on, and that stones were thrown at
the military. Had they examined the _prisoners_ sufficiently, they
would have been convinced that no resistance was made to the
turnkeys in shutting the doors. As to throwing stones at the
military, while they were chasing them from corner to corner, and
firing at them in every place where they had taken shelter from
the balls, could it be expected but they would seize on something
for self defence, when they saw the soldiers running at them with
their bayonets, and having no possible means of escape, as it has
been before stated, all the doors in the prisons had been
previously closed except one, and that one perhaps, the length of
the prison from him. Is there a man, in such a situation, but
would seize on the first weapon that offered itself, and sell his
life as dear as possible. How can they, then, make that the
slightest justification for such outrageous conduct on the part of
Shortland or the military?

As to most of the officers being absent is erroneous; it could
have been proved that there was an officer in every yard, and in
one instance where he was heard to give the order to fire on a
party of prisoners close by the door, and running and making every
exertion to enter the prison.

As to Captain Shortland being busy in the square with the
turnkeys, receiving and taking care of the wounded, certainly
shows the commissioners' want of correct information, for it is
already before the public, in affidavit, the cruel manner in which
the wounded were treated by him, and of his abuse to the prisoners
who were bearing the wounded to the hospital gate. That part of
the report which relates that the time and commencement of this
transaction was the officers' dinner hour, is too ridiculous for a
comment. We do not believe that there was a prisoner in the depot
that knew when or where the officers dined, and therefore, can be
no ground for an argument, that the prisoners were taking this
opportunity to escape.

The report goes on to state, "the cross fire, which was kept up
from several of the platforms on the walls round the prison, and
directed against straggling parties of prisoners, running about
the yard, endeavoring to enter the prison by the door which the
turnkey left open, according to their usual practice, _does seem_
to h