最近有兩起比較具爆炸性和戲劇性的越獄新聞。一起發生在美國的紐約州。兩名獄犯，通過內應用鋸子從牢房經管道成功逃出。享受了驚弓之鳥式的十多天自由後，一被擊斃，一被擊傷逮捕，重新抓回監獄，估計沒有下一次了。我想，如果是我，情願選擇第一。 目前為止，沒有關於獄犯到底是如何鋸開鐵管的報道。我估計用手鋸的可能性非常低，可能是用電鋸或汽油鋸，而且還有其他工具。不過這些細節都不會公開的，就怕有拷貝貓。前段時間也有幾則有關美國的監獄新聞。在美國Baltimore的一監獄，一黑幫囚犯居然有幾位獄警情人，還將其中一位的肚子搞大，狂妄地說這是我的監獄。
另一起越獄發生在墨西哥。大毒梟在其所在的牢房進入洗澡間，然後通過地下隧道逃遁。如此精確定位的隧道，肯定有專業測量人員參與。當看著隧道的照片時，驚訝得用手托著下巴。長長的隧道除了通風照明設備，還鋪了軌道和一輛專門改裝了的摩托車, 便於逃跑時和時間賽跑。以如此的財力，物力，智力和人力，越獄的成功機率當然大多了，而且這毒梟之前有過一次越獄的經曆。他目前仍然在逃，真是放虎歸山。發生這類事件，對政府來說，還是件很丟麵子的事，監獄長一般都要被開除。
我們的小鎮上也有一座監獄，它外形俊美，結構結實，是早年殖民時期建造的皇家監獄，現在成了重點保護的文物。它奠基於1844年2月16日，1848年1月1日正式開放迎來了第一批犯人。在連續使用了150年後，才因安全和設施原因，於1998年終止其監獄功能，如今成為觀光點，裏麵還開設了餐館。
當年奠基的時候，由於是陰雨天，參加的人不多。奠基石下麵還放了一個玻璃瓶子，內有喬治三世，五世，威廉四世和維多利亞女王時代的一些硬幣，和一張紙，上寫道：
ON THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1844, IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA, AND IN THE SIXTH YEAR OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW SOUTH WALES BY HIS EXCELLENCY SIR GEORGE GIPPS, THE FIRST STONE OF THIS GAOL WAS LAID BY EDWARD DENNY DAY, ESQUIRE, POLICE MAGISTRATE OF MAITLAND MORTIMER WILLIAM LEWIS, ESQUIRE COLONIAL ARCHITECT(1)
看來當年的英格蘭人辦事更加嚴謹，更加公式化。
前後150年裏，這監獄一共執行了16次絞刑，絞刑犯的罪名隻有兩種，謀殺或強奸。絞刑常在監獄正門或後院執行，往往有人群聚集圍觀。公開執行的絞刑於1861年被禁止。最後一次被絞刑處決的犯人叫Charles Hines，罪名是強奸繼女。但他直到最後一口氣，堅持清白。據說他的最後一句話是: “I am not guilty of the crime with which I was charged, and I told the judge so, but he would not believe me. May the Lord have mercy on our souls. Goodbye all.”
這些年，還發生了兩件大事。1977年，發生了一起越獄事件。一位叫Denning的囚犯和其他六位通過洗澡間裏的通氣管道爬出越獄。但是成功的越獄是短暫的，兩小時後，經過警察大規模的追捕，全部被抓獲。
1980年，獄警在一間牢房裏發現了一條五米半長的隧道。第二天，告密的囚犯被殺，脖子幾乎被切斷。後來獄警叫來兩水泥卡車將隧道填滿。
我到圖書館翻了一下舊報紙，找到一篇1849年的死刑報道，文章短小精悍，它生動地描述了當時的情景。重要的是，我們可以推論當年對死刑犯的處理方式非常人道，就算和今天許多國家的標準相比。摘錄如下。
'On Monday morning George Waters Ward, convicted at the late Maitland Circuit Court of the murder of Richard Connelly, was executed inside the walls of the Maitland gaol, in the presence of several hundred persons, including a great number of children, and some women. About five minutes past nine o'clock Ward was brought out from the gaol into the yard accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Rusden (who had been with him since six o'clock that morning), C. Prout, Esq., the Under Sheriff, E.D. Day, Esq., Dr. Wilton, Mr. Tristrem, and others. The Rev. Mr. Rusden read prayers, in which Ward joined with apparent fervour. Having reached the scaffold, Mr. Rusden knelt down with the unfortunate man, and passed some minutes in prayer, Ward audibly joining in the responses. About twelve minutes past nine Ward mounted the scaffold, Mr. Rusden still accompanying him, and the executioner following. On reaching the platform Ward called out in a clear firm voice, 'Good bye, Mr. Tristem, God bless you, and you all', looking round on the crowd. Having engaged in prayer with Mr. Rusden for a minute or two, Ward addressed the crowd assembled nearly as follows: "My friends, I am going to die this day, and I hope that you will take warning by me and keep from drink, and that if any of you ever give evidence in a court of justice you will speak the truth. I am not going to accuse any one, but I will only say that some spoke the truth on my trial, and some spoke false. I die in peace with all the world, and in the hope of a better life. I pray for you all, and hope you will all take warning by my example". The executioner then fastened the rope round Ward's neck, and put a white cap over his head and face, during which Mr. Rusden continued praying and Ward joining with him. Mr. Rusden then left the scaffold, and the bolt being drawn, the wretched man fell, and died after struggling convulsively for a few minutes. Ward's bearing on the scaffold was firm and composed throughout'
這裏還有一段關於WARD是否清白的記錄。
It will be observed that in his last address Ward did not say a word as to whether he was guilty or innocent. We believe he had, to all who visited him during his confinement, maintained his innocence of the murder of Connolly, and on Sunday morning he added that within a year he felt assured that his innocence would be made clear to all. In the course of Sunday, however, Mr. Prout, the Under Sheriff, arrived with the death-warrant, which he read to Ward, and in the course of conversation with the unfortunate man Mr. Prout urged him to tell the truth before he died ;Ward asserted his innocence, and complained that the witness M'Guire had not sufficiently identified him as one of the two men he saw at the fire. Mr. Prout remarked that there was so much evidence against him altogether irrespective of M'Guire's that no one could doubt his guilt ; and that another proof had since been afforded, inasmuch as Dr Jenkins's gold watch had been offered for sale in Maitland. Ward eagerly replied that that was impossible, for he could prove that it never had been offered for sale in Maitland. Mr. Prout immediately replied that answer had condemned him, for how could he possibly know whether the watch had been presented for sale if he did not know where it was ; it was ascertained that the murdered man had taken this watch before he left, and now he had admitted that he knew where the watch was. Ward made no reply, but sat down trembling, and visibly disconcerted. After that moment, we understand, he made no further professions of innocence.
多年來我還沒有聽說過澳洲有過重大冤情，因此也不具備出產包青天的土壤。
1 監獄前麵的法庭
2 法庭後麵庭警的辦公室。
3 也還雄偉的監獄
4 高牆
5 停車場
6 如今成了博物館
8 有點古色古香
9 正門
10 行政建築
11 有點不寒而栗
