TASMANIAN CONVICTS.

Evening Star, Issue 3081, 3 January 1873, Page 2

TASMANIAN CONVICTS.

An interesting anecdote about the manner in which convicts used to be flogged in Tasmania is told by the Mercury ; — One of the ticket-of-leave men assigned to a settler at Swanport, becoming refractor}’, was sent by his master to deliver a letter to a magistrate residing in the neighborhood. The man knew that the letter contained a statement of his conduct, and a request that he snonld be flogged, and determined to avoid the ignominious punishment if possible. Meeting with a man who had been a mate of his when doing “the Government stroke,” he appeared delighted at the rencontre, and nothing would do but that they should have a drink and a chat together at a public-house. The required beverage was duly supplied by mine host and consumed, and then the lettercarrier found he had stopped too long at the hostelry, and impressed upon his companion the fact that, if he went on his errand, he would be too long away, and his master would thrash him when he got back. His former mate appeased bis fears by offering to deliver the letter for him. The offer was joyfully accepted and the man went home again, and of coarse shammed great physical pain. In the meantime the dupe having delivered the letter was somewhat surprised at two of the magistrate’s men being sent for and being ordered to strip. In vain he represented that he was not the right man ; the bearer ®f the letter was to receive a whipping ; a whipping he must have, and did get it. This deceiver, however, afterwards received a double allowance upon the facts of the case being made known.