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very simple, and are
practically
admitted by all the persons concerned.
There is some
little contradiction
as to one or two expressions used on either side, the truth probably being that more words were bandied about than either party is willing to admit, but all the essential particulars.
are undisputed, and they are these:- Turnkey Ryan would
appear to have been neglecting the wholesome rule of the Gaol which calls upon him not to enter into conversation with prisoners. Brown is a troublesome man, with an apparently unlimited faculty
of saying annoying things
which nobody can take hold of. Ryan answered his remarks, got considerably the worst of it,
and assaulted Brown. When we first saw him the upper part of
his face was covered with sticking plaster, applied by the
surgeon to cuts caused by
the assault. The case is made
worse by the fact that it seems to have been premeditated, if not planned with another Turnkey, that Brown was sitting down
when first struck, with his hands engaged, (it is doubtful
if...