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

OM

SUMMER ASSIZES.

TRIAL OF WILLIAM BRIDLE.
WELLS, THURSDAY, AUG. 13.—At eight o'clock Mr. Justice
Richardson took his seat, arid the doors were thrown open to
the public.
?HE ZING W. BRIDLE.
Twelve special jurors—Checks Simpson, George George,
Jobe Jones, William Shepherd, Daniel Stanton, William Dam•
pier, Francis Rogers, Jacob Wilkinson, Shockburgb Howe,
NV Wien Waters, &meal Rodbard, Harry Foulkes Edi,rll,
Eises,asswered to their names, sad were sworn.
Mr. Selwyn opened the pleadings. The information consisted
of two distinct charge.; the first charge alleged that, on the
18th of Notemter, 1818, the defendant being keeper of Itches-
ter gaol, and 'maliciously iuteoding to injure Mary Geer, a pri-
soner ender hi. charge, did, without refficieut or justifial •.1
cause, ooeftee the said Mary Geer, she bevies en infant at her
breast, is a cold and unwholesome yell, neglecting to supply
ber during that confinement with necessary firing, or with the
bread and water necessary for her sustenance. The second
charge alleged that, on the 20th of November, 1820, the defea
dant, intending to injure one Thomas Gardner, also a prisoner
is Ilehester gaol, pat a Mk er sposeardner's head and a 'might
waistcoat upon hie body, confining bins at the same time in a so-
litary cell.


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TO this information the defendant pleaded Not Guilty.
Mr. Sergeant Pell opened en the part of the prosecution, and
proceeded to call witnesses to his case.
Mary Caer, =ruined by Mr. Gaaelee.—[The witness was a
plain looking errantry women, shoat SS years of age.]—l was in
Ilehester gaol about three years and a half ago. A quarrel
took place betweta me and one-of my felow prisoners. It was
Betty Smith. We were both punished. We were bad down
and looked up. I continued locked up from Thursday to Sun-
day. This was in November. It r.iur very cold weather.—
There was a little sleet mid snow on the ground. I had at that
time an infant of four roontlis old at my breast. This was about
one month after I went in priaron. It was between one and two
o'clock oe Thursday. I bad no fire till Saturday rumning at 11.
—There was a stone floor in the cell, and very cold. I was
allowed bread and cold water. I had not as mach water as I
wanted. One day I was without any. I was locked up all
that day, and saw no one to ask for water. This was the Friday
after I went in. I got water on the Saturday. It was brought
is s bucket, sad the bucket was left in my cell. There was
notbia( to drink out of, but the bucket. I never bad anything
to drink oat of but the brisket till I came out ; I was let out fur
about an hour on Saturday morning ; I was not out at all on
Friday. On Thursday evening I came out and went to my bed
cell, and drank at the pump in my way. I was in the bed-cell
all the day us Friday. On Saturday when I got s fire, it was
in another cell ; my child was with me all this time ; I bad
nothing to supply it with daring the whole of this time. I
f ed my milk foiled me, and all Friday night I had no milk for
the baby to suck. When I got the water on Saturday morning
1 drank a great deal, because I was thirsty ; I was well when
1 went in on the 'Thursday. It was very cold when I was let
out en the Sunday moraine, and on Sunday night I was very ill
in the middle of the night, and was obliged to call up Mrs.
Hobbs : I was very bad in my trowels—sick and bad Mr.
Bridle himself it was that locked me up on the Thursday. I
know a person named Trapeze ; 1 saw him while I was cos•
hued. It was not the bed cell I wee locked imp in on Thursday;
it was not very light or very dark. Mr. Traganza brought me
out of the bed-cell on Thursday eight, and I remained there
all Friday. The place I used to sleep ,in
„before was up in the
ward with the women.
Crnas•exsmined by Mr. C. F. Williams.—l had been three
meths in prison altogether. lam mot a married woman. I
bare two children. I have had three. I saw Mrs. Ilobbs
belore I was locked up. I had no tea things at Mr. Hobbs's.—
I had my crockery along with the other women. I had a basin
and cup and saucer in the pantry of the ward with the other
women. It was about two o'clock when I was locked up, and
about seven when I was let out to the bed-cell. To go from
one ea to the other 1 passed the pump and drank. I could
not go to the other cell without passing the pump. The basin I
bad was as large as a sager basin. I did nut take my basin be-
cause I did sot know where I was going. I did not know how
long I was going to be confined down below. I was not offered
Ars while in the cell, I Dever said 't I'll be d—d if I have soy
Ere." I aeversaid " I'll be d--d" bile I was in the prison, I waa
not let down to walk on Friday. Betty Smith was also confined,
but not with me. Nobody came to inn to the bed-cell on
Friday ; I had no additional rug or blanket sent on Friday.
Mr. Williams.-1 now ask you on your oath whether you did
not swear before, that you asked tor water several times on
the Friday, sod could not get it l—No, I never said so ; I
asked fur water on the Saturday morning when I came out.—
The leestiou was put again, and witness answered—" It I said
so, your lernovr, 1 did not see no one on the Friday." I never
sew any buckets in other cells. I was in no other cell but that
in which I slept. When I came down on Saturday I saw Mr.
Trapeze, and I said I was cold, and asked for a little fire. I
told him I wanted to speak to Mr. Bridle. He said Mr. Bridle
was engaged and had company. I .told him my child was ill.—
He gave me a candle and the fire was lighted. The fire was
lighted in the cell where 1 had been on Thursday. There had
been fuel in the call before. He never used me ill before this.
I remember his setting a subscription on foot to release me from
from prism. I was confined at that time for taking a few tur-
nips. If was my mother who went about, and Mr. Bridle who
put the lastabilliag. I caul say Mr. Bridle wrote the paper,
or that he did not write it. I dont know. This was the first time
I was in prison. When the magistrate came aßer Ibis I made
no complaint. I saw Mr. Hunt last Thursday. He seat for me
to know whether I was going to the assizes. 1 know nothing
of Mr. Hunt's kindness except his talking. 1 know a Mrs.
Shepherd. I remember when I was scot for by Mr. Hunt. I
don't remember having told her that I did not know what he
( Mr. Hoot) sent for me for ; for that Mr. Bridle always behaved
well to me. Mr. Bridle was kind to me the first time, and
until the time 1 was lucked up. I was locked up for fighting
with another woman. She called ma a d—d liar, and 1 struck
her. I might hate space to M, a. Shepherd •boat Mr. Bridle.
1 often went down to Squire Hunt. He was very good to me.
I used to take gooseberries and oilier thiogs 1 used to sell, three
to the gaol. I can't swear that Mr. Hunt never talked to me
about this in his cell. I spoke to bins last Thursday about it--
I don't know how many times before. He meistioned it to me
°see or twice, when! west down with things, but I never went
on partosse. I was allowed Iv. 6d• a week for my child.
it-saaareted.-1 did not have the Is. Ikt, till I came out of

pt Mon.
Mrs. Jame Hobbs examined by Mr. Adam.— I was at one
time matron of Ilehester gaol ; I was so for nearly tire years ;
I think I left it in the year 162t1. The duty of the matron is
b saperiatend the females ; they are kept in dilferrnt wards ;
I remember the la.stu lines' Mary Cuer being in prison Otte or
lour years ago; there was a woman named Smith there at the
ism lima: I remember Mary Cuer bttog put jaw close cva-