(71)
A--Certainly by flogging.
Q-And bring him under "any act of insubordination that requires to be sup- pressed by extraordinary means?"
A-Yes.
Q-Coming to Rule 275. "If any criminal prisoner is guilty of any offence;" what do you take that to mean? Under what rule?
A-Under the Rule laying down the duty of the prisoners.
Q-Do you not think it refers specially to offences specified in Rule 277?
A-Yes, certainly, I should say so.
Q-And the "Prison Regulations" would cover the whole range of these regula-
tions?
A-Yes.
Q-Breaches of prison discipline would be offences under Rule 270 I suppose?
A-They are laid down in Rule 270. The eighth section of Rule 270 really covers everything that is not specified in the first seven.
Q-Rule 275. "If any criminal prisoner is guilty of any such offence, or of a breach of the Prison Regulations or of discipline, for the due punishment of which the Superintendent of the Prison may deem the powers vested in him insufficient.” What interpretation do you put upon that?
A-That practically means if the Superintendent of the Prison thinks a man ought to have more than twelve strokes in case the offence is proved.
Q-Under Rule 275 an alternative punishment is given which might be inflicted by the Superintendent in conjunction with a Visiting Justice after enquiry, and the first alternative is by "close and solitary confinement on bread, or rice and water, for a period not exceeding fourteen days." Did you resort to that often?
A-No.
Q-Do you remember any case where you have called in a Visiting Justice to administer such a punishment?
A-Yes, in 1891.
Q-What is the effect upon a prisoner of close confinement on bread, or rice and water, for a period of fourteen days?
A-I should say it was unhealthy for a prisoner.
Q-But punitively it is a good punishment?
A-I do not think it is such a good punishment as flogging.
Q-Then other cases come under Rule 275; has the Justice generally sentenced the prisoner to be whipped?
A-Certainly; nearly always.
Q-Now coming to Rule 277. That specifies the following offences for which male prisoners will be liable to corporal punishment. The first part is practically a recapitulation of 274. The second part refers to damage to property, and the third the making a disturbance in prison. Have you punished people with flogging under the second and third sections of Rule 277?
A-Yes.
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