The National Register.
London, England, 1822-04-15 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

.31R. HUNT.

Among the numerous charges brought by Mr.
hunt against Mr. Bridle, the late Governor of Il-
chester (tol, MIS one—
•' Fur inflicting intim e tipnn the prittoners, male, female,
anti intants,iinknown to the MaL:istiate,‘."

The tbilowing is the evidence of a only of
the witnesses brought forward to subsantiute that
/large:—
THOMAS GARDNER called in, and sworn. (Adino-
sii.lied to speak the truth.)
Are you a prisoner in the gaol I—Yes.
114iw long It4ett ynn been so ?-I,oltrteen motithi.
Examined by alt.. Itinit.—What were you lust punished
for alter COMilig htt I: i—hoe Inivang two chissels snore than
allowed.

What have yon been employed at since you came here?
—Stone cutting.
Was it for hoeing four chissels instead of two that you
welt. punished?—Yes.
At that time did you know of any role that it was an
offence to have four chissels to work with 3—No.
Could you du your work easier with futir than too ?
Yes, and better.
Whet punishment was enforced upon you for that ?—I
had it large log ut wood and a chain lacked on my leg.
How long was that emanated tome l—Sieven days and
nights at the least, and loy tinges stopped, and we had
beer witiell was allawed at that time stopped 41.0.
%Vas there any ciMipleiiit made of 'oar neglecting your
wink at that time e-Nu, nothing hut IlaVing ilia C111:041..k.
For ohm were you punished the next time?—For
striking one of my fellow prisoners.
Was it a t lob tit blow ?—No, I just struck him with the
back of my ham,.
Did that prisoner complain of you?—No, but one of
the other men did, the man that was struck begged it
might nut be reported.
11 hat was done upon its being reported h—Mr. Pike
was coming in with hand-bolts fur another poisoner, and
he clapped them on me, the rust day brbiutl niy hack.
your !lauds after that bolted in trout?—Yes.
How twig we le you in that aituettuni...Nine days, they
were taken off by night.
Were you lurked up all that time?—Yes, by day I was
locked in a dui k cell, and at night I was put into my own
cell.
Were yon taken ill on Monday 3—Yes, and I was taken
with a pain in my inside, and had bleeding at the nose,
which was very violent, and continued halt au hour.
Did the doctor come to see yin; ?—Yes, lie came after I
had been their three days. lie young doctor. Mr. Vd-
leutiar, the assistant. lie asked ice what was the matter
%ill. one? I told him I hail a very bad pain in my inside,
and bleeding at the uu e. The pain still continued. lie
told me nothing With the matter with MC; 1 told Wm theme
was.
11 ere you well enough to eat?—No, I ate nothing for
three days.
Could you drink ?—Yes, any thing, I was so thirsty.
Did tint doctor come to see you after that h..-No; at
the end of the fortnight I was had down to Mr. Bridle ;
Mr. Puke had asked 1110 Nlll.lll. r I wanted to see AD.
Brittle, and I told him yes. In eoneequeuce I was sent
fur down.
Wiiere did you seo Mr. Bridle ?—ln the front court.
Mr. Itiidle asked Mr. Pike whether I made applicatiun
to come down ; Mr. Pike edit, no; upon w Inch Mr. Bridle
said, " Take lain tip again, Mr. Pike, for he's nut well
yet." I was then taken to ilie military cell again.
What happened after that ?—The next night I had my
head shaved, and a blister applied to it, and a fillall jacket
was put on me at the Wile time, and 1 was 111.1.10 a laugh-
ing stuck of.
Who Allayed ynnr head?—William Carter, a prisoner
who was cast for death.
W :Au made a laughing-stock of you h—Mr. Pike; and I
had my clothes taken lioui nue, and I was put to bed with
a sti waistcoat on, and at about eight o'clock Mr. Pike
came and saw the Mister shoved utt a little, and said I
liar been trying to get it off; he then took my cap, and
fumed it inside cut, put the blister 011 again, and tied the
cap tight under my ciuu with a string, and I remained 111
that slate an that night, ^a.l the neat morning Mr. Pike
and Carter came and look ti.: blister off. Mr. Pike asked
if it hail rose. I told hint I did nut know.
Had the blister given you any pain ?...Yes, it was like
pins mid needles no any head.
Did Mr. Pike put it on again?—Yes, with a band; he
put it on banter, with toy cap over it, and the tassel inside,
which Wilt niy head very much; about twelve iii the day
it pained me worse; I began my iiig, and rubbed it oil
with the cap against time wall, skin and all. 1 got the
blister into the chamber-pot, although I had the strait
waistcoat on; 1 was half au hour getting it there. 11Ir.
Pike then came up, and asked what was the matter; I
asked him to go down and to see Mr. Bridle, and ask him
if he would please to forgive me. lie said he would go
down and tell Mr. Bridle that 1 wanted to see hint. He
came op again in about an hour and a half, aid SOW the
blister and bandage uff, and asked one wheae wits the bits.
ter. I told lain I had put it into the chamber-pot; upon
*MCI' lie said, " There's d—d impudence ;" and said he
would go down Nutt let Mr. Bridle know at it, mud
he
would have another blister put uu.
Did lie pet another blister on 3—No.
Did he put any plaster un h—Not till the evening, just
before 1 was lint to bed. It was brought op by Carter,
and !Eke came up directly after. They put it un my head.
How long was the 'trait waistcoat kept on you h—About
twelve days in the whole, without being taken off,except
to undress and dress ate. I slept in it. The Sunday fol-
lowing' I was had Join before Mr. Bridle. I thought it
was very hard I was kept locked up so long, and began
ciying; and Mr. Puke took me down to Mr. Bridle. I
bait not the strait waistcoat on tile then ; It was taken oil
in the mmttiimg for me to walk iii the court ; I waited at
the door halt an Ilene, mud Mr. Ilridin then cause to the
end asked nee how 1 was; amid I told hint 1 WAS
thl r littler, but vet y bail then. Mr. Bridle then said,
" lie's unit well yet, pill 111111 up again,
Did you to rut glve you?.—Yes, I almost went
down on my knees for lion to turgiveasC ; 110 said, " Oh,
nu! 1 cahoot to give y tiu ; I lutist have another blister put
on you, andl shell have more of that has' chased etf;"
and lie looked at my head. I was took trolls there to the
mil again. Atter three or four days I /..11? Mr. Bridle
again, amid ht. ioked bow 1 wan ; 1 told ban better, and.
41.1“.11 Hutt to lot give he turd Mt. Pike to let

•
me go down for about a quarter of all hour, and then to
put toe into my cell again.
Our readers will, we are sure, agree with us that
Mr. Hunt deserves the thanks of every friend of
humanity, for having been the means of exposing
such barbarous and fiend-like practices; and some
of them will, perhaps, think that his Majesty's cha-
racter would have shone with additional brilliancy,
if he had shewn his gratitac t4tlr. Hunt, by
granting a remission of the remainder of his heavy
and cruel Nentenec.