WW1 Internee - Stephen Koocsi Prager

He is chosen as the reported court case illustrates some of the problems of forced close proximity. It would indicate that the then Commandant was unsure of how to handle such disturbances as Col Madoc, at Douglas camp, would I suspect have used his powers under Military law to try the case and award any punishment.

The report is from the Peel City Guardian of 12th December 1914 thus the court would appear to have taken place on Saturday 5th December:

Hungarian assaults a German

At a special Magistrates' Court at Peel on Saturday before High-Bailiff Cruickshank and Mr J. G. Corrin, J.P., Stephen Koocsi Prager, a native of Hungary, and an alien prisoner at Knockaloe Concentration Camp, was charged with unlawfully assaulting Charles Edward Blitz.

Mr Charles Napier, the interpreter, at the camp was present to give assistance

The prisoner said he understood English.

Charles Edward Blitz said he could speak English, and was a Protestant.

On being sworn, he said he was a gardener, and of German nationality. He was now detained at the Alien Camp at Knockaloe. He knew the defendant Prager, who was also detained at the camp. The prisoner was a Hungarian. They were both in the same hut, and fed at the same table. The previous morning after breakfast the assault took place. It started with a discussion about work. He was going to put his things out to dry, when he missed his coat, and he asked Prager for it. Prager took it from his bed and threw it down on the floor in front of the witness, and afterwards took his overhauls which were hanging on a nail and threw them also on the floor. After that the witness said no more but smacked the prisoner across the face. The prisoner was at work that day and was wiping a plate and he hit witness on the head with it. He did not know whether it was the prisoner's intention to hit him or not. The blow must have been a heavy one, because it cut him. He did not know whether prisoner meant to hit him with the plate or not. He did not know how much of a wound there was, but the doctor was present [in court]. He did not need to have it stitched.

The prisoner was asked if he had any questions to put to witness, and through the interpreter he said he did not throw the coat on the floor, but towards the witness's arm.

Witness, further examined, said the prisoner took the coat out of his bed and threw it on the floor in front of witness. He could not have caught it. It was done too quickly

The prisoner said he threw the coat for Blitz to catch ; but the other things he threw on the floor.

Oscar Steinwerz, who spoke English, said he was only in Court because he saw the wound. He was interpreter to Dr Gell. He was a German, and was interned in the camp. He had independent means. He saw Blitz on the previous morning when he was brought to the dispensary. Blitz had a rather deep cut, about two inches long on the left hand side of his head. It was bleeding very much. The skull was not injured. He washed the wound with disinfectant and another man dressed it. Witness was not a medical man, but had a knowledge of ambulance work, and had studied medicine. It was not a dangerous wound, but it might have been.

Augustous Maas, of Brighton, also speaking English, said he was interned in the Knockaloe Camp. He was a waiter and a German. He was in the same hut as Blitz and Prager. He saw what took place the previous day. After breakfast his attention was attracted by high language, and he looked across the table and saw Prager pushing Blitz away. Blitz hit him in the face. He could not say whether it was with the open hand or fist. He saw no mark on Prager's face. Prager had a plate in his left hand, and he changed it to the right hand and struck Blitz on the left side of the head. He went over to interfere, but it was too late. It was all over in a minute. He was in charge of the hut, and was responsible for the good order. He reported the matter to the Commander. He saw the blood flowing, and he took Blitz outside.

The prisoner said the evidence was correct.

Simon Klein said he was a Jew, and asked to make a declaration, but as his knowledge of English was limited, and he could not be made to understand, his evidence was dispensed with, as it was only a corroboration of what occurred.

Wilhelm Kirsch, a Catholic, said he was a clerk. He was a German and was detained in the Alien Camp at Knockaloe. He took Blitz to the hospital and dressed the wound. The wound was about two inches long but was superficial. It was a little swollen when he dressed it. He did not see the assault. The wound did not require stitching.

The prisoner, in answer to the Bench, said that when Blitz struck him he was washing plates. He was very nervous and hit Blitz with a plate.

Augustous Maas said that a petition had been got up by the hut in which the prisoner was, signed by 120, and handed to the Commander, asking that the prisoner be dealt leniently with. The Prisoner was very sorry for what he had done, and had no intention of hurting Blitz. He asked the Bench to take into account the fact that a foreigner took a knife or anything not - like an Englishman - his fists. The prisoner was a man of good character - so other men who knew him for years said - and the occupants of the hut had a good opinion of him. He, on behalf the 120 who had signed the petition asked the bench to deal leniently with the prisoner, and they would be greatly obliged.

Inspector Shimmim said the Commandant had handed this case over to the authorities, because it was necessary to have discipline in the Camp, and if this kind of thing went on there would be a lot of trouble.

The High-Bailiff said that what Inspector Shimmin had said was quite true, but Mr Corrin agreed with him that so far as discipline was concerned Blitz could not claim that the provocation of throwing his things on the floor was sufficient for the assault in the first instance. Both were guilty of want of discipline. He quite agreed that discipline was necessary in the Camp, but did not think this was a serious matter at all under the circumstances. They thought it should be dealt with in the ordinary way of imposing a fine, and they were not inclined to depart from that. He supposed the prisoner could pay a fine.

The prisoner said he had not a penny.

Maas said that those who had signed the petition would be pleased if a fine was imposed, and if a fine was imposed they would be pleased to pay it. He was speaking on behalf of himself and the 120 who signed the petition.

The High-Bailiff said they would deal with the case by imposing a fine of 10s 6d and costs on the defendant. They were actuated in this by the provocation the defendant had got. It must not, however go forth that any breach of discipline at the Camp would be treated lightly. Any further disturbance would be dealt with in a more serious way.

The fine was promptly paid, and the prisoner, along with the witnesses, were taken back to camp under an armed escort.

Maas stated that he had been resident in England for 21 years. He had been married to an English woman fourteen years, and had four children. He had been a waiter at Brighton for sixteen years.

Only Stephen Prager can be found in the surviving records and that because he was transferred to Douglas Camp on the 2nd May 1918 as internee 5448, though within a few months he was in trouble with the authorities for handing an uncensored letter to a Miss Wilson whilst he was returning to Camp, under escort, from St. Thomas Church. He was remanded on the 31st July 1918 and given 21 days close confinement by Col. Madoc to be served at the nearby Douglas Prison returning to the camp on the 20th August. He was transferred to Alexandra Palace on the 7th February 1919 for repatriation as he signs on the 6th February for the £1 due from the repatriation fund.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2018