A Narrative of Events by James Williams

Author:James Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

ST.ANN’S-BAY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 1837.

George Gordon, esquire, general magistrate, and Jno. Daughtrey, esquire, Special ditto, removed their court to this place, where the investigation was continued.

The Commission, and other documents, having been published as before, the Commissioners repaired to the house of correction, and made a minute observation of the state of that institution, the result of which will be detailed at length in the report of the proceedings of the commissioners in this town. The commissioners were put in possession of the books and papers relative to the discipline of the house of correction, and were subsequently afforded every opportunity, at the office of the clerk of the peace, to obtain whatever information they required. His honor the Custos was apprised, during the day, of the arrival of the commissioners for the purpose of prosecuting their inquiries. Various persons were summoned to attend the court on the following day, and a requisition was sent to the officer in charge of the police station at Wakefield, for a corporal and three privates to act as messengers.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6TH.

JAMES BROWN, head-constable on Draxhall; sworn.—I knew Elizabeth Bartley, she was carried before Mr. Sowley to be tried for not doing her work, so as to keep up with the gang in the field, and for turning out late. When she was tried, I told the overseer and the magistrate that she was with child. They made no answer, and the magistrate sentenced her to dance the treadmill four days. When she returned her legs were not cut, nor did she say to me, that she had been catted while on the wheel. She looked sickly on her return, as she had been put on the wheel in a state of pregnancy. Many of the people who were sent from Draxhall to the tread-mill were severely cut, on the shins; several of them were cut like Lavinia Reynolds, who is brought down this day for the purpose of showing her wounds. It was Major Light who sent her to the workhouse; she went in about March, and her foot has never been well since. The men who were sent to the workhouse returned home with their backs much cut up from the whip. Some of them would go to their work on their return, and some would be obliged to go to the hot-house; but those who went to their work could never keep up their row, as they used to complain much about their shoulders being cramped. I have often seen Major Light trying people at Draxhall; he could scarcely even write the paper to send the people to the workhouse.

Ques.—Did you ever see Major Light in a state of intoxication?

Ans.—He was scarcely ever sober. (See No. 44, last part.)

Ques.—What magistrate succeeded Major Light? and how do the people behave under him.

Ans.—The people behave much better now, because there is not so much punishment as in Major Light’s time. They have confidence in Captain Reynolds, who always gives them a fair trial and good advice.

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