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less than eight occasions; the punishments varying from a reprimand to a fine of $2.50. In the present instance the Indiar Warder who lost the key was fined $3.
Such a punishment by a small fine for so grave an offence is, in our opinion, wholly inadequate, and we recommend that the Gaol Regula- tions be amended so as to make the loss by an officer of the Gaol of any of the gaol keys punishable by instant dismissal from the Service. (2) That the key, which was lost in April last, would appear to have been lost between D. Hall and the lower yard or else outside of the Prison altogether, and that none of the prisoners who escaped could have picked it up as they were all employed in another part of the Gaol.
(3) That the system of repairing locks and keys in the prison which we have already condemned above, and the fact (already referred to) of a cell key and daggers having been made in the tinsmith's shop, inclines us to believe that in all probability that key with which the escaping prisoners opened the gate into the yard was also manufactured in the tinsmith's shop.
12. To sum up, we report to the Government as follows in regard to the subjects referred to us :--
As regards (a) that there is no foundation for such statements.
As above stated, however, in dealing with the complaints of the prisoner Mok Sing, we recommend that a new measure, i.e., a 16 oz. measure, be adopted.
In regard to records of complaints by prisoners as to:-
(a) Food;
(b) Ill-treatment.
We find that such complaints are very much mixed up with other matters in the Records, and are consequently difficult to extract for purpose of comparison; and we accordingly recommend that a new book, to be called the Prisoners Complaint Ledger, be started for the purpose of recording complaints made by prisoners and that such Ledger be divided into three columns headed respectively:-
I. Complaints about food. 2. Complaints of ill-treatment. 3.
Other complaints.
Such Ledger ought to be entered up daily.
We also recommend the institution of a similar book for the Visiting Justices, in addition to the ordinary Visiting Justices Book, for the entry of com- plaints made by prisoners to the Visiting Justices under similar head-
ings.
As regards (b):-
(i) The procuring of carpentering implements for their escape and plain clothes from the tailor's shop by the escaping prisoners was due to collusion or gross negligence on the part of the Warders who were responsible for the searching of the prisoners on their leaving work, and for searching their cells. This state of affairs can only be remedied by adequate European supervision.
(ii) The procuring by the prisoners of weapons of offence for the perpetration of the murders of the Warders was due to extreme lack of supervision in the tinsmith's shop, where such weapons were fashioned out of files.
(iii) The making of the key by which 3 out of the 4 prisoners were let out of their cells took place in the tinsmith's shop and was due to gross negligence in supervision. Possibly the key by which the prisoners let themselves out into the yard was also made in the tinsmith's shop.