You have given the Committee one instance, and we have heard from another witness that the reputation of Leicester Gaol has a deterring effect; can you give the Committee any reason why you think it is more deterring than some other prisons?
Answer by William Musson, Esq., Governor of Leicester Gaol.
I think that our system of discipline is very strict; we never allow the separate system to be broken through on any consideration; the prisoners are in separate cells; they are exercised in separate yards, and they have separate stalls at Chapel; and I may say that when they are taken out to be tried in Court, they go in separate partitions in the wagon, and are arraigned separately.
1758. By Earl of Dudley. Is not the separation relaxed when they are with the schoolmaster in class?
No; they are separated then.
1759. Do they not sit at the same table?
No: they are in the Chapel in separate stalls; we use the Chapel as a school-room.
1785. Earl of Carnarvon. In your opinion, the advantage of separation outweighs any inconveniences which may result from it?
Yes; I think so.
1786. Lord Wodehouse. Do you ever find that prisoners when confined for long periods in separate cells, suffer at all mentally from the separation?