Dumfries (10 page)

  “My understanding is that George Crawford was offered a post in another establishment, Gus,” The Brief interjected.

  “As an Assistant Governor?  That’s a demotion in anywan’s book.”

  “He wid’ve retained his full governor’s salary while serving as an AG, Gus.  As Ah understood it, as soon as a permanent governor’s post came up, he wid’ve been offered it withoot hivving tae resort tae interview.  Is that no right, Thomas?” Jack asked.

  “Why should wan ae oor members hiv tae up sticks and shift? And tae a demoted post at that?  If we went alang wae that, it wid’ve undermined oor membership’s confidence in the management ae The Governors’ Association.”

  “But The Association never came up with a solution, Gus.  What were we to do?  Despite the respect The Department has for your members, we won’t be dictated to.  That goes all the way up to The Secretary of State.  I have that on good authority,” The Brief warned him.

  “We respectfully asked that these Neds be incarcerated somewhere else…anywhere other than Dumfries…if they wur convicted.  That his come tae pass and oor request his been unjustly ignored.”

  “It wasn’t ignored, Gus.  There just wasn’t anywhere else to put them.  There are only two YOIs in Scotland that can house long-term young offenders.  Those are Saughton and Dumfries.  Saughton is a training institution for those on shorter prison terms or first offender long-term inmates, serving life or HMP.  It would be unthinkable to put the YOs you’ve referred to, to an institution like Saughton.  After due consideration, the conclusion was that the three currently in Dumfries would in all likelihood try and emulate their adult wrecker counterparts who are dismantling the adult prisons elsewhere.  Dumfries YOI is a stand-alone institution and is well experienced in catering for this category of young offender.  The Secretary of State himself took a keen interest in how we resolved the situation.  He wanted them as far away from Glasgow and the mainstream prison population as was possible.  I’m afraid Dumfries ticks all those boxes,” The Brief replied sympathetically, bit firmly.

  “Look, Gus, if George Crawford wants tae remain in Dumfries, we’re willing tae go alang wae that, despite the obvious conflict ae interest.  Whit we cannae dae is allow him tae get personal aboot aw this,” Jack said.

  “The cages?”

  “Whit aboot them?”

  “Why no bung the basturts up tae them?  There’s no way they’d be able tae be disruptive being locked up in a cell within a cell,” The Governor suggested.

  “The cages were constructed for those wrecking the prisons and assaulting prison staff, Gus.  None of these YOs have done any of that, and anyway, the cages are meant for cons over the age of twenty one.  The international press have picked up on the treatment of those already housed there.  Putting teenagers in would be disastrous for our reputation abroad.”

  “Even if the teenagers ur murdering scum?”

  “The YOs referred to have not been convicted of murder.  The intelligence reports you referred to earlier indicate possible involvement in the murder of this notorious gangster and the wounding of Governor Crawford’s wife.  As I understand it, the link is a tenuous one at best and originated from a local police inspector who has a history of clashes with the YOs in question, going back a number of years.  The records, other than the ones you’ve been privy to, list claims and counterclaims of harassment and intimidation between the local constabulary and these YOs, going back to when they were young juveniles.  Whether these teenagers were involved in the murder or not is still an open book.  Despite intensive investigation, the Glasgow constabulary couldn’t produce conclusive evidence linking them to the murder of this gangster nor the injuries sustained by Governor Crawford’s wife.”

  “So, where ur we then, Jack?” The Governor asked, clearly unhappy wae whit wis being said.

  “As Ah’ve jist said, Gus, The Department wants tae be flexible and helpful.  Efter aw, we’re aw sailing in the same boat.  George Crawford kin stay in charge ae Dumfries, as long as he kin keep his hauns aff ae the YOs.  If they start messing aboot, then they should be dealt wae in the normal disciplinary manner.  In the meantime, we’ve spoken tae Henry Baker, the current chief officer across in the Bar-L, and he’s agreed tae be shifted doon tae Dumfries tae be George’s right-haun man,” Jack said, shutting his eyes, waiting fur the explosion tae erupt.

  The Governor let whit Jack Broon hid said sink in.  He looked across at the suits.  Jack’s eyes hid re-opened and The Governor could see the pleading in them tae accept whit he’d jist been offered.  It made sense when he thought aboot it.  Henry Baker, or Baker the Basturt, as prisoners up and doon the country called him, wis tough as shit and took nae nonsense fae anywan, including governors.  He wis a good man tae hiv aroond, when trouble wis brewing.  There wis only wan problem.

  “Bit, Ah thought he wis jist aboot tae retire?  His farewell bash took place last Friday night.”

  “He wis, and it did, bit he’s changed his mind.  We’ve offered him a nice wee package oan tap ae his pension that he couldnae afford tae knock back.  Noo, it’ll only be fur three years, bit during that period, the three YOs in question will hiv either served oot their sentence or will hiv reached the age ae twenty wan and will hiv been transferred oot ae Dumfries and up intae the adult jails.  Henry his awready worked wae George when he wis the AG oot in Polmont.  Fae whit Ah kin gather, they goat oan like a hoose oan fire.  It’s a win-win situation fur everywan, so it is,” Jack said persuasively.

  “And the three pals ae the wans that ur noo doon in Dumfries that Ah’ve goat here?  Why ur they holed up here and no across in the young offenders hall in the Bar-L?  Why his this Baxter wan, serving nine years, also been dumped oan tae me.  Whit’s the story wae him, eh?  Here’s another example ae the rules being twisted and bent.  He’s the wan that escaped fae the Bar-L earlier this year.  He’s another wan that shouldnae be here.  Whit’s that aw aboot, eh?  Jack Finnegan, The POA rep, his awready been in demanding tae know whit we’re up tae.  He says his members ur entitled tae enhancements if we hiv convicted YOs serving time here other than HMPs,” The Governor scowled, catching his breath.

  “Yes, well, that’s another matter I would like to discuss with you, Gus.  That’s the real reason I’m here,” The Brief admitted, taking his time in picking crumbs aff ae his club tie and feeding them intae his gub.

  “Oh?”

  “Yes.  We, The Department that is, have been asked to establish a link…a close relationship, between this inmate, James Baxter, and two of your recently arrived prisoners…a John Taylor and a…a…oh yes, a Samuel Smith,” The Brief said, efter shuffling his papers and looking up fae his notes.  “As you’ll no doubt be aware, James Baxter, aged eighteen, was sentenced to nine years in January of this year, for his part in a bank robbery, where a shotgun was discharged at two police officers in a branch of The Clydeside Bank on Maryhill Road, Glasgow…and attempting to murder them.  Two weeks after being found guilty and incarcerated in Barlinnie’s E Hall, the young offender’s section, Baxter escaped from the scrap workshop after being buried in a big bag of scrap metal by other YOs who lifted the bag, with him in it, up on to the back of a lorry that was allowed in to the establishment to haul the scrap away.  Baxter was subsequently recaptured and as you know, was temporary transferred up to Longriggend from Dumfries YOI last Monday to attend Airdrie Sheriff Court on Friday past, where an additional six months was added to run consecutively to his current sentence.  When he was re-apprehended and arrested in Airdrie town centre, Baxter resisted arrest and was charged with assaulting a police officer.  Baxter has always denied that he was one of the five culprits that robbed the bank in Glasgow, the same bank that your two new admissions, Taylor and Smith, were recently convicted of, despite admitting he was in the bank at the time of the robbery.  Baxter claims that he was a customer and that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and that as there was an outstanding warrant out for his arrest for aggravated burglary at the time of the robbery, he panicked and fled from the bank before the police arrived on the scene.  His lawyer, Silas Abraham, a well-known and capable Glasgow criminal solicitor, is mounting an aggressive appeal against his client’s conviction.  The Crown is equally determined to refute that claim of innocence and is not prepared to lose the appeal. Alan Small, Queen’s Counsel, and Head of the Crown’s Criminal Division in Edinburgh, will be leading The Crown’s challenge on Baxter’s appeal.  He has requested our assistance.”

  “So, why no wait until the three ae them ur aw thegither doon in Dumfries, Thomas?”

  “The concern is that Baxter’s defence team will claim that their client cannot be expected not to have daily or regular contact with Taylor and Smith once they are all incarcerated in Dumfries. The defence’s argument will be that Baxter, Taylor and Smith only knew each other through their association by being mixed together in Dumfries.  Now, we know Baxter is as guilty as the other two, therefore, we need to tie him to them, hence the reason behind putting Taylor and Smith to Longriggend to await assessment.  Given the known restricted movements of inmates within Longriggend, if we can associate Baxter with Taylor and Smith, then we would have ample evidence to demolish Baxter’s assertion that his ties with Taylor and Smith are circumstantial.  It’s crucial for any future appeal that The Crown can evidence a close association between the three of them.  With Taylor and Smith being here alongside Baxter, this seemed like the best opportunity to get what we, er, require,” The Brief explained, shrugging they shoulders ae his.

  “So, that’s the reason they’re here?  I did wonder,” The Governor murmured.

  “Yes, so any assistance would be greatly appreciated.”

  “Well, Ah think Ah’ve maybe wasted yer journey, Thomas.  Baxter wis caught red-haunded, receiving contraband fae an untried prisoner yesterday while attending church.  He knows fine well that that’s against the rules, so he’s banned fae leaving his cell.  His mattress, Gideon’s’ bible and anything else in his possession will be sitting oot in the corridor until he kin be shifted back doon tae Dumfries tae continue wae his sentence.”

  “I see.”

  “Aye, and Ah’m no in a position tae change ma mind oan that either.  It wis only jist this morning that Ah sentenced him.  And anyway, baith Taylor and him ur locked up twenty four hours a day in here.  They widnae normally hiv any contact anyway, apart fae maybe gaun tae church oan a Sunday.  Ah’ve goat Baxter booked oan the wagon heiding back doon tae Dumfries this Friday, so Ah hiv.”

  “Oh,” The Brief said, clearly disappointed.

  “There must be something ye kin dae, Gus, surely?” Jack asked him.

  “Taylor and his sidekick, Smith, will be getting their destination assessment oan Wednesday, even though it’s a foregone conclusion.  The social work office gets used fur the assessment interviews.  Ah’ll see if wee Moira, oor resident social worker, will arrange tae see Baxter oan the pretence that she’s worried aboot his illicit contraband behaviour.  Nae doubt, it’ll cost me, bit Ah’m sure she’ll dae me the favour.  Ah cannae promise anything will come oot ae it though, bit Ah’ll hiv a couple ae ma officers hinging aboot nearby.  Ah’ll get them tae relax the security a wee bit tae allow contact between the pair ae them.  Ah’ll make sure that they’re able tae lug in at a discreet distance, tae hear whit Taylor and Baxter talk aboot.  Fae whit Ah kin gather, we’ll be wasting oor time wae the other wan, Smith, as he comes across as a bit ae a mute. If anything comes up, Ah’ll gie ye a shout, Thomas.”

  “Perfect.  If we can determine a connection between that pair, some sort of friendship, then I’m sure The Department would want to show it’s appreciation,” The Brief replied, staunin up as the springs oan the seat loudly groaned and twanged oot their appreciation.

  “Well, thanks fur the tea, date buns and the understaunin regarding the George Crawford situation, Gus.  Ah’m sure everything will work oot in the end,” Jack said, shaking The Governor’s haun. “Obviously, we’ll need tae set up a meeting wae aw concerned.”

  “Yes, that goes for me too, Gus,” The Brief agreed, proffering his haun, noticing the file oan the governor’s desk wis turned roond the wrang way fur The Governor tae hiv been reading it when they’d first arrived.

  “
Good evening.  My name is John Turney and these are the news headlines in Scotland tonight.

Britain’s deep-sea trawler men started withdrawing from Icelandic waters today, in a shock move, after the government refused to send in navy frigates to protect them…

  Twenty two children are believed to have been poisoned by sodium hypochlorite, a disinfectant used for washing milk bottles, after drinking contaminated milk at their primary school in Yoker this morning…

One of Glasgow’s most controversial and colourful councillors, JP Donnelly, has been cleared by a special enquiry into fraud allegations after he sensationally came second in the local Keppochhill by-election in January 1972, behind now deceased Glasgow housewife and activist, Helen Taylor.  It was alleged that Mr Donnelly had offered documents bearing forged signatures and presented them to a JP and the Town Clerk’s Department during the bitter local by-election early last year.  Mr Donnelly claimed that the allegation was orchestrated by powerful allies of Mrs Taylor to bar him from re-standing in the second by-election held in the ward in as many months…

An elderly couple found dead in their top-storey tenement flat by their thirty-three-year-old daughter in Shettleston Road on Monday morning, died of carbon monoxide poisoning, a police spokesman said today.  Seventy-eight-year-old Brian Tulloch and his seventy-seven-year-old wife, Margaret…

  A campaign to raise awareness of litter dropping has been launched in the city. Trevor Knight, Chairman of the Education Committee has called for school children to be made more aware of the blight they are causing by throwing away their sweet wrappers instead of placing them in litter baskets recently distributed across the city…

  Two refrigerated trailers have been reported stolen from an overnight parking compound in Tollcross, after the drivers of two articulated cabs turned up to collect them this morning.  McCullum’s Refrigerated Transport manager, John McCullum, said that the trailers were full of prime Aberdeen Angus meat, bound for the lucrative European market…

  Police have released the name of the women who stepped off the platform in front of a subway train at Ibrox Underground yesterday as twenty-eight-year-old Gladys Sutherland.  Her devastated husband has released a statement saying he had no idea why his loving wife would want to commit suicide. It is understood that Mr Sutherland had previously been jailed for assaulting his wife three years ago…

A seventeen-year-old was admitted to The Royal Infirmary after being found wandering along George Street in a distressed state late last night.  It is believed that the pretty teenager had been assaulted and raped…”