The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-03-14 00:00:00

THE CLERKENWELL EXPLOSION.

In the House of Commons, on Monday night, Mr.
Lewis asked the Secretary of State for the Home
Department whether, as had been publicly stated,
either the Government or the Chief Commissioner of
Police had information, previously to the commission
of the crime, of a design to blow up or otherwise attack
Clerkenwell Prison, and, if so, whether there was any
objection to state what precautionary or preventive
measures were taken in consequence.
Mr. Hardy thought it very natural that the hon.
gentleman should wish for such information as it was
in his power to give in reference to the lamentable oc-
currence at Clerkenwell. In answer to the first part
' of the question, be might state that on the 12th of
December last a report was received at the Horne-office
at about twelve o'clock in the day, or a little after, to
I the following effect. He would not give the name of
I the person who sent the report because he did not
I think that would be advisable :
December 11, 1867.
I have to report that I have just received information
from a reliable source to the effect that the rescue of
Rickard Burke from prison in London is contemplated.
The plan is to blow up the exercise walls by means of gun-
powder ; the hour, between 3 and 4pm and the signal
Ilor all right," white ball thrown up outside when he Is at
exercise.

That information thus received, and coming, as was
thought, from a source on which reliance could be placed, i
Mr. Liddell, the Under,Secretary for the Home De-
partment, immediately sent to the Chief Commissioner ,
of police. Sir R. Mayne was not at the office at the
time it arrived, but Captain Labalmondiere was there, •
and the report was at once put into his hands that he
might see it. At the same time a letter was written ,
by Mr. Liddell to Mr. Powell. the Chairman of the
Visiting Justices, and despatched by a messenger, and
was deliverect to that gentleman that afternoon. He did
, not know whether he need go through the cir-
cumstances which had appeared generally in the
newspapers, as to the promptitude with which
Mr. Pownall acted; the careful 'precautionary
measures he took in order, if the walls of the prison
were injured, to prevent an attempt at escape by the
prisoner Burke ; the extra warders employed to afford
additional protection, and the alterations made in the
usual time and place of the exercising of the prisoners;
so that, as far as Mr. Pownall was concerned—though
he had not time to assemble the magistrates—action
Was taken with that care and promptitude which were
calculated to prevent any attempt at rescue which
might be made. Captain Labalmondiere was at the
Home-office between twelve and one o'clock, because
the order which he wrote to the Superintendent of
Police was dated 12.45, which showed that Captain
Labalmondiere had then received the information in
question. He would read to the House the instruc-
tions which Captain Labalmondiere gave on receipt of
that report. They were handed to Superintendent
Gernon, and before he left the office the Chief Com-
missioner came in. when that document was handed
to him and he gave instructions to Superintendent
Gernon to the like effect, only they were more specific,
stating the force of police which was to housed
Superintendent Gee on,—Acousint the Governor of the
House of Detention that inhumation has been received of
inteuden rescue of the prisoner Burke, to be effected by
blowing up the walls of the exerciting ground during the
hours he is at exercise. Have the external walls carefully
exandiled to ascertain that there has been no attempt to
seine, and arrange for strict observation to be kept ou
then, —l2 45 pm.
In his report on the occurrence Sir R. Mayne
stated :
, The pones arrangements made by Superintendent (for-
site, in pursuance of my directions, were to post a doubts
, patrol of two police.constables, and three police-constables
were employed in plain clothes, all of whom were strictly
; instructed, together with section sergeants, to keep close ob-
servation on all persons loitering round the pawn Walls,
and to give Immediate information to the inspector on duty
t at King's-cross station should anything suspicious arise.
There were also five police-constables in unitorm and three
in plain clothes on duty round the prison walls.
At the salllo time Inspector Thompson was seat by