So grave which had led up to such an outburst. The results of this investigation have left no doubt upon my mind and on record - I have no hesitation in placing my opinion that a very important public safeguard had been withdrawn when the system of branding ceased to be adopted.
5 Had I only to consult my own judgment, the stringency of the measure now under discussion would have been very much increased. For my own part I would prefer to deal with every criminal who had shown an inveterate habit of crime by branding them in some conspicuous way, sending them to a penal settlement, and deporting them from the Colony. The only objection I have heard urged against this treatment is that it deprives the branded man of his locus penitentiæ, an objection that has little weight with those acquainted with the class which supplies the bulk of our criminal population. Nothing is better established than the fact that by far the greater numbers of these professional criminals show tenderness of any sort not only misplaced, but is construed by them into a sign of weakness, inducing them to resume their course upon their release with more audacity than before.
The theory of the locus penitentis would, I think, be speedily dispelled by a glance at a few of the dogged, evil, and sullen countenances which belong to the ruffians to be found at any time within the walls of the prison. It is more than assertion, it is evidence, to say that such men, having taken to criminal callings, have heard of and may have supported by no ease of the kind, while on the other hand their frequent reappearance in the dock of the Police Court affords tangible proof of their inveterate habits of depredation.
Page 359
6
So grave
which had led up to such an outburst. The results of
this
investigation
have left
no doubt upon my
mind and
on record-
I have no
that a
very
hesitation in placing my opinion
important public safeguard had been
withdrawn when the system of branding ceased to be
adopted-
5 Had I only to consult
stringency of the measure now under
my
own judgment, the in
discussion
would
have been
very
much increased. For
my
own
part I
would prefer to
Del
every
criminal who had shown
an
inveterate habit of crime branded in some conspicuor
A
No care thi to a pleasant
place and deported from the Colony. The only objection
I have heard urged against this treatment vig deprives the branded man
that it
of his locis penitented night to have little weight with these acquainted with the class which supplies the bulk of our criminal population, Motting is better established than the fact
feltery
difer Nie How centermed
359
that by far the greater numbers of these purene. profession tenderness of any sort an
crime as a
shown to those semi-brutalized beings is not only
misplaced, but is construed by them into a -
more
sign of recatress, If inducing their to resume ... their coures upon their release with
audacity than before. The theory of the locus penitentis would I think be opeedily dispelled by
a
glauce at a few of the dogged, evil and sullen countenances and which belong to the ruffians
to be found at any
time within the walls of
prison. It is more assertion uney
eridenec, to
say
that such men
callings, I have heard of
haved
aur
supported by
may take to honest
no-ease
of the Kind. while on the other their frequent reappearance in
A
the dock of the Police Court affords tangible proof of their their inveterate habits of depredation -
6
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