The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-30 00:00:00

CHARGES OF CRUELTY AGAINST THE
GOVERNOR OF THE BOROUGH GAOL AT BIR-
MINGHAM.

In consequence of the circulation of rumours that
cruelty was practised towards prisoners in the borough gaol
at Birmingham, an inquiry has been instituted by Mr.
'Perry, the prison inspector, under the express orders of
' Lord Palmerton, the home Secretary. The rumours on
the subject first arose two or three months ago; about that
period %prisoner, named Andrews, a youth, hung himself
in the cell of his prison, making the third suicide, in addi-
tion to I attempts of a like character, sine. the pre
sent governor, Lieutenant Austin, R.N. (who succeeded
Captain Maconochie lets than two years ago) has filled the
situation. This unfortunate youth, who was in a state of
great debility, had impoy d upon him the labour of turning
a 6 lb. crank wheel 10,000 times in a day ; he was dieted on
bread and water, and finally strapped to a wall ; and when
this punishment had been repeatedly inflicted, and exhausted
nature giving way, despair followed, and the youth de-
stroyed himself in the manner described. It appears also
to have been the practice to encase the prisoners in a
strait jacket with a stiff collar and cuffs attached,
which had the effect of greatly galling the limbs of the un-
fortuGate persons so rudely punished; another practice was
to throw buckets of cold water over the prisoners, besides
subjecting them to much other degrading treatment.
A great number of allegations have been made relative to
these mal-practices, by persons employed at the gaol at the
time of their occurrence ; these were set forth with much
minutemen, and finally, after a public meeting on the sub-
ject in Birmingham, a memorial was presented to Lord
Palmerston, praying for inquiry. His lordship directed Mr
Perry, the prison inspector, to institute the same, and the
report of that gentleman having been transmitted to the
Home Secretary, his lordship referred it to the magistrates,
who yesterday in special sessions for the purpose made that
document public, together with their own reply thereto.
The report of the Visiting Justices in reply, was a docu-
ment of such length, that no tins, is left tut to give even an
extract; it set forth minutely the result of a thirteen days'
inquiry into all the offences charged; the conclusion at
which the Justices arrived was, that there was no substan-
tial ground for any of the mil-practices charged, and they
vindicated in the main the system of discipline pursued in
the prison, which had, they averred, not only never been
complained of till this time by the Government Inspector,
but had been passed over and approved by him ; they ad-
mitted the occasional severities, but alleged that these
had been without the knowledge of the Governor;
they declared that the Visiting Justices disapproved
of the system of throwing buckets of water over refrac-
tory prisoners, and they also disapproved of the use of the
strait jacket with its accompanying collar and straps
which the inspector had so strongly cor.demned. They fur-
ther denied that punishments had been aggravated, or the
number of suicides increased since Lieut. Austin bad filled
the office of governor; and finally, they quoted in justifica-
tion the inspector's own report made no longer since than
1852, in which he said of this prison that " the punishments
are few in number and seldom of any magnitude. The of-
fences for which they are inflicted are generally attempts
at communication by rapping on walls, whispering in
chapel during the responses, and ether methods—
acts of insubordination and disobedience are ex-
tremely rare." Prior to the inspection upon which
that report is founded, all or nearly all the punishments
and privations, the legality or propriety of which is now
questioned, were in use with the handcuffs and standing in
the hall. In no degree wishing to complain of the course
which the inspector has pursued, the visiting justices can.
not but express the satisfaction they feel that in forming a
judgment of the conduct of themselves and their officers,
full consideration will be given by Lord Palmerston to this
amongst the various other circumstances of the case.
All the facts are now before the Home Secretary awaiting
the decision of his lordship; in the meantime the public
mind is much excited by reason of the reports of these
prism persecutions, and the result is looked forward to
with corresponding anxiety.

THE INDUSTRIAL AND REFORMATORY IN-
S lITUTIOA FUR BOYS, BEAGMUNT•PLACE,
NEW-ROAD.

This institution, which is intended as an auxiliary
to the Phillip's garden Ragged School, situate in the dis-
trict of All Saints, St. Pancras, has been established to meet
the great difficulty which presents itself to the teachers of
ragged schools—namely, the providing permanent employ
meat for those who are anxious to retrieve their characters
by earning an honest livelihood. It appears that a few
gentlemen, who have long laboured amongst the lowest
classes of this poor and populous locality, became convinced,
as well by their own observation as by the representations
of those they were endeavouring to reclaim, that it is com-
paratively useless to teach them morality and religion with-
out removing them from the atmosphere of vice in which
they dwell, and assisting them to lead an honest life. They
resolved, therefore, as an auxiliary to the raggefi school in
the district, to hire and fit up • small house in order to
afford some of these destitute lads the advantages so much
needed and desired by them—viz., profitable employment
and a well regulatod bone, receiving the proceeds of
their labour towards defraying the expenses, and thus
giving a feeling of independence, which has always been
found so strong an incentive to ood conduct. On the let
of December list, this house was opened, and now eight
boys (most of them very expert thieves) receive religious
and useful secular instruction. During the day they are
taught carpentering by a mechanic regularly engaged for
that purpose, and it is intended in time to teach other trades
in the rams way. The present attempt being so limited,
a conclusion can hardly be formed as to the remunerating
character of the lads' work ; but judging from the amount
already received, it is expected that a considerable part of
the current expenses will be defrayed from this source. A
strict watch is kept on the conduct of the inmates, and
rules and regulations have been framed with the view of
enforcing the most perfect discipline. A comfortable dor-
mitory is provided, and thus they are preserved from the
contamination of the low lodging houses. There is, under
the same roof, a reading-room, which is also open for the
use of the working men in the neighbourhood, at
a very trifling charge, well furnished with sound
useful works, adapted to the poorer classes, to-
gether with several newspapers and periodicals. These
advantages have now been transferred to a nest new
building erected for the purpose in Beaumont-place, New-
road, and which was formally opened last night at a meet-
ing of the friends and supporters of the institution. Lord
Robert Grosvenor, H.P., took the chair, supported by the
Rev. H. W. Armstrong, incumbent of the district, 0. J.
Bowyer, Esq., and several clergymen and gentlemen of the
neighbourhood. The objects and results of the institution
were fully and ably stated by the Chairman, Mr. Arm-
strong and others; and the meeting, which was fully at-
tended, passed off very satisfactorily. It is stated that the
cost of the new building has amounted to 4001., towards
defraying which contributions are much required.