FLOGGING IN GAOLS.

Evening Star, Issue 7246, 24 June 1887, Page 4

FLOGGING IN GAOLS.

TO THE KDITOU. Sin,—lf the boy Rossis not an orphau, and never was one of the great uncarcct for, how 0 ime he to be twice cjmmittud to the Industrial School, and the first time at the early ago of two years ? If he were not an orphan, then he must have been worse than one. When any former gaoler has done the whipping himself, has it not been because the warder who was asked to do it refused to comply? Warder Corrigan is not the first by many who has refused to perform the disagreeable duty of flogging. Most of the warders are men with families of their own, and none of them care to have the revolting job to do, It is timo that the systom was abolished altogether; it is only fit for a brutal age, and is a blot on the nineteenth century civilisation. In ray letters I have attacked no person. It is the system 1 deplore, as a large amount of pain and suffering tall on the innocent as well as on the guilty. There is a difference between shooting a man down and fhying him alive. Of the two, were I a man, I would prefer to do the former. Most of your readers know to what extent whipping was at one time carried on in the Army, when a doctor has been known to stand by and see an unfortunate man flogged to death; while others in their agony have many times broken away and carried both strappings and triangle round the yard on thoir black and bleeding baike, while a gibing crowd stood by deriding the sufferers for their cowardice in not being able to bear their punishment better. Ultimately, the system became so demoralising that it was abandoned altogether, and tho Army did not deteriorate in consequence Whipping in the gaols is just as brutal nowas itwasformejlyin tho Army; and an old Army ilagellator is generally chosen for the purpose, if one is at hand. It was one who flogged the boy Ross, if I am correctly informed. r And I would also like to as>k those who know most about it if it be true that no less

than throo cat-o'-nino-taila were broken over the boy's back ? I deny that this boy is a giant in build : he is a stout little fellow, but I question whether he stands more than 4ft 6m in height, and anyone who saw him in Court or in prison will know that he is not one very likely to laugh at his sympathisers. Mr Mallard very lightly says it is the people's own fault tbat they do not know more about the working of gaols. I have always found the present gaoler very courteous, and our Gaol is a pattern of cleanliness and well worth visiting Certainly tho ventilation might be much better. lam, etc., Rachel. Dunedin, June 18.