The National Register.
London, England, 1822-08-18 00:00:00


THE NA

linement ; I em not awhile as to the day, bet it was either
a Wednesday or a Thursday ; she had a child at her breast;
I don't recollect its age, bet I believe about five months ;
Mary Cuer was absent from her ward ootil 1 fetched her on a
Sunday morning; she was in a cell behind in the back part of
the prison these cells are for locking up persons that are dis-
orderly ; the eel! was a small damp cell ; 1 did not observe the
flour; she complained of being cold ; there was a bed in this
cell ; 1 took her back to the ward, and she still complained of
being cold ; I requested the cook to give her sortie tea or gruel
—I remember her being taken ill on that night. There was an
alarm given, and my husband got up and gave her some medi-
oMe. My hominoid was the task-master of the prison. This
was in November. It was dry, hot very cold.
Cross •examined by Mr. Erskine.—There was a quarrel be-
tween Mary Cuer and another prisoner, 1 believe my husband
sent for the gaoler. I supply small articles to the females in
the ward. They supply themselves with earthenware, and
%ben put into solitary coulitieurent they take all they bare with
them if they choose. I can't speak positively as to whether
Mary Cuer did so, but 1 believe she bad a pint basin with her
in the back cell. The cell which Mary Cuer was sent was the
same as the other mills in that part.
Mr. Edward Coles mutinied by Mr. Selwysin.—l am clerk
of the peace for this county, I have the " Occurrence Book"
of Ilcheater Gaol. Witness turned to an entry of Thursday.
November 19, 1818. This was in the hand-writing of Mr.
Bridle. Witness read—" Thursday, November 19, 1818.—
Put Elisabeth Smith, ■nd Mary Cuer, into solitary coofinement
for being disorderly, and lighting in their ward."
W Ones* was directed ►o turn to the entry of Sunday, Nov.
22. It was in the band-writing of Bridle.—iteleased Elizabeth
Smith and Mary Cuer from solitary confinement, on promise of
future good behaviour.—See Nor. 19th."

The -witness was not cross-examined.
Thomas Gardner, a smart-looking, and well dressed lad,
examined by Mr. Sergeant Pell.--1 ant nearly 20 years old.--
I was a prisoner in Ilthester gaol ; I was there two years ago
last March ; 1 ant nut now a prisoner; I was released on the
27th of last September. I have worked as • blacksmith. 1
am living with my uncle and aunt at Bristol. I remember in
November 1520. a charge was mule against me in the gaol fur
having pinked nue of the prisoner's pockets. In consequence
..f this, a report was made to the governor, and I was had in
before him on Sunday. Mr. Bridle charged me with the crime
—and I told him I knew nothing at all of the matter. Mr. B.
then stopped my wages for it. This was on the Sunday. On
the Monday I was taken very ill oat at my work. I had a very
bad pain in my inside, and a bleeding at the nose. 1 saw Mr.
Bridle pass, but I sled not speak to him or be to me. In the
night was taken worse, It wu a continuation of the same
complaint. No person came to me. The next time I saw Mr.
Bridle alter this was the next day at three o'clock. This was
on the Tuesday. Mr. Bridle asked me what was the matter
with sae, and I told him I had a pais in my inside. Mr. Bridle
said, he considered I hal' • fever quite strong on me, nod he
would find an hospital for myself. I was then put into a soli-
tary cell by myself. It was a dart cell which we sleep is. It
bad • stone hoer. I remained there three days, and then the
doctor came to me. During these three days Mr. Brtdle did
not conic to me. Wadley was the name of the doctor who
came to me. After the doctor cone, 1 continued in the cell
about nine days longer. I saw Mr. Bridle at the end of that
time. I had not seen him during any part of those nine days.
When he came he asked me how I was, and 1 said I was bet-
ter, and asked him to forgive me, but he said he did not think
I was quite well enough. He then left me, and I returned to
the solitary cell. 1 had been brought down to the door of Mr.
Bridle's house. In the evening after, a person of the name of
Carter cone op and took me into the passage. Carter was a
prisoner. He (Carter) was charged with horse-stealing. I
was then set down in the passage, and had my hair cut. There
was Bier a lather pat on, and my head was abased. There
was a torturing blister put on, and they put on • cap over, and
tied it on. Carter put it on. A man named Pike was there
daring the whole time, and saw it all. Pike is a turnkey. 1
►ad a strait jacket put on, and I was put to bed. Mr. Pike
put the jacket le. I had the strait jacket put on before my
brad was shaved. When I was put to bed, I bad the blister,
■nd the nightcap and the straight waistcoat on, I remained so
all night. la the m6rning Carter came up, and Pike just af-
terwards. 1 suffered great pain during the night. It was just
the same as if needles and pins, or penknives, were running
into my head. Carter took the cap oh). They then took off
the blister, and said it had not rose. They then put it on again,
and tied it on in the same manner, sad left me. The strait
jacket was taken off for me to put on my clothes, and in about
a quarter of an hour they put it on again, and left me. I
could not use my hands. About twelve o'clock the blister be-
came worse, I was crying, and Pike came up. Before this I
rubbed off the blister : 1 rubbed it off against the wall. I
could not use my hands, and rubbed my head against the wall.
My head was then bare. Pike asked me what was the matter
with me, and I told him I was very bad. 1 begged him to go
down and speak to Mr. Bridle, and asked him to forgive me.
plc asked me, did 1 wish to see Mr. Bridle 1 I said I did,
and lie went down. lie came back about three o'clock. This
was alma twelve. He asked me what became of the blister,
and where it was? I told him it was in the chamber pot.—
lie said there was d—d impudence!" and that he would go
and tell Mr. Bridle, and base another blister put on. No per-
son came to me before the evening. My head remained bare
all the time, and the strait waistcoat on. In the evening
Carter came to me, and pot on • dressing to my bead. This
was no • Tuesday, 1 believe; I remained till the Sunday
following in the same cell. On that day, Mr. Bridle had
me down before Lim at his door. I earnestly asked him, if
be would be pleased to forgive me. He answered he did not
think I was quite well enough, and he would have another
blister put on. I was then returned to the cell again. Three
or four days after Ibis, Mr. Bridle asked me bow I was 1I
told bite I was ready to go to work if he would forgive me.—
He said if I would own the stealing theipurse, be would forgive
me. 1 told him I knew nothing shout that any more than a
baby. The strait waistcoat remained on till the Suuday after.
It used to be taken off at night to allow me to undress, and was
them put on with all my clothes off. It used to be taken off in
the morning to dress, and then put on again. It remained thus
till I was released from solitary confinement, except one morn-
ing when Mr. Pike took it off and left it off for the whole even-
ing. During this time I had bread and water. I placed them
on the bedstead in the morning before the waistcoat was put on.
When I wanted to eat or drink, I used to get down on my
hand► and knees 1 was released in the morning from the
waistcoat to walk. It was then kept on during the day when
I was in the cell. When I was thus walking one morning,
Mr, Bridle Caine to the rails and asked bow I was ? 1 told
hint I should be glad if he would forgive me. He said I must
beg Mr. Davis's (one of the turnkeys) pardon. 1 did not know
for what. I was taken out of the lodge. 1 did not beg Mr.
Davis's pardon. I was not taken before any magistrate the
day after this. Nothing was done to

-7

,

Gross-examined by Mr, don't know a 'aegis.
Irate of the name of Qontock, or Stuckey, or Wall. I was
taken before some magistrates a few days after I was released.
No magistrate came to my cell daring the whole time of my
pun7‘hruent ; I think it was shout three days after my punish-
ment that I was taken been the magistrates. 1 did not know
why I should beg Davies parka. 1 did not ask why : I did
not ask any questions at all. I can't say bow many times L had
committed off in the prison : it was not a great many ;
can't say whether five or six times. I never run a penknife into
a man's knee. It was one of the knifes of the prison. The
name of the man was Zebedee Beauchamp. It was a bit of a
scud (a scratch) • I don't know the difference between a scud
and a scratch. I have sot told the kary all the punishments
got. I have not told the jury all that was done. I never said
to the turnkey, " Damn all the magistrates is the country,
wish them in hell:' All the rest 1 have said is as true as this,
and this is as true as all the rest. I never said "d—. the ma-
gistrates" to anybody. I don't know how old I was when I
went into prison. 1 was in prison io Bristol. 1 was never in
any other gaol hut Bristol and this.
Mr. Williams—What were you sent to Bristol gaol for ?
Am I obliged to tell you ? I don't chase to tell you. lam not
living with my uncle and aunt in Bristol_ because I am now
living hero is the court. When I went out of Ilehester gaol
I went under my aunts jurisdiction.
The question as to living with his uncle and aunt was repeat.
ed, and witness answered-1 lived with my uncle and aunt
about a fortnight before I cause here. It is about a fortnight
ago since I received a solvena to attend.
Mr. Williams.—Was it then you went to live with your
aunt?—ls it any difference to you, Sir, where I live?
Mr. Williams—But it may make a great difference to you
by and by.
With whom did you live before this ? I have been in lodg-
ings.
Be so good as to say where?—Near Great Gardens, not near
Lawford's gate , I have lived near Lawford's gate.
Did you live at your aunts this time ?—I could not live at
two places at the same time.
Do you know what it is to " live upon the cross ?"—I sop-
pose you know it, Sir, as well as me ; I bare knowed it, but
have not lived that kin I of life since I came out.

What were you in Ilehester gaol for 1-11 don't wish to tell
that at -present, my character goes gnite far enough as it is.—
It was not till the dead of the night, elk. the blister was put
on, that it was like penknives in my head; it did not rise at
all.
Mr. Justice Richardson.--We ought to know what the pri.
souer was in gaol fur, or know the relative situation of Mtn
and the defendant.

The question was again asked.
Witness.-1 was charged with housebreaking.
Was this before your trial or after ?—Before I broke open
the house, Sir. It was after my conviction.
Examination oontinued.—l never said to • person named
Mardi!l or to Pike, or to Wright, or to John Pool, " D—n
the Justices, I wish they were in hell." 1 never said this to
any person. All I said today is as tree es what I now say of
Marshall mild the rest. I never knew such a person es Anne
Davies or Davidge. I never said to any woman in person, or
any one else, that 1 was up to a thing or two—that this was a
good job ; that the blister did not hart me, and that I would
make by it.
Mr. Coles, examined by Mr. Gazelee, was desired to torn
to the entry in the " Occurrence Book" of November the 41b,
1820. It was in Bridle's band tenting. Ile read it. " Thos.
Gardner's earnings to be suspended for picking the pocket of
his fellow prisoner." " Nov. the 6th, Thomas Gardner having
been very idle since the ►uspension of his earnings, and pre-
tending to be very ill, I ordered him to be confined in a solitary
cell".
Cross-examined by Mr. Williams.—This is the book expeeed
for the inspection of the magistrates, when they call at the
gaol ; and they have power to make inquiries respecting any
entries therein.
James Brier examined by Mr. Adams.—l am a surgeon. I
was surgeon to Ilchester gaol in the year 1820. I kept a jour-
nal of my proceedings in the gaol ; the journal I left in the
gaol. 1 remember • prisoner of the name of Gardner. I was
just going, after making up the medicines and seeing all the
people, when Mr. Bridle came through a door from a cell to
me, and asked me how the people were? I said there were a
few patients, bat nothing particularly estrisordinsry. He then
said o' If yon can cure your patients, 'tis more than I can do
with mine, for I have got a very troublesome man in confine-
ment." He said can you give him a strong black dose ?" I
said I had no such medicine. He then said, " What do you
think of a blister ? I said, •' You may have a blister, and as
his bead seems affected you may put it pretty high on the poll:'
Gardner was the man. I ordered • blister to be spread. I
went away, and left the blister to be applied by the attendant.
Mr. Adam.—Did you not visit the prisoner lam sorry to
say I did not. The attendant's name WAS Carter. The con-
versation which I have mentioned is I believe all that passed
between Bridle and me on that occasiute (A book was here
handed to witness.) This is the book I kept at the surgery in
the gaol. Witness was asked whether he saw an entry on the
21st of November, 1820—" A blister to the bead, for Thome%
Gardner." 1 made this entry, but not at the time it hears date.
I believe it might be a month or six weeks after that I made it.
Mr. Bridle asked me if I had entered the blister for Thorns
Gardner's head. 1 told him I load not. He said, I think jou
had better do so. Upon that I made the entry. I did not hear
at the first lime that Gardner bad a strait waistcoat on.
By the Court.—l never visited the 'salient (Gardner) during
his confinement. Carter, who was my assistant, was • pri-
soner, and knew nothing of surgery. He only did what be
was told. Sometimes my partner went to and front the prison.
when I did not attend. .

Here the case for the prosecution closed.
Mr. Williams then addressed the jnry for the defordant at
great length, and
Witnesses were called oa behalf of the defence.
Elizabeth Sommers, examined by Mr. Erskine, said-4 was a
prisoner at Ilchester in November, 1815. I remember Mary
Cuer being in the gaol. I remember Elizabeth Smith and the
quarrel between her and Mary Cuer. I was not prevent at the
quarrel; but I knew that Mary Cuer went into solitary confine-
ment for it. In the course of the same evening that Cuer was
confined, I went to the cell where she was. I carried be!. a
saucepan. There was a fire-place in her cell, and fuel. I.lre
was offered to Mary Cuer by Mrs. Hobbs. who went with me to
her cell; but she answered that her time was not long, and that
she did not mind it ; she would bc d—al if she would have any
fire at all. I saw Mary Cuer in her cell ; she had an earthen
jug to drink out of.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Peel.—Witness said 1 live
now in Bath. where I was born and bred. I went to Ilehestet
gaol in August, 1618, on suspicion of robbery. I was tried
and found guilty, and sentenced to transportation for life.—
I have now been twelve months out of prin. Mary Cott.
had a little child in the gaol, which site suckled ; when she carne
out of the solitary cell ;be said she way ill, but 1 ditl nut hater@
bu

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