The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-14 00:00:00

Maeonachie told Vets that he had received advances from
KRIM on his private account, aad that these sums
were to he liquidated out of his salary. Mr. Kettle added
that he told the mayor and one or two members of the
tiosnec cemmittre of the circumstance. Capt. Maeonochie
eutsequently signed the statement of account which was
wade out against him.
Capt. Maconuchie said that it Wes the height of cruelty
that tins matter should be brought forward now ; two or
three pars WO, the very fullest answer to it could have
beta gives; as it was he could not believe that any
mew.• would be rimied on him, especially having in view
the t.enestness with which ho pressed on the justices to say
what his fault. were before he left the gaol. They declined
to aloe him say iaturrsation on that subject, but so far as
ke was concerned, it at least showed a consciousness of in-
Invitee.
Mr. William Wilts, the present chairman of the visiting
jecsee, was next examined.—lle deposed—l became chair-
man of the visiting justices in April last, having been •
visiting justice a year or two previously. I never heard of
the use of the handcuff. in Capt. Muonochie's time ; I had
heard that there was one strait-jacket of the ordinary kind,
which was occuionally used. Since Lieut. Austin has brio
gammen f hal heard of the strapping to the wall un-
til 3rd of May, in the pr sent year. I then acquired a
knowleolie of the Esc% and also of the existence of two
ceders oaly. I also then discovers el that there were modes
of punishment carried on in the gaol which were illegal. I
themcdistaly ntioned the eircumstanee to Mr. James, and
be informed me that he knew nothing whatever about
then We went to the gaol tog. they, and we ascertained
thst the jacket and straps and collar were used as • means
of punishment. I told the governor that these punishments
erre highly i aproper, and I desired that under any cir-
Cumstances they were sever to be inflicted sitain. I ordered
the only two collate I saw to be lucked up and laid aside ;
and having heard from the chaplain that there was a sys-
tem of Sunday punishments towards children, by putting
them on bread and water, this I put • stop to.
Mr. Welsby—Do Tie approve of the punishments that
hare twee married on in this Rant—the strapping to the
wall, the deprivation sit food end of bed and ass ?
Mr. Willa—Cerainly not. I am • father and grand-
father. and sot only should not serialise, but highly dis-
approve of such punishment..
Mr Welsby—When the magistrates made their inqi.iry
did thee examine Lawson
' •' ' _ . _

Mr. Wills—They did not. I admit that I was excited at
the time, and I told him 1 di I not believe a word he said,
nor would I that of any man who had known of such
nonishinents be described for months sad never made them
known. We took the memorial, and examined all our
etScers in teepee to the allegations made in it. We had no
power to admit.ister an oath, and we did not examine dis-
charged vegan.
Mr. Welaby—And, upon an examination so condoeted,
you cams to the conclosi.,n, with reference to the allegations
of Lawson, that his them' against the warden were not
substantiated; and that with reference to the loaves being
toad in the cell and left there for • time by the warder,
that statement was also 'intros?

ter Will.—Yes; that was this report of the 20:h of April.
Rathbun.. afterwards varied his statement,

W.lsey—l think that the findiiig.;f the justices was
inemcistent even with the (dint& they had before them.
d.ny what Lawson says about the boys being deprived
of ford for days together, whereas that was a very common
centrum& ? . .

Mr. Willa—lt was denied by all the witnesses before us;
I know it was sorifm..

Mr, Welsby— t s admitted by almost every witness.
Mr, was quite shocked to hear it.
Mr. Wdsby—Who were the visiting juliers said by Mr.
Aisne to have seen prisoners in the collar and straps ?
Mr. Wills—lt was Mr. Le-7 and Mr. Luekeock. 1 must
Mg to state that 1 courtly deny using the words imputed
to me by the chaplain, that he bad loco misled by a tissue
of la s._.lvhould be ashamed to use such words.

Dlr.Uelsby—Dii you ever discourage the chaplain from
making complaints about occurrences in the gaol ?
Mr. Wills—Certainly not. I consider that to point out
improprieties was one of the special purposes for which be
was placed there. I mutt repeat, that I knew noti ing of
the :punishments going on in the gaol, and have been
shocked to hear of them.
Mr. Perry, the Prison Inspector, was next called and
examined. Ile stated, w ith reference to a passage contained
in his last report, that "the prison punishments in this gaol
were not of any moguitude;" that be never knew what
pasishments were going on, inasmuch As they were not re-
corded in the punishment-book ; and he added that he had on
one occasion warned Mr. Austin that he had been obliged
to report Leicester gaol to the ll9me-office, because boys
RCM deprived of their food for not doing their crank labour,
and at the same time drawing his attention to the clause in
the particular act of parliament, which fixed the limit of his
authority as governor to punish prisoners.
Mr. Welsby asked him—Did you think that what was
going on in the gaol was sanctioned by the magistrates ?
Mr. Perry—After the suicide of Andrews I saw two of
the visiting justices at the gaol, Mr. Wills and Mr. James,
and they said with great candour that whatever had been
done they had authorised. I told them to be careful how
they made such an admission, because they might not be
aware of the extent to which the punishments had been
carried.

Mr. Wills and Mr. James both rose immediately and &F-
-iled that they had ever admitted that all done at the gaol
had had the sanction of the visiting justices.
Lieut. Austin also denied all recollection of the caueon
spoken to Mr. Perry ever having been given to him ; but
(he said) his opinion had Dena that fur all he did he was
authorised by the law.
And with Mr Austin's denial this unexampled inquiry
closed ; but before the court broke up, Mr. Wrlsby read
the following opinion of the Commissioners in reference to
the extraordinary charge against Capt. Etseonechie :
"The commissioners having thought it right to investigate
the matter relating to Captain Maconochie's having, as was
ell ged, made a misappropriation of monies advanced to
him fur the use of the gaol, but feeling, at the same time,
that that is a matter not within the limits of the report they
will have to make, think it right that they should not with-
hold the expression of the opinion they have formed on this
matter; and that opinion is founded on the examination of
the books, on the evidence of Mr. Kettle, on the state.
meat and conduct of Captain Maeonochie himself,
and on the conduct of the saagistrutes in their sub-
sequent communi-ations and Immtmetions with Captain
blicebochie ; and of the eironalManeee under which this
thug* has been now for MN fleet titue gehMely made, is
this:—' That the Commissioners see no saident ground
for male( to a conclusion that Captain 'bemoans was
guilty of any criminal misappropriation of the borough
fends, or of any intention to misappropriate them.'"
The 'editors marked their empathy and arneurrenee
i• the above sentiments by a shout of applause ; and then,
after the interchange of mutual courtesies between the
memorialists and the commissioners, and Mr. Wills on
behalf of the magistrates, the court rose at six o'clock,
Mr. Webby, on behalf of himself and hie brother east-
siesioson, conveying his spooled thanks to the polies
tar the eeeirtaaee they had rasiorsd them is askiiliq
sad yrreerriag order throughout tits he dry.

BAR.VsTAPLE BRIBERY COMMISSION.

BARNSTAPLE, MOXDAT MOUT.
The commissioners sat again to-day. In the course
of the proceedings,
Samuel Feetherobants leaded in a list of yeast almost
exelesiety 101. Issemeamilien; to whom, mi he their wine,
sisters, or diarist's", be, alter the elation, paid money,
gyamally 61., on haat of Brewed(' sad lhaser. Witness
rental the mama! 1401., in a roam tie•searrr at Mr.
Ness's. Wain had *ea eiMmmaration for
kis senior. bet bail yet non imaing ea Is bet was
U. les. est of gasket. Tint ansiseollodant =limy woad
be gas sheet saes Vella oa the amnia of lbs abase,
hot did ea know has sash till the day ase.
&WNW whams having mead slimy after
wing list Illseariege and Frew.
Kr. T. L. Gas, seamed a Romig. ad Fraser,
sad had a list of voters to whoa be mousy for so
oniag ; sem es the day of elation, seas a/awards.
Mr. J. L. Wank benalsolder, local editor of Wools's'',
Esau owl No* Deem (image, took an active past on
*MU of sag Truer, the gentlemen conducting
their anion easing anearitly et Isis how*. Received
small sae la mm)mnolem with Mr. Patter and Mr. Young,
daring the amiss, aid M. after Ss election from Mr.
Saville. The ma omme received before the election were
*money oat el yeast, and the 3001. after the election
led been already messnied for to the commissioners. Wit-
less made the bet gegasts to voters some time after the
election, masa, to WI. On the night of the nomina-
tion Bremridge mellamed to spend money illegally,
and witness, with the pasigal agents of the party, was
of opinion that theisessenid set save the election. On the
polltng rn moing, sle o'clock, witness heard from
Young that mosey was to be spent, but took care not
to know what was gag on. Thought Mr. Bremridge
knew nothing about it, although hearse two or three times
to the polling room during the day. Witness maw many
mien go into Mr. Petter's room ; but did not know they
were to be paid for voting. Supposed they only went to
Isok at the mosey. (Laughter.) Had received nothing for
his own services, or the use of his room., nor benefited in
at., any, directly or indirectly, by the election. After the
election, saw the various sums of money paid to voters by
Mr. Young and Mr. Petter. Was of opinion, so far as re-
tarded I certain clue, that the householders were quite as
bbd as the freemen, it not worse. The difference amounted
to only eight or ten between the two, out of the whole num-
ber bribed.
Mr. Kingsoo said there were three times as many house-
holders as freemen in the borough.
The Chief COMMIOW9OOf —Well. WO will not dispute
about that. The conservatives, I suppose do not want to
t.-inalify the householders, and the liberals do not with to
the votes of the freemen. (Laughter.)
SG. .1. Greek Stated that be gave 61. to a voter named
Poulson on behalf of Breniridge and Fraser, and 61. to
Mrs. Drew,, wife of John Drewe. Witness did not pay
money to Mrs. Drew*, but they owed him 61. for good., and
witness knowing he would get the money from Mr. ettey
gave a receipt for the amount. When Mrs. Drewe found
De would have to come before the commissioners she WU
very uuch ashamed, and brought back the tit. to witness.
Witness took it to Mr. Petter, but that gentleman refused
to receive it, and witness had it yet.
Drew. and his wife had persisted in denying throughout
along examination the fact of having received any money
*other consideration for the vote, and the commissioners
tonsequently directed that they should again be called.
upon their appearance, having been sworn, they both ad-
mitted the accuracy of Mr. Greek's statement, and were
reprimanded by the commissioner for " concealment upon
oath." which was equally liable to punishment with direct
hisehoud.
Adjourned till Tuesday.