The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-05 00:00:00

UNROOFING A PRISON.

We announced last week that the Newgate job had
been defeated—that this enormous job, which would, if
successful, have saddled the citizens with additional
taxation to the amount of thirty or forty thousam.
pounds, had been rendered impracticable in consequence
of an order issued by the Privy Council against the re-
moval of the prisoners from the gaol.
The Corporators, however, have had too much ex-
perience in the science of jobbing to be easily baulked
in their attempts to secure so grand a prize ; and ac-
cordingly a new scheme was devised to accomplish the
object.

In the forenoon of yesterday a number of workmen,
masons, labourers, &c., with ladders and scaffolding.
and the necessary implements for unroofing, made their
way into the prison, and commenced operations under
the direction of the contractor, Mr. North.
Mr. Smith, the Governor of Newgate, on being ap-
prised of this invasion of his castle, naturally became
alarmed for the safe keeping of the prisoners entrusted
to his charge, and demanded by what authority the
work of demolition had commenced. Mr. North was
prepared with his credentials, and exhibited to the Go-
vernor an order and instructions from a certain number
to individuals called " the Board of Superintendence of
Newgate," directing him to proceed with his contract.
This Board is, it appears, composed of Corporator:
selected from the City Grand Jury, who claim the ex-
clusive surveillance and management of the prison.
The Privy Council, acting upon the report of three of"
its members, Sir Edward Blakeney, Mr. Justice Perrin,
and Mr. Blake, issued a peremptory order against the
removal of a single prisoner, and by this means it was sup-
posed the jobbers had been completely foiled.
But " their honours," the Board of Superintendence.
decided upon persevering, despite of the order of thi
Privy Council; and the contractor accordingly erected hi,
ladders and scaffolding, and some portion of the prison War
roofless before really minutes had elapsed.
'The Governor, as may be supposed, was in a state o'
great tribulation, but it was fine fun for the prisoners, 11,e
saw with delight the admirable means provided for their
escape durinc, the night.
Mr. Smith," after considering the difficulty of his posi
tion, determined to put a stop to the operations of the
wreckers. He said—"l am bound in heavy securities for
the safe keeping of the prisoners, and until measeres she!!
be adcpted to satisfy me on that point, I will not alio,
another slate to be removed." The contractor pleaded Li:
authority under the letter of the Board of Superinten
dence ; but the Governor was not to be moved from hi,
determination. The pri:,oners could not be safe in a dis-
mantled gaol, and without an order from the Privy
Council they could not be removed to another prison.
But the workmen would not budge—they had received
their orders, and were resolved to act upon them.
The Governor, however, was not long settling the mat-
ter. All the turnkeys were summoned—the word of com-
mand was issued, and in less than ten minutes the intrud-
ers were expelled vi et armis, with all their ladders, scat
folding, and implements of destruction. Thus the second
attempt at the Newgate job was defeated.
The Corporators talk of going to law, and of bringing
their action for being turned out of gaol ! We are told.
while we write, that the prison is guarded by a body of
police, to prevent another incursion 1

The citizens should bestir themselves, for the jobbers are
still at the gate.—Dublin Evening Post of Saturday.