44.
proved that the man used to boast that he did not care if officer reported him, as he could always put in a counter report against her.
New Sir,
in reply to the charge brought against me (the charge of 29.8.83), I must acknowledge that the peculiar vexations way by which the said prisoner contrived to aggravate me to that extent that I did forget myself so far as to strike him, but not in the manner he describes, & entirely deny that I ever used abusive language towards him, with one exception. I called him a "Cur" that I will not deny.
The case occurred in the following manner;
On the morning of the 29th March 1843, in the usual course of my duties in the Gaol, I served the prisoner Brown with his oakum, the oakum is already made up and weighed by another officer. I threw it in and went away, and on coming back, I saw his night soil bucket standing outside his cell door. On opening his cell for him to take it in, the prisoner remarked in a most insolent and contemptuous manner that his oakum was "tarrier than usual". I made reply that it was the same as the other prisoners had. I also remarked, "Do you think it tarry?"