The Express.
London, England, 1865-12-29 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, 1865.

THE ESCAPE OF STEPHEN'S.
The proposed proposed inquiry by the Board of Superin-
tends's.* into the circumstances connected with the comps
of James Stephens from Richmond Briduell has coi-
ns board met at eleven o'clock (says Saunders'
ilnit on Wedoseday, at the Bilious% for the purpose of
holding the investigatioe and the following summary of
what took place en the ocourloo will show the reason why
the inquiry was not proceeded with, sad of the opinions
serried on the subject by the several members. The
chair wssoompied by the Lord Mayor, who, In opening the
proosedinp, said hedid not feel that the board were in the
politico of perecinswho were blameable in this matter, and be
expressed ins opinioa that in conducting the inquiry they
should simply cosine themselves to vindicating the
character of the board, without meting censure upon the
government.—Mr. Magrath did not think it possible they
could esny on an investigation without implicating others.
Mr. Cessos said it wee not the intention of the board to
oast censure co the government, but baring regard to
the facts that they had been refused a copy
of the entries taken by the inspectomgeneral of
prisons, and that one of their privileges bad been
withdrawn, they were bound to take every means to
remove the censures which had been cast upon there.
—Mr. Devitt exprueed his concurrence in what bad
fallen from the Lord Mayor, and his belief that the board
would be able to vindicate all its proceedinp in the most
complete manner.—Alderman If 'Swiney said they should
seek the truth, and they would accordingly be obliged to
say which of three parties—namely, the government, the
governor who was appointed by the government, or the
board of superb:Modulo—was to blame.—Alderman Ter-
m complaised that the board had been insulted, and said
he would reserve to himself the right of judging as to who
was accountable for the escape of Stephens.—Mr. Martin,
secretary to the beard, mentioned, at the re-
quest of the Lord Mayor, that a notice of the
intention to hold the inquiry bad been gives to Mr.
Osvin, the local inspector ; Mr. Marquis, the late
governor ; Mr. Ybilpotts, the deputy governor ; Mr. Maher,
the warder ; the night watchman, and the police who were
on duty on the night of Mephitis's mops, with an intima-
tion of the necessity of their encoding ; and be read a
letter from the office of the inspectoregeneral of Prisons to
the effect that they did not feel it their duty to attend the
inquiry.—Mr. E. D. Kane, solicitor, said he attended en
the part of Mr. Marquis, the late governor, who, without
meaning the slightest disrespect to the board, and
with every desire to afford all the information in his
power to the board, bad been advised to decline attend-
ing to give evidence, for the following reasons—first,
that be was the principal witnees in a criminal prose-
cotton agaiost one of the officers of the prison, who was
committed on a charge of assisting in the escape of Stephens;
secondly, that he had been already examined by the In-
spectoreauseal of Prisons, who bad taken evidence from
him on oath, a copy of which evidence be had been refused;
and, thirdly, that the copy of his journal and other material
documents were not in his possession. Alderman M 'Swingy
said under those circumstances to proceed with the inquiry
that day would be like the play without the character
of Hamlet Mr. Devitt concurred in this view, and
mentioesd that Mr. Philpotts, the dspity-govenior,
was at present in Sootlaod, giving evidence to a
criminal trial He moved that the inquiry be ad-
journed one die. Mr. O'Brien seconded the resolution.
Alderman 11•Swiasy, Mr. Devitt, and Mr. O'Brien
expressed their belief that the public would be of opinion
that the board had does all they could to vindicate them-
selves, and that the obstacles they had met in so doing were
a perfect justification for their not proceeding any further
that day. Mr. Magrath did not at glamour in this view,
believing that there existed abundance of documentary
and other evidence which it was In the power of the board to
adduce. He moved that they proceed with the evidence
at their command. Alderman 'Tsy seconded the ameod-
ment. The local inspector, he said, was present, and could
be examined. lie (Alderman Tarpey) thought, with Mr.
Magrath, that the public would not be satisfied unless
the board took the mune indicated in the amendment.
Alderman Atkinson did not believe that the public
in general looked upon the board as being blameable
in reference to the escape of Stephens. He thought it
would be unwise to proceed with the inquiry that day
under the circumstances. Mr. Canon was also in favour
of an adjournment. The Lord Mayor, before putting the
amendment, said he bad no doubt that the inquiry at pre-
rent would be ineffectual. He considered Mr. Marquis au
essential witness, and the documentary evidence would
keep until the proper time for bolding the inquiry bad
arrived. The amendment was then put old negatived by a
majority of 6 to 2, the members voting for it being Alder.
man Tarpey and Couotillor Magnith ; and those against it,
Aldermeo Atkinson and M'Swioey ; Councillors Devitt,
Caron, O'Brien, and the Lord Mayor. The motion for
adjournment me dic was then declared carried, and the
' rasa.