Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-11-18
IRISH PRISON LIFE
Illustrated blythe Treat
ment ofP.W. NaIIy.
TORTURED BY OFFICIALS
On Account of His Refusal to Testify
in Favor of the London Times.

DUBLIS, Nov. is-The facts brought out
in the ease Of p. W. Nally, the alleged
conspirator, who died in Mountjoy prison
a few days ago, have aroused decided
sensation. II is said that Nally had been
fairly weN treated, such as convict treat
ment is in England and Ireland until the
time Of the Parneii commission. His re-
fusal 10 testify before that body in sup
port Of the charges made by the Londen
Times sealed his fate. From that mo-
ment he was a marked man. He was first
subjected to ill-usage in Downpatrick
JAIL but IL did not break his spirits.
While he and others were being removed
from Downpatrick TO London, he cried
ont, with some Of his companions: God
save Ireland, confound her enemies" The
guards at once
Seized Upon NalIy as . Victim
and, although others were as guilty as he
Of the crime of shouting for Ireland, they
punished him only. He was subjected to
loss OF eighty -four marks, which was
equivalent TO an increase OF ten days and
half in his sentence. From that time
out he was looked upon as incorrigible, and
there seemed TO be deliberate purpose to
get rid Of him. He was punished on the
slightest pretext, and frequently confined
in his cell for long periods, sometimes for
twenty-five out Of twenty-four hours.
Every petty tyranny handed down through
generations Of English prison keeping was
exercised upon him until he became en-
tirely broken down In health. Even then
maltreatmcnt did not cease, and the
authorities often ignored his complaints,
when he was hardly able to move, COM
pelling him to go through the same
routine rs healthy man. When they did
give him medicine they forced itdown him
like a dog, sneering at his claims to be
considered ILL Entries on the books Of
the prison show that
NalIy Was Treated IO3 Times
for weakness, cold influenza, sore throat,
pain in his side, cough, rheumatism, lum-
bago, dyspepsia and other troubles. The
real trouble was much more deep seated.
The once powerful man was gradually and
surely wasting away, under the strain Of
perpetual insult and abuse.
When sentenced he was considered ono
Of the strongest men in Ireland. He was
an athlete famous from Cork to Belfast,
and his strong wcll-knit frame. when no
presented himself in some championship
contest was often the subject of admira-
tion. His corpse is that of physical
wreck of man reduced TO n skeleton
frame, that showed in its bony massive
ness what the once proud athlete had
been. Nally's relatives could scarcely
recognize the face az that Of the man
whom they had known in his prime.
Inhumsn Doctors.
The prison doctors reluctantly admitted
that Nally never complained of illness
without good cause and that many of his
attacks Of sickness had gone unrecorded.
He was i'll for eleven days before the prison
physicians took sufficient pains TO diagnose
that he had typhoid fever. For four days
he was in his cell, unable to eat and vomit-
ing before he was removed 10 the infirm.
ary During these four days whatever
chance Of life he have had was lost AL
though IL was known as early as Oct.
10 that Nally Ind typhoid fever yet he con-
tinued to be dosed with purgatives until
November.
This conduct on tho part of intelligent
physicians is hard 10 explain on any the
ory consistent with desire that Nally
should live As for the keepers, il is said
that one or more Of them frequently ex.
pressed fervent wish for Nally TO die.
They did not wish his prison story TO 20 to
the world from his own lips at least.
No Pity for the sufferer.
As Nally's sickness progressed toward
the final scene no steps were taken to in
form his relatives Of the approaching end.
His brother, DR.. Nally, learned OF it acci.
dentally, and FASTENED to apply for adj
mission. This was grudgingly granted. As
night approached the brother stood by the
dying man, holding the chill hands in his
grasp. Suddenly keeper approached and
roughly said-"You must go-ne visitors
II
The brother begged for leave to remain,
but the keeper insisted, and at length
rudely pushed DIR. Nally toward the door.
The dying man on the bed made faint
motion as il he remembered his old ath.
letic days, and would fain have gone to the
rescue of his brother. Then he sat back
exhausted on the pillow and DR..
Nally was elected. A quarter Of an hour
later the prisoner was freed by death.