances leading up to the riot. In order that this May be done a committee of investigation consisting of three members has been appointed i or the Pur pose of making such an store open every night until 9 for your Xmas shopping convenience your Home phone free demonstration incorrect. No guards or were injured and. Force was not Jug used in quelling Llie riot. In i in regard to the immediate i circumstances leading up to the outbreak it seems desirable to in mention these in some detail Asir in it is possible they have i t at Christmas time Send Flowers bearing on the actual outbreak. As far As has been ascertained times changes Edmonton of Edmonton s new City Hall on which construction starts in 1935 is Esti mated at the contract for the first City Hall in 190 was s9.2s5 including the police station. If you drive., drink Tea ixicu10ks and trustees for Over half a Century by naming us your your heirs will Benefit from our specialized knowledge of investments taxes and the Many matters related to estate administration i Royal Trust company ask for our Booklet what con do for 436 main. St., Winnipeg Tel. 90-6475 h. K. Berry if you must drink i drink fort Garry yellow Label Coffee always fresh Only per la. All this week mpg. Largest Independent stores 930 2285 notre Dame ave. Portage ave of open wed. Thursday Nite til 9 from prison of deals the i acts appear to be As follows come Laid one prisoner. Riviere Corn planned about his medical treat ment. It should be pointed out that at any time any prisoner in the jail can make a complaint to the superintendent. A regular procedure is provided whereby the complaining prisoner appears in office of the superintendent and states his Case. The prisoner in question complained the medical treat ment he was receiving from the jail physician was not satisfactory. Skin specialist superintendent weeks then arranged to have this prisoner brought downtown and examined by an outstanding specialist in diseases thus indicating the fact that in such rates specialist service of the highest Type is Marie available of prisoners. The specialist prescribed a Salve and Zenob Prital to enable the prisoner to sleep. On Friday dec. 17, the prisoner was Given the Salve and at night was provided with the phenobarbital the sedative ordered by the specialist. Riviere refused to accept the phenobarbital stating that the specialist had. Ordered car bridal a drug considered habit forming. Superintendent weeks contacted the specialist who emphatically stated he had not ordered car bridal. Abused guat a about nine o clock that eve Ning the prisoner having re fused the phenobarbital became extremely abusive of the gun d on duty. The guard told him that if he did not behave a Kimseu he would be segregated and moved to another cell Block. At this Lime the prisoner pulled a knife he lipid secreted and threatened the guard. The guard spoke to him and on die prisoner undertaking to hand Over the knife arid behave him self he was left in his cell. The prisoner turned Over the knife to the guard but the other prisoners in his cell Block started to shout and one who was particularly abusive was moved into another cell. The fact this was done caused an outbreak of shouting in some of the other cell blocks but there was no violence and order was restored by superintendent weeks. Instances of this Type take place in ail jails from time to time and Are not regarded As serious in themselves As the punishments meted out Are relatively minor. nothing More than segregation. This then was the situation. Friday night. On saturday morning superintendent weeks was advised that the prisoner Riviere had stated he was going to cause trouble. When advised of this the superintendent had him taken from the shop where he was working and placed in segregation in cell Block Nin e. Another agitator of the previous night was placed in eel Block nine. Locked in cell it should be pointed out that segregation does not mean solitary confinement the term segregation Means the prisoner is locked in his cell in a cell Block i in which there Are eight cells. The Only restriction As compared with prisoners in other cell blocks is that the other prisoners Are allowed Freedom move ment within the limits of the cell Block. The segregated Pri Soner is Able to communicate i Christmas mums Best gift for personal or business friends. From roses a Favourite Christmas Flower. All colours fresh Cut. From Ner Dot. Per Doz. Jujj i Christmas plants 4 tastefully decorated i azaleas Ner Doz. Per Doz. From cyclamen Colour scour i poinsettias Zarfl. 00 give her a Box of assorted Flowers Beautiful colours per Box Portage florists Portage at Carlton phone 92-4228 92-4229 we Send Christmas Flowers by Telegraph anywhere anytime til 9 . Aluminized ii 1 year warranty on pit i of Maui Goldwi threat system. Of 3 finishes Only or in Walnut 1955 aluminized wide screen Ria veg tort censer s 291 Portage ave. 594 main St. 879 main St. Affleck shoes i Dayton s men s shop open till 9 . Every night gift reduction Sale ties socks sport shirts am Reg. To. 6.95 to dress shirts to Al so hosiery special 15 denier Goth am sheer Hose. Reg. To 1.50 men s shearling suppers Reg. 5.95 ladies Satin slippers Reg. 6.95 leather soles. Ladies oomph ies shearling mule children s Felt and shearling Reg. 2.95 boys ski boots some men s Reg. 7.95 3.95 2 3 1 2 Reg. To. 8.50 dressing gowns All Wool English flannel Reg. 11.95, a Complete assortment of Packard slippers for men and women easy credit sweaters Pullover sleeveless and Crew neck. Scarf and Glove sets 319 and 321 Portage ave. Men shop

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