The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-31 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM BOROUGH PRISON.

BIRMINGHAM. Trent:inv.
This morning her Majesty's Commissioners ap-
pointed for the purpose assembled at the Queen's Hotel, in
this town, to inquire into certain allegations contained in a
memorial sometime since presented to Lord Palmerston. in
reference to certain cruelties practised towards the p:isonen
etrolined in the gaol of this town.
The Commissioners are—Mr. Weisby, the Itte.irdrr of
Cheater; Captain Williams, Inspector of Prisons; and Dr.
Bailey, Medical Superintendent of Minhonk.
The Town Clerk attended on the par: of the mayor and
corporation ; Mr. Wills and Mr. W. Jam!s,with their clerk
(Mr. Barlow), represented the visiting justices; Mr.Cuther
and Mr. Allday for the memorialists; and Mr. Rupert
Kettle, of the Oxford circuit, for Lieut Austin, the xaoler.

The cemmie.ieners were authorised " to make a diligent
and strict inquiry by all lawful ways and means, and to
report in v citing what abuses have existed in the man ige- •
mutt of the prison and the treatment of the prisoners
there confined, and, if any such abuses should he found to
exist, what regulations may be necessary or proper far the I
correction of the same and for the prevention of a recur-
rence of similar abuses," etc., with usual power to cell wit-
ice saes.
The Chief Commissioner stated generally the ccurso of
proc,edirg which it was proposed to adopt. They had been
appointed (he said) to inquire into certain abuses alleged to
exist in this gaol, to report thereon, and it any abuses slid
' exist, t ) suggest what correet.on was necessary.
They could nut permit the inquiry to be conducted
in a litigated manner, vs an issue to be tried
be•wcen contending parties, consequently no per-
sons would be permitted as counsel or to adefre
the court either for one party or the other; but all the
evidence that was possible to be obtained would be taken,
and any persons who thought fit to suggest witnesses able to
give evidence on matters of tact—not mere rumoun—might
do so. All questions must be put through the commis-
sioners ; and after all the evidence had teen taken beer•
ing on the allegations contalued in toe memorial, thou
any evidence tendered on the pert of those who were im-
plicated in tie ell grations would taken.
Mr. Allday s.dd that he appeared before the commis-
sioners to tender the evidence of persons who had come for-
ward voluntarily and made statements.
The Chief Commissioner said it would he inconsistent
with the character of the inquiry if they allowed any indi-
vidual to cone:act it. All the questions must be put
through the commissioners.
Mr. Kettle suggested that the commissioners should in
spect the wards of the prison.
The Chief Commissioner replied that it was their inten-
qui to do so.
Mr. Wills, on the part of the visitina justices, informed
the commessioners that at a meeting of that body on the
27th of August they had passed a resolution deputing some
of their number to attend the inquiry with their clerk,
and afford the c ,mmissionen every facility possible in the
prosecution of their inquiry; they would attend for the
purpose from day to day, taking no part whatever, except
that their clerk would make them acquainted with any cir-
cumstances which occurred requiring tacit attention.
The Chief Commissioner—My brother commissioners con-
cur with me in the opinion that the visiting magistrate,
have taken exactly the course which became gentlemen in
their position.
The Town Clerk produced the Secretary of State's certi-
ficate that it was a fit and proper prison for the reception of
prisoners.
The Commissioners then called for all the journals and
books belonging to the prison from its commencement;
also the commitment books, and all the discipline book,.
The first witness caned was John Dodson. Ile said—l
am 64 years of age. In the month of April I was before
the magistrates for non-p►yment of my wife's maintenance.
I was committed to gaol for a month. I did not bear the
magistrates say whether it was to be accompanied by hard
labour. At the time I had a diseased chest, and had been
for some time under medical care. When I arr.vcel at the
gaul I was stripped awl weighed, and examined in the pre-
sence of two officers I bad to walk across a passage naked
to the wash-house. I was sent back to dress, and from
thence to a cell. This was on a S eturday. Oa the follow

ing Wednesday I was put to hard labour. I told the surgeon
I had a diseased chest. I was put to the hard labour crank,
but was usable to do the work, and afterwards the labour
was reduced.

Captain Williams—Were the 'ales of the gaol ever read

er to you ?

Witness—No, . I complained to the time-keeper,
and expressed • wish to see the doctor. I said that I was
not able to work, and applied for medicine. After I had
taken it I had severe vomitings and purgings. I was very
ill, and rang tb bell, but nobody answered. When the
time-keeper cane I told him that I couldn't work ; I lay
os the floor at the time, and he said I must work. He
took my jacket and waistcoat from me, so that I shouldn't
have anything to protect me from the cold floor.
I remained in the crank cell till it was dark iu
the evening, when I was ordered to my own cell.
The neat day I was worse. I was almost double, and I
told the doctor distinctly that I could not work On that
day I rang the bell five times. I told them that I wanted
some assistance, I was dying. The officer who came said,
" You are • troublesome fellow—if you ring again I'll tie
you up to the wall." At this time I has been in gaol four
days. The governor came to my tell ; he said, " You are
a blackguard." At that time 1 was not able to stand up-
right. I was nearly double, and he threatened to horse-
whip me.
Captain Williams—Will you swear that the governor
used the wor.l" horsewhip ?"
Witness—Yes, he did.
Captain Williams—Was your supper stopped that day
because you hadn't done your world ?
Witness—lt was. I told them I was a murdertd man—
that I was unable to work.
Captain Wiliiams—Had you ever bread and water only?
Witness—No, I had not. I heard the governor say that
I was not to h►ve any supper. I was left in the cell
alone at night in the dark ; the warder came
and found me on the floor. Just before that
time I heard somebody groaning, and begging for
mercy ; it WAS a boy's voice. At that time I was so ill that
latterapted to destroy myself by hanging; and fastened my
handkerchief to a hook in the wall, and placed it round my
neck. The knot slipped, and I fell on the floor, and lay
there so long that it seemed to be midnight. At last they
came and ordered me to my cell. I was very ill there all
the night, and the next morning I was ordered to clean my
cell. The warder saw me lying on my aide washing it.
That day I saw the chaplain, and complained to him. I
begged for • little water. The doctor did not
come that day, and at night I was worse. The watchman
came to me in the night. I was in a most frightful state,
and he gave me • little of his own coffee. I preferred re
maiming where 1 was for the rest of the night. The next
morning I was removed to the infirmary and remained
there during the rest of my term of imprisonment. The
governor came to me there ever, day, and generally I was
well treated in the infirmary. I had never been in prison
before.

Chief Commissioner—Did you do all the work you could ?
Witneu—l did. I never had a blister on. When I left
the prison I thanked the gaoler for all favours during the
last fortnight, but I did not say to him "that be had be
hayed like an angel." I was in bed a fortnight or three
weeks after I left the prison, and was obliged to have a
medical attendant. Mr. Lucy was the only ?lofting jus-
lice I saw whilst I was at the gaol ; he went through the
infirmary so quickly that I hadn't time to complain to
hint. The gaol rules were not hung up in the infirmary,
sad they were taken out of the celL
John Norton, formerly an infirmary warder in the gaol,
gave information to the commissionons that the gaoler was
in the habit of confining hit officers within the precincts of
the prison for *light offences for a week together. The
witness was at the gaol at the time Dodson was there ;
mixed salts and sena' for him by order of the doctor. lie
(witness) was in the habit of going round with the our•
geon, who generally said to the prisoners—" Anything the
mattes, with you today ?" But he did not remain long
enough for them to answer.
Mr. .1. 11. Blunt, the gaol surgeon. was next called. He
said—At the time Dodson cam,. into the gaol be was in a
stated health that I would have c 'mated to the order
*for him to be stripped for the bath. lie complained that
he was unable to do the crank work, and I gave him full
time to make complaints as to the este of his health.
Captain Williams—ls it recorded in your journal what he
was suffering from ?
Witness—No.
Captain Williams—Then you are not complying with the
regulation in the statute.
Witness—l thought he was making the meet of his tr .0-
bits end ailments. I inferred that from his manner and
g I character.
Chief Commissioner—liow did you know his character?
With...a—Flom what I bad heard.
Mr. Bailey—Did you feel his pulse or his heart?
Witness—l don't know. I thought the man able to do
his work. The witness was examined at some length by

Captain Williams on the subject of the entries made in his
journal at the time Dodson became a patien: in the infirmary.
Would not swear that he ever remained wit SS him in the
crank cell f,r tire minutes. Detected gout in Cie patient's
at )mach, and administered colchicum, the action of which
proved excessively debilitating.
Chid' Commissioner—Did you ever apply a blister?
Witness—l am not certain ; perhaps I might.
I Chief Commissioner—Let ins advise you to be very
careful. Dodson has sworn posi;.veiy that there never was
; a blister.

Witness—Perbaps I don't rememb:r. I didn't anticipate

Captain Williams—But do you not know that the regula•
tions require you to enter it.to your journal, in plain
English, an account of all the medicines you administer or
ordt r ?
Witness—That was not the practice.

The witness then underwen;a long examination on the
subject of the treatment of priaanen at the infirmary, and
in reference to prisoners being left ill in their calls without
the attendance of a warder and dying there. With re-
ference to the crank labour, he bah. it we. the practice to
put prisoners to it with the view to test their capability (or
work. The visiting justices never complained of the act or
parliament not being complied with in the non-entry of the
medicines administered in the journal. liis (witne,s's)
salary was 14' 1. per annum, far which he attended from
three to five daily, but did not see every• prisoner twice a
week. _

The Rev. Mr. Sherwin, the chaplain, deposed that Dod-
son was always ill. On one occasion he (witness) found
him lying on the floor cf hi* cell in the day-time. lie
expressed his opinion that Dodson was too old a man to be
put to crank labeur ; La asked the warder why he was put
to it, and the reply was that the surgeon said he could do it.
On one occasion Dodson begged for a little water, which
witness obtained for him; he did not otherwise complain,
or say that he had at'euipted to commit suicide.

Mr. R. Ildl, the surgeon, who attended Dodson after he
left the gaol, said that at that limo he was is a most de-
blasted couilttion—to such an extent that he could
scarce:y speak, and vomitA all his food. Witness attended
him for sareal weeks, and he was actually confined to his
bed a fortnight. _ .

At .5 o'clock the inquiry was adjourned ; it is expected to
occupy a week or ten days.

THE MAIDSTONE CHURCH RATE CONTEST.

The polling in this contest was maintained with
tile greatest vigour and perseverance from the close of the
vestry proceedings on Thursday morning last to yesterday
(MAILlay) evening. Ear lid:owing is the state of the poll
on each successive day to Monday evening:
For. Against.
Ist day—Thursday
2nd „ —Friday
3rd „ —Sa.urday
4th „ —Monday B7 .... 126

Total

These numbers, however, give but a faint indication of
the state of pubiic opinion respecting the question of church
rates. Up to Saturday night the vote, given were—For
the rate, 'J39 ; against it, 999; but as a considerable num-
ber of persons are entitled under Sturges Bourne's Act to
more than one vote on account of the property they occupy,
the disparity between the votes recorded and the persons
giving them is larger then might be supposed. The rate-
payers who had polled up to Saturday night were—For the
rate, 561; against, 876; giving a majority at that time
against the rate of 317. On Monday night the number of
persons polled wea-wfur, 643; against, 1,003; majority
against, 360.

The supporters of the rate, hopeless of a favourable issue
for themselves, abandoned the struggle at halt-put four
o'clock, the majority of votes ogainst the rate being then
93, and the majority of opposing rate payers 360.—South
Eiders Gazelle.