SOME DEVICES OF INDIAN CRIMINALS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2707, 16 November 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

SOME DEVICES OF INDIAN CRIMINALS.

The writer of a series of articles iu the Times of India on " By paths of Crime in India." mentions some devices of habitual criminals iii that country. One curiosity which he was shown on a visit to the Presidency gaol iu Calcutta was a heavy lead bullet about three-quarters of an inch in diameter. This was found on an habitual thief, and was being used to form a pouch or bag in the throat fur secreting inonay, jewels, &c , in the event of his (icing searched. The ball is put into the mouth and is allowed to slide down gently until it reaches some part near the epiglottis, where it is held in position and is kept there for about half an hour at a time. This operation is repeated many times daily, and gradually a sort of pocket is formed, the time being longer or shorter according to the size of pocket required. In some oases six months have been sufficient, in others a year, while in some eases two years are necessary. Such a pouch as this last is capable of holding ten rupees—about the size of ten florins. The thief therefore can undergo search, and, nothing being found, he goes away with the spoil in his throat, the power of breathing and speech being in no way interfered with. About a sooro of prisoners in the Calcutta gaol have such pouch formations. Iu the hospital of the prison the visitor learned some of the malingering practices of Indian criminals. In one case ho saw a youth who was u perfect skeleton, with lustrous eyes looking out in a ghastly manner from a worn, haggard face. It was discovered that he had for two years boon taking an irritant poison, with a view to produce diarrhoea, in order to shirk work and get pleasant quarters in tho hospital. But he had overdone the part, tor ho had reduced himself to such a condition that recovory was almost impossible. This taking of internal irritants is a common practice amongst the habitual criminals of Calcutta. Castor oil seed, crotod seed, and two other seeds, which have no English name, aro the ageuts most commonly employed. One man was pointed out who, in order to get off his fetters, had produced an ulcer by rubbing the chafed skin with caustic lime, and then irritating the soro by scratching it with a piece of broken bottle. The segregation of lepers has long been the practice in Indian prisons, and it is mentioned as an example of the increase of leprosy in India that diaeaso occurs with much greater frequency amongst the criminals of Bengal than it did ten years ago.