WILLIAM CAUSEY sworn:
.....Prisoners guilty of bad offenses have irons on them generally,
but I don't think any of the men put in the pen had irons on.
I think two men have been shot at the prison since Captain Alexander
has been in charge, and one on Franklin street at the guard-house. The
man killed at the guard-house was shot while attempting to escape. In my
opinion all could have been arrested without being shot. The desperate
men were generally put in Castle Godwin. The soldiers picked up on the
street are put in this prison. Castle Godwin is not part of Castle
Thunder. Thunder was Godwin's successor in cognomen after removal. The
man shot a few nights ago at Castle Thunder certainly could have been
captured without shooting. There is a standing order to shoot only if he
cannot otherwise be arrested.
I have seen prisoners whipped, but I don't know by whose or what
authority. I have seen men severely whipped on the buttocks with straps;
don't know how many lashes were laid on, but I should think about fifty.
I only saw one whipping. On this occasion the officers were requested by
Captain Alexander to go up into the prison room and see the men whipped.
The whipping strap was secured onto wooden handles. They were made of
harness leather or sole leather from eighteen inches to two feet in
length. The blows were laid on about as hard as a man could do it. I
have seen prisoners wear the same clothes for months until they were
ready to drop off in rags. I think there have been instances of attempts
to bribe the guard.
