His Majesty's Gaol Coburg Death Sentence Correspondence

Full description

This file could be an unofficial file, that is, maintained 'outside' the current central correspondence system. It consists of four different files:

(i) a booklet about persons convicted of murder and sentenced to death since 1949 to 8/05/1974;
(ii) a list detailing whippings administered to prisoners from 21/02/1933 to 17/08/1948;
(iii) correspondence about appointment of a suitable 'person' to administer floggings to prisoners dated 6/04/1942 to 20/09/1943; and
(iv) Correspondence between the Sheriff and the governor HM Prison Pentridge relative to Executive Council decisions to commute the death sentence to life imprisonment, covering the period c1958 to c1974.

The booklet describes case number, name of prisoner, age when convicted, date and place of sentence, brief details of case, date and details of decision of Governor and date of release (if any) and subsequent history.

Whippings file consists of: sequential number, name, crime, name of court and date, details of whippings and reference to the government of the day.

The correspondence file describes the secrecy surrounding the process of engaging a flagellator to perform floggings, when and where the floggings will occur and 'unofficial' reports.

The file of correspondence between the Sheriff and the governor HM Prison Pentridge relative to Executive Council decisions consists of the outcome of requests to commute convicted criminals' death sentences to life imprisonment, and letters from either the Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff to the prison governor advising of decisions following council meetings.