'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎149v] (303/470)

fc r j ']^0 convicts received into tlie jciil tire clnssed ns lictbitunls nnd cnsunls .
Habituals. Casuals.
15 239
“ of habitual convicts there are few, and most of these are Indians. The
part of those classed under casual are not criminals in the real sense of the word.
Many of their offences are technical, owing to the Occupation. Many more are
sentenced to terms of imprisonment for having Government materials in their
possession. These men are often not thieves in ordinary life, and only the ease
with which Government stores can be got has tempted them to retain them. This
class, after the war, will be unlikely to come to jail again. It is probable, therefore,
that the total admissions for real offences will diminish as the chances for pilfering
lessen.
“ Most of the convicts are well-behaved in jail, but great difficulty is experienced
in stopping the introduction into jail of prohibited articles, owing to the fact
that convicts work outside in gangs in close proximity to the population. It will
be seen later that, from this cause, the number of minor punishments is very large,
while the number of major offences is small. Minor offences are mainly quarrelling,
and possession of prohibited articles.
“ Qf major offences, five were escapes, of which three were recaptured. I wo
are still at large. In addition to these, a convict who escaped in 1917 was recaptured.
Of the escapes, two were captured immediately outside the jail, they having got
out along the creek, which runs through the jail. One, a woman, was placed in
an open^room in the female jail (with a wardress sleeping beside her), owing to a
very bad attack of pneumonia. She got out of a window, and wandered away in
delirium. I fear her body lies in some creek, as no trace of her has been found
yet, and as her condition was very critical. One escaped from a working party
that was sent to Qurnah, vide D.C.C.’s No. 15,921, dated the 6 th November 1917.
The party was disbanded shortly after. He was recaptured some time later. The
fifth, who is still at large, escaped while under sentence of death. He was guarded
by a policeman at his door and a warder on duty near the door. There is little
doubt that the warder and policeman connived at his escape, opening the door
by forcing the bolt. The warder and the policeman on duty at the time of the
escape were sentenced by the Military Governor to two years and four years
respectively. The convict is still at large. The other major offence was a murderous
attack on a convict overseer, in the carpenters’ shop, by a convict serving five years
for murder. The injured man recovered, and the convict who attacked him was
sentenced to transportation for life.
Minor offences were - 234
Major offences were ------ 6
“ (a) Warders .—Improvement is seen in the warder establishment, though they
are still very poor. An increase in pay to Rs. 30/-, and Rs. 15/- ration allowance,
and increase in the number employed, so as to allow of more reasonable hours, has
led to a better class of men being available. Fifteen Soudanese have just arrived
from Egypt for duty. They may be of great use, though their knowledge of drill
is very small. All warders are now being drilled periodically in groups of 10.
‘‘( 6 ) Offences of Warders .—Of major offences there were three. One was
sentenced to 2 years R.I. for “ allowing a condemned prisoner to escape.” One
was sentenced to 3 months’ R.I. and 20 lashes, for “ Abetting a prisoner in
communication with friends,” and the other, the Head Warder, was fined Rs. 50/,
in default 21 days, for being absent for four days. He had to be brought to the
jail by an escort. Taken all round, the general discipline of the jail has improved
during the past 12 months.
“ (c) Industrial, Outdoor .—The jail garden has been extended, and is now
supplying a large quantity of vegetables to the jail. 6,093 lbs. have been supplied
from the 2nd September 1918 to the 13th December 1918, equalling a sum worth
while showing in accounts. The garden should do much better this year, as the
initial work is done and few convicts are now needed for upkeep.
“ General fFor&.—Gangs of convicts have been supplied since April, at 12 annas
per diem, to railways, brickfields, and municipality for general work.
“From these sources, Rs. 13,913/4/- has been received for labour. The labour
is considered good and there is a great demand for it. About 100 convicts work