§ MR. BIGGAR (for Mr. SMALL)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that upon the occasion of Edward Malone, lately a prisoner in Wexford Gaol under the Prevention of Crimes Act, being brought before the governor of the gaol, charged by a warder with not having teased a sufficient quantity of oakum, the governor, referring to the offence for which Malone was imprisoned, said—
With your shouting and your land leagueing you were sent here to be punished, and I will punish you;and thereupon sentenced him to two days on bread and water, a punishment which was subsequently disapproved of and remitted by the medical officer of the gaol; and, whether it is a violation of the duty of the governor to be influenced by the nature of the offence of which a prisoner has been convicted?
§ MR. TREVELYANThe Governor of the prison states that he has no re- 1681 collection of using the words alleged; but that he frequently warns prisoners who are brought before him for idleness that if they are punished it will be through their own fault. In the case of Malone, he was reported five times for idleness, and on each occasion let off with a caution. For the sixth offence he was ordered bread and water for two days; but, as required by the regulations, was first brought before the doctor who reports that, finding him not very robust he excused him from hard labour, and he was not punished at all. The Governor of the prison denies that either he or any officer of the prison is influenced in the treatment of prisoners by any consideration as to the nature of the offence. It would certainly be a violation of duty if they were so influenced.