Mr. POINTERasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies (1) whether his attention has been called to the fact that Major A. S. Bowen, one of the Crown Colony officials, warden of St. Ann's and Diego Martin, in Trinidad, inspector of prisons for that Colony, inspector of reformatories, and justice of the peace for the county of St. George and Port-of-Spain, in the same island, was convicted, before the S.J.P. of Port-of-Spain on 22nd June last, for assaulting and beating an Indian immigrant who was indentured to him, and that the maximum penalty of £10, or in default seven days' imprisonment, was inflicted upon the said A. S. Bowen; whether he is aware that the same official was convicted, on 11th January, 1907, by the S.J.P. of Port-of-Spain for an assault upon a boy and was fined 12s. 6d. with 7s. costs or seven days' hard labour; whether he is also aware that on 3rd April, 1907, the same A. S. Bowen was committed by the S.J.P. of Port-of-Spain to the criminal sessions held in that city to stand his trial for endeavouring to provoke a breach of the peace; and will he state why the Government of Trinidad failed to bring Major Bowen to trial when committed to the criminal sessions, and on what grounds the prosecution of Major 1231 Bowen was allowed to drop; (2) if he can give the number of previous convictions recorded against Major A. S. Bowen, of Trinidad, for violent assaults committed by him; and whether he will lay all the Papers connected with the convictions of Major Bowen, including those relating to his committal to the criminal sessions in April, 1907, upon the Table of the House; (3) whether the name of Major A. S. Bowen, of Trinidad, has been, or will be, removed from the roll of justices of the peace for the Colony of Trinidad, in view of the number of his breaches of the peace and convictions for assault; (4) if the right hon. Gentleman can inform the House if the indentures of the Indian Shoenauth to Major A. S. Bowen have been cancelled, subsequent to the conviction of Major Bowen for beating the Indian, or whether Shoenauth has been allowed to purchase his freedom, as from the magistrate's remarks when trying the case of assault it was shown that the Indian had saved enough money for that purpose, and was assaulted because he refused to return the bank book to his employer; (5) if he can furnish the House with a Return of the number of prisoners flogged by order of Major A. S. Bowen during his term of office as Inspector of Prisons in Trinidad; and also with the number of boys and girls ordered to be flogged or whipped by the same official in his capacity of Inspector of Reformatories; and (6) whether, in view of the repeated convictions recorded against Major A. S. Bowen, of Trinidad, for violent assault and the like, and of the character of his administration of the prisons and reformatories and the consequent dissatisfaction in the island, the right hon. Gentleman will consider the advisability of recalling Major Bowen and replacing him with an official who will administer the duties of his various offices with more regard for the amenities of civilised administration?
§ Colonel SEELYMajor Bowen was appointed Inspector of Prisons in October 1903. There were ninety-five floggings and whippings of prisoners by order of the Inspector of Prisons during the six years 1904 to 1909. Inquiry will be made in regard to the number of whippings in reformatories. With regard to the other points raised in the questions, we have no information, but inquiry is being made.