THE “CAT” FOR BRUTES.

Matamata Record, Volume XIII, Issue 1104, 10 March 1930, Page 3

THE “CAT” FOR BRUTES.

Determined to suppress crimes of violence, which are unhappily on the increase, judges are reverting to the use of the cat-of-nine-tails —just as happened when, during an assize in Liverpool, Justice Day had many prisoners flogged, and so earned the sobriquet of “ the flogging judge.” There were three instances at the Old Bailey recently. The Common Sergeant (Sir Henry Dickens) sentenced a man who had attacked a girl and robbed her to 18 months’ hard labour and 15 strokes of the “ cat.” On the following day the Recorder (Sir Ernest Wild) had before him two prisoners who were accused of attacking and robbing a septuagenarian. One was sentenced to nine months and 12 strokes with the lash, and the second man was given 15 months’ hard labour and 18 strokes with the “ cat.” Mr Justice Swift sent a prisoner ■who had followed a servant girl home and had entered the house and beaten and nobbed her to three months’ imprisonment and 18 lashes. In passing sentence the judge said: “ You treated that girl with ferocious cruelty, and the only thing to. do is to make you suffer something like the pain you inflicted on her.” The “ cat ” is dreaded above all •Other types of-punishment. Physical pain is the last thing which cowards who assault women and old men can stand. It is understood that a meeting of judges was held, at which it was determined that the only way to put down crimes of violence was to inflict floggings." In Leeds, at Maidstone, and at Liverpool the lash has been ordered.