THE LASH.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 2087, 17 October 1876, Page 2

THE LASH.

FLOGGING OF JAMES BRYLEY.

Yesterday, James Bryley underwent the punishment of twenty-five lashes at Mount Eden Gaol. It will be remembered that Bryley was tried at the last sessions of the Supreme Court for a brutal assault with intent upon the person of a married woman. The evidence shewed that he met the woman as she was going into Drury, and that he then went to a lonely place on the road and there lay in wait, and pounced upon her as she was returning homo to Maketu. Bryley escaped, but was afterwards taken by Constable Clark, of Papakura, on the information of the woman's son. At the trial, the prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 10 years penal servitude, and to undergo two whippings, each of 25 lashee, on the 16th October and 22nd December respectively. Mr Justice Gillies, in sentencing the prisoner, made some strong remarks upon the necessity of protecting defenceless women and girls of tender years from the attacks of brutes of the Bryley class, by inflicting such punishment as would be most likely to appeal to their callous and hardened nature. The first twenty-five lashes were inflicted at half-past five o'clock yesterday afternoon, in a private quarter of the precincts of the Gaol, but within hearing of the prisoners in their cells. The arrangements were under the control.of Mr O'Brien, Governor of the Gaol, who had secured in the person of an old soldier, a flagelator of some experience. The other officials present to witness the punishment wereDr Philson. M.D., Medical Officer of the Gaol and District Coroner, Mr McLean, Visiting Justice, Inspector Broham, commanding the Armed Constabulary Force in Auckland, and Inspector Thomson, District Officer under the Arms Act. His Honor Mr Justice Gillies also witnessed the punishment, being desirous of judging as to its efficacy as a m ans of restraining criminals of the Bryley class from the perpetration of outrages upon unprotected and defenceless women. The preparations for the infliction of the punishment were of a simple character. A triangle, composed of three poles, strongly fastened together at the top, and the lower ends spread out sojas to stand firmly, was placed in the yard. Bryley was then brought out. He looked somewhat pale and nervous, but otherwise wore the same air as he did at the trial when he received his sentence with a degree of sang froid which indicated that he had made up his mind for the worst. Bryley Is apparently about 35 years of age, about 5 feet 5 inches in height, and of a somewhat sallow complexion. His look was not altogether repulsive, though there were marks of a hardened and vicious nature on his countenance. The preparations being complete, Dr Philson stepped forward and tested the prisoner's pulse and heart, with the view of ascertaining his'physical fitness to bear the punishment. The prison fare appeared to have improved his constitution, so that beyond a slight nervousness, he was otherwise well fit to undergo the allotted punishment. Having divested himself of his upper garments he was secured to the triangle, his hands being strapped at the wrists above his head to the poles, while his le^s were similarly fastened about the ancles to the lower ends.

The flagelator, an athletic looking man, who had laid aside his hat and coat and vest, then stepped forward and took up his position, saluting the officials in military style. In his hand lie held an ordinary cat-o'-nine-tails, which appeared to have been carefully prepared for the work. The flagelator then received the usual order, "Do your duty," and the punishment began. The first blow left several ugly weals across Bryley's back, but though he trembled violently and appeared to shrink under the infliction, ho uttered no cry. The succeeding strokes of the '"cat" scared the quivering flesh deep, and when "sixteen" was called, blood flowed freely from the deep red and livid lines. The remaining strokes were delivered in rapid succession, the whole operation occupying a little over three minutes, and from the beginning to the close Bryley uttered no cry. There could be no doubt in the minds of the spectators that the flagelator had performed his duty in a thoroughly earnest and effective style, and the manner in which he swung the cat-o'-nine-tails shewed that he must have had previous experience in the business. Some of those present were of opinion that had the punishment been prolonged Bryley would have fainted, but as it was, when he was released from the triangle, he coolly resumed his garments, and walked off to the prison hospital, where he will remain until pronounced fit for labour. When the last stroke of the lash fell, the prisoners in the penal cell uttered a suppressed cheer, doubtless intended as a mark of admiration at the prisoners hardihood. They were promply silenced by the warders. Bryley will have to undergo a repetition of the dose on the 2:2 nd December next, and though tliis mode of punishment ia very degrading, and not applicable to any but the most hardened criminals, it is to be hoped that it will produce not only a deterrent effect upon the prisoner, should he survive his period of imprisonment, but will act as a salutary example to any others whose evil passions may incline thorn to commit like excesses.