PRISON TORTURE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2244, 4 October 1889, Page 3

PRISON TORTURE

An extraordinary disclosure has been mtda In the Qaeensland Assembly bj Mr Little. As reported In the BrlsDane "Ooorttr," the member tn question statad that In the gaols of the oolony an instrument called the "gag" was wed to sllinoe insubordinate prisoners, which had the effeefc In some eases of permanently depriving the man of the power of speech. Mr Little described this Implement of torturaasa tube whlob wai thrust down the unfortunate orettore's throat, and whfeh gripped the tongue In sooh a way as to lacerate It to a fearful extent. ilembera wars lnollned to believe that Mr Little bed been mlslnfoimed, but on the following day he produoed one of the gags. An instant's Inspection of thisbsrbarons machine was aoffiolent to convince everyone^that Mr Little hud understated th« ease. It is a soi tof vyce, the underside beinfr a eharp-edged pieoe of metal like a split qnill, about one-third of an Inch acroflp, and the upper a wire of almost Ihe same diameter. The culprit la pinioned, and this " gag " is forced itto bis month, so that the tongue is gripped between the wire and tbe concave under part. A simple clamp forces the two sides together, and if the " operator " choose there is no doubt bat that the leve r age is so great that the wret hed man's tongue could easily be out right through. It is an American •• invention," »nd actually bearsMVsmped upon the groored underside the word ''patent,"