Whoever,
being a public servant legally bound as such public servant to keep in confinement any person charged
with or convicted of any offence 1
[or lawfully committed to custody], negligently suffers such person to
escape from confinement, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to
two years, or with fine, or with both.
1. Ins. by Act 27 of 1870, s. 8.