EXTRACT FROM MY BOOK “CUTTING THE BARS”
(VOLUME I)
In 1973 Frank “Karate Jack” Hutchen was heading to 9 Wing in the Metropolitan Reception Prison (MRP) at the Long Bay Prison Complex to see the Wing Officer in order to give him the results of the Superintendent’s requests for the prisoners in his Wing. On his way he noticed the Superintendent Mr Evans and Principal Prison Officer Danny Noonan heading to 7 Wing to see a prisoner named Bryant. A sixth sense caused Mr Hutchen to enquire of Superintendent Evans. “Would you like me to come with you Sir”? Mr Evans declined the offer.Mr Hutchen proceeded on his way to 9 Wing when once again his sixth sense tapped him on the shoulder, a skill that comes only with experience and instinctively Mr Hutchen turned and headed for 7 Wing. Upon his arrival he could see Mr Noonan standing in the doorway of Bryant’s cell on the top landing, 7 Wing being two stories high. He quickly made his way to the stairs and along the landing until he reached Bryant’s cell.
Bryant had his hands under a blanket. This would have rung alarm bells of impending danger to even the most inexperienced Officer. Mr Evans was already in the cell as Bryant pulled his hand from under the blanket clutching a fluorescent light tube. Smashing the end of the light tube against the wall, he lashed out at Superintendent Evans’s throat. Mr Evans instinctively brought his hands up to protect his neck and facial area causing the tube to cut his hands. Mr Noonan did not move or say a word.
Mr Hutchen pushed passed Mr Noonan and hit Bryant with his shoulder pushing him hard up against the cell wall, at the same time snapping the light tube rendering it less dangerous. Bryant’s chin ended up on Mr Hutchen’s shoulder. Bryant forced his face onto Mr Hutchen’s chest and bit through his shirt and into his chest with the force of a wild dog. Mr Hutchen took control as he took hold of this very violent prisoner. All Superintendent Evens could say was “Don’t hurt him, don’t hurt him”.
At the bottom of the stairs with Bryant in handcuffs Mr Hutchen looked down at his chest where Bryant had bitten him. The wound was becoming painful and his shirt was saturated with his own blood. Once the prisoner had been secured and removed from 7 Wing, having been placed in the OBS in the Central Industrial Prison CIP, Mr Hutchen reported to Doctor Murphy to receive appropriate medical care. Dr Murphy was already attending Superintendent Evans. The good doctor looked up at Mr Hutchen and said, “What can I do for you Frank?” Mr Hutchen smiled and replied “I only need a rabies needle doctor”, implying that he had been bitten by a wild dog. (Rabies does not exist in Australia).
The prisoner was charged by the Police and received a further two years hard labour for his trouble.
Frank (Karate Jack) Hutchen showing the bite mark on chest, just below left shoulder, inflicted by prisoner Bryant.
Photo provided courtesy of Frank Hutchen
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