The National Register.
London, England, 1822-04-14 00:00:00

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THE NATIONAL REGISTER

MR. RUA T.

Among the numerous charges brought by Mr.
Hunt against Mr. Bridle, the late Governor of B.
chester Gaol, was one— . _

" Fur inflicting tortare upon the prisoners, male, female,
and infants, lids imam to the Alagis.ti
The following is the evidence of ONE only of
the witnesses brought forward to subsantiate that
&large:-
1110:+MS GARDNER called in, and sworn. (Mum-
speak the truth.)

Are you a prieoniriith'e gaol ?—Yes.
How lima have you been au?—Fourteen months.
Examined by Mr.lliint.—What were you first punished
for after count% betel—Fur having two chissels more than
allowed.
ll'llat have you been employed at since you came here?
—Stone cutting.
N as it ter having four chissels lastead of two that you
wet e punished?—Yes.
At that lime did you know of any rule that it was an
offence to have four chissels to work
Could yon du your work tasks- with four than two?—
Yes, and better.
-What ptudelintent was enforced upon von for Boat?-1
had a large log of wood and a chain locked on my leg.
How lung was that continued three?—Seven clays and
Melds at the least, and my wages stopped, and we had
beet which was allowed at that time stopped elso.
Was Mete any complaint made of your neglecting your
wink at that time ?—No, nothing but having this chissels.
For what were you punished the next tieue?—For
s:liking one of my fellow ;mamma a.
Was it a violent blow ?—Nu, I just struck him with the
beet: of my baud.
Did that ;titivate complain of you ?—No but one of
the other did, the 1111111 that was struckl begged it
might atot be reported.
What was done upon its lacing reported ?—Mr. Pike
was coming in with hand-bolts for another prisoner, and
he clapped them Oil me, the hist day behind soy back.
Wait your hands atter that bolted in hum e—l'us.
How long were you in that situatiott e--Nine days, they
were taken oft' by night.
Were you lucked tip all that time?—Yes, by day I was
locked iu a clink cell, mad at night I was put into my own
cell.
Were yon taken ill on Monday ?—Yes, and I was taken
with a pain in my inside, and Lad bleedMg at the nose,
Willett Win very violeut, and continued halt nut hour.
Did the doctor come to see you ?—Yes, he came after I
had been there three days. 1 lie young doctor, Al
Va-
lentine, the assistant. Ile asked me what was the matter
with me? I told hint I Mad a stay bad pain in my inside,
and bleeding at the nose. The pain still continued. He
told me nothing was the matter with me; 1 told him Mete
was.
Were you well enough to eat ?—No, I ate nothing far
three days.
Could y on drink ?—Yes, any thitig, I was so thirsty.
Did the doctor come to see yon after that?—No; at
the end of the fortnight I was cis.l down to Mr. Bilule ;
Mr. Pike had asked me whether I wanted to see alr.
Braille, and 1 told him yes. Iu consequence 1 was sent
for down.
Where did yen see Mr. Bridle?—ln the front court.
Mr. Blithe asked Mr. Pike whether I made application
to come down; Mrs Pike said uo ; upon which Mr. Bridle
said, ** 'Peke hint up again, Mr. Pike, for he's not well
4et." 1 was then taken to the solitary cid again.
What Imppetied after that :—The text night I had my
head shaved, and a binder applied to it, and a strait jacket
was put ou me at the same time, and 1 was made a laugh-
ing stuck of.
Who shaved your bead Carter, a prisoner
who was cast for dealt.
Who made it laughing-stock of yon?—Mr. Pike; and I
had any clothes taken troll me, nod I was put to bed with
a strait waistcoat on, and at about eight o'clock Mr. Pike
came and saw the Mister shoved ott a little, and bald I
bill been trying to get it MI: he teen took any cap, and
mined it inside out, put the blister on agent, and tied tlie
cep tight under my chin with a striae', and I remained in
that state all that night, and the next meaning Mr. Pike
and Carter came and took the blister off. Air. Pike asked
if it hail lose. 1 told I I it'd not know.
Had the blister given you Any paiiii—Yes, it was like
pins and needles in Hay head.
Did Mr. Pike put it on again ?—Yes, with a band; lie
put it Oil firmer, with nay cap over it, and the tassel inside,
which hurt my bead vet y emelt ; about twelve ill the day
it pained rue worse; I began crying, and rteubed it oil
with the cap against the wall, skin and all. I got the
blister into the chamber-pot, although I lied the strait
waistcoat on; I was half an hour getting it there. Mr.
Pike then came tip, and asked what was the matter; I
asked him to go down end to see Mr. Ili idle, and ask loin
if he would please to (aegis e tee. He said lie would go
'down and till Air. Bridie that I wanted to see line, lle
cause up again in anent an boor and a ball, and SAW the
Waster auJ bandage elf, and naked me where was the blis-
ter. I told lies I hod put it into the chamber-pot; upon
which lie still, "111:101 (I—d 3.611 he
WOlll4l en down mid let Mr. Blithe kuusv of it, acid he
would have another blister put un.
Did lie putt another blister alit ?—No.
Did he put any plaster oil ?—Not till the (veiling, just
before I was put to bed. It was brought up by Canter,
and Pike came up directly atter. They put it °limy head.
How long was the snail waistcoat Kt pt on you ?—About
twelve days iu the whole, without tieing taken ell, acept
to malriss and Mess ire. I slept in it. lite Seedily 101-
hawing I was had down bebure Alt. 111 hale. I thrug,ht it
was *my hard I was kept lucked up so long, and began
Cl) ing ; and Mr. Pike took me down to Mr. Bridle. I
liadiwt the strait waistcoat ou me then; it was taken 01l
in the ttioriting for me to walk in the must; 1 waited at
the door half all hour, end Mr. Bantle then came to the
door, and asked me how I was; mid I told Mon I was ea-
thPr better, but sery bail (lieu. Mr. Bridle then said,
" He's not well yet, put libel tip again, Pike.'
Did you ask hint to faigive aen?--Yes, I almost went
duwu on my knees cut hint to forgive me; lie said, " Olt,
11U I I caimot forgive you; I must have another blister put
oat you and 1 shall beer more of that hair shaved oft;'
and he, looked at toy head. I was look from theme to the
cell agent. After three or feu, days I sew Mr. Bridle
again, and lie asked how I was; 1 told him better, and
asked bias to forgive tic. Tlatar he told Me. Pike to let