THE DOMAIN RAPE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4349, 21 April 1884, Page 2

THE DOMAIN RAPE.

Goodward's First Flogging.

Hknby Goodwahd, who was convicted at the last criminal sossions of the Supromo Court of rape on the person of Ellen Payne, and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and two floggings, received the first instalment of his flagellation within the precincta of Mount Eden Gaol at 6.30 this morning. Tho proceedings were strictly private, the only persons present being the Deputy Sheriff (Mr G. W. Basley), Dr. Philson (Gaol Surgeon), Mr Reston (the governor of the prison), and the warders. The prisoner, when brought from his cell, seemed quite composed, and did not exhibit any feelingduringthe process of pinioning. In place of the old-fashioned "triangle" formerly in vogue in flogging in the army and navy, two upright poles were used. To these the prisoner was securely tied, a collar of leather being placed round the neck to protect that part of the body. The eentence of the law was carried out by two warders of the gaol, whose gloomy faces Bhowed clearly that the task was not a confonial one. Tho "cat" was composed of notted twine, and apparently calculated to inflict severe punishment. At a signal one of the warders stepped forward "cat in hand," there was a sharp "swish " through the air, and "number one" foil on Henry Gooclwal'd'd body, leaving a discoloured mark from the shoulder to the ribs. The prisoner squirmed, but emitted no sound. Tho flagellant inflicted cloven other blows, each of which loft its mark on the bruised back of the prisoner— now fairly quivering with pain, But ho retained his senses, and gave no vocal indication of the agony he .was suffering. Another warder now stepped forward, and taking tho instrument of judicial torture from his fellow, administered tho remaining thirteen blows. At tho fifteenth or sixteenth stripe a little blood name from the bruised and excoriated back of tho victim, and the twitching of the muscles and wriggling of tho body increased, but not a cry did he utto'i Tho sentence of the law having been fulfilled, tho prisoner was escorted from the scene. It is probable that the flogging will not keep him from work more than a week. The second instalment of the flagellation will be inflicted in Juno.

We understand that the gaol authorities experienced considerable difficulty in obtaining the services of the two warders ±o administer tho flogging, and thoy only complied with the order when they ascertained that they must obey the behest of their superior or lay themselves opon to dismissal from tho service. It is stated that it ie unusual to require wardors to performsuch an office, which must bo revolting to any but those possessing utterly callous —we had almost said brutaiised—natures. Our informant givos us to understand that tho innovation was first mooted by Captain Humo, Inspector of Prisons, when that functionary was in Auckland some two months ago, and that ono of tho warders sont in his resignation sooner than lay himsolf opon to bo called upon to porform an actiou so revolting to his sensibilities.