The Times, London, 29 March 1900

A Parliamentary return has been issued giving a list of the sentences of corporal punishment passed in England and Wales from March 31, 1898, to December 31, 1899. The total number of such sentences was 65, being 17 in cases of robbery with violence, and 48 for robbery with violence by persons in company. No such sentences were passed in respect to offences against section 21 of the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861. In each case the punishment was ordered to be inflicted with the “cat.” In 55 cases the offenders were ordered to be whipped once, in nine cases twice, and in one instance three times, the total number of strokes inflicted on each offender ranging from ten to 25. Of the 65 sentences included in the list, 44 were passed at the Central Criminal Court, 35 of these being by the Recorder and nine by the Common Serjeant. Of the remainder 16 were passed at different assizes by Mr. Justice Day, three by Mr. Justice Grantham, one by Mr. Justice Darling, and one by Commissioner Buszard.