The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1863-11-10 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

DARTMOOR.—Arreurrtti OUTIIRRAY or CONvic-re.—For some weeks past the convicts at Dartmoor prison have been manifesting symptoms of renewing their attempts of outbreak and insubordination. On Saturday evening, after the warders had served each convict with his 'upper, and clean linen for the ensuing day,— being thus supplied with all their wants, they commenoed to about and hoot at their windows, and use threats of defiance towards the highest officials. All the prisoners located in A and B Hall, No. 2 Prison, joined in one continued about of defiance, and doggedly refused to close their cell doors. Captain Best (the deputy governor), on being acquainted with the disturbance, promptly appeared on the scene, accompanied by • strong body of warders, and • detachment of the Armed Civil Guard, Captain Best ordered the warders to close all the cell doors, on which the convicts commencing whistling, and knocking against the doors and partitions of their cella. Quietness and good order were, however, ultimately restored. But on Sunday afternoon, after having a most impressive le-zturo from the prison chaplain, all the convicts located in A Hall, No. 2 Priam, refused to enter their cells and openly bade defiance to the warders, demanding their regular exercise, and that their cell. doors should be left open, otherwise they would not return to their cells. The governor had given orders that all the prisoners located in No. 2 Prison should be deprived of their Sunday's exercise, and not be allowed to assemble together on parade, also that their cell-doors should be kept closed as a punish. meat for their outrageous conduct on the previous evening. The warders, with staves in their hands, coura4einisly advanced on the infuriated convicts, and drove them towards their cells. The some of tumult that ensued baffles description. Shouting, yelling, imprecations, and threats of vengeance were uttered by the convicts if their demands were not complied with. A detachment of the civil guard, with fixed bayonets and loadedarms, was then drawn up in frontof A Hall, No. 2 Prison,and all the available officers that could be procured were despatched to aid the warders in charge of No. 2 Prison; the warders whose turn it was to be off duty for that day were also called into the prison at 11.30 am, to act as • reserve. The convicts, seeing such a formidable and determined force, after giving full vent to their lungs, succumbed to the warders, and returned to their cells. Nine of the instigators, or rather ringleaders, were secured and removed to the refractory cells, to await the decision of Captain Gambier, the visiting director, who is expected to arrive at the prison in • day or two. One of the ringleaders, named Griffiths, has been sent back, on two different occasions, to the penal claw at Pentonville Prison for murderous assaults on the wardens at Dartmoor; so that, after completing his penance at Pentonville, he has been let loose at Dartmoor to carry out his murderous designs, and was allowed full scope to incite his companions in villany to acts of mutiny and insubordination. Only last month five of the oonvicts at Dartmoor underwent the punishment of the lash for violently assaulting the warders.