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A-I do not think such an elaborate check is necessary. Q-Does it not follow there would be such a check?
A-A check on what?
Q-The Surgeon might say he considered a person was fit to go on with the flogging, and you might hold a different opinion, and then you might consult with him and after the consultation check the flogging, which would not be checked otherwise.
A-If the Surgeon said a man was fit to bear a number of strokes I would not interfere. Suppose a man had been sentenced to receive a certain number of strokes and the Surgeon certified that he was fit to receive them and the Surgeon was present at the flogging and did not stay the flogging I would not interfere.
Q-Did you not give us an instance where the Surgeon wished to stop the flog- ging and you ordered it to go on?
A--That was only a conversation privately with the Surgeon. I would not have ordered the continuance of the flogging if the Surgeon had ordered it to stop. I was standing by more or less as a private individual, and the Surgeon was probably being deceived by the tremendous howling raised by the prisoner. As a matter of fact no result followed from that flogging.
Q--Do you not think that if the Superintendent were obliged to attend the flog- gings the number of floggings might drop?
first?
A--I do not see how that would affect it at all.
Q-In case of what floggings have you to obtain the sanction of the Governor
A--Floggings imposed by the Courts.
Q--Only the sentences by the Courts ?
A--Sentences by the Magistrate or the Supreme Court.
Q--At what hour do the floggings take place?
A--They take place in the forenoon.
Q-What hour?
A--When it is convenient for the warden to attend.
Q-Are they flogged in the presence of other prisoners?
A--No, in private.
Q--Suppose A, B, C, and D are being flogged in one day are B, C, and D present while A is flogged?
A-That is so.
Q-When you were Superintendent did the reports of misconduct reach you mostly through the Europeans or mostly through Indians ?
A--Mostly through Europeans.
Q--I believe, under Rule 218, there is power to cut off the queue of a prisoner. "The queues of Chinese prisoners sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for up- wards of 2 years may be cut off, and their hair cut close until within six months of their release, the queues may also be cut off short-sentenced prisoners if the Surgeon should consider it necessary for health or cleanliness; but such prisoner shall be allow- ed to appeal to the Governor about it, no queue shall be cut off under any circumstances without the special permission of the Governor." Have you formed any opinion as to whether it is advisable to take that form of punishment a little further--to extend it?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.