The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-11 00:00:00

THE WESTMINSTER BRIDEWELL.

The report of the visiting justices of the Westminster
Bridewell was read. The number of prisoners was 677,
of whom 500 were males, and 177 females, all (,rderly
and healthy. From the Ist September, when the com-
mittals to the New Prison (now in course of demolition)
ceased, to the 3d of April, the number of committals to
the Bridewell was 3 830. and since the 21st February to
the date of the last report, the number was 754.

THE COMMITMENT OF SUICIDAL PRISONERS.
Having mentioned the details that usually form the
princ.pal portion of their reports, the visiting justices
proceed
to invite the notice of the Court to some matters
that have required peculiar consideration, and as to
which they deem it proper that the Court and county
should be fully informed.
The visiting justices having learned that on the 11th
ult a prisoner who had been committed for re-exami-
nation on a charge of murder, strangled himself in the
prison, and that no intimation had been given by the
committing magistrate to the governor of his being in an
unsound state of mind, or inclined to commit suicide, they
directed their clerk to address the letter, of which they
annex a copy, dated the 18th ult., to the Secretary of.
State for the Home Department, from whom theyreceived
an answer on the 21st ult., and, though unaware whether
the directions suggested have been issued from the
Home-office, they have understood with pleasure that
in some subsequent cases their hints have been carried
into effect in cases of committals from the police.
courts. The visiting justices, in making their pro-
ceedings known to the Court, beg to draw the attention
of the magistracy of the county at large to the sugges-
tion contained in their letter, and to impress on them
the propriety of their adopting it in every case which
shall come before them, and to which the suggestion may
be applicable ; as otherwise, prisoners so peculiarly
afflicted may not receive special attention, and sad catas-
trophes, distressful to the governor, and painful to the
public mind, may unhappily occur :
" Carlisle-street, Soho, March 18, 1846.
" Sir—A prisoner named John Rofe, who was com-
mitted to the blouse of Correction at Westminster, on
the 9th instant, from Worship-street Police-court, to be
brought up for further examination, for cutting and
wounding Edwin Rofe, with intent to murder him,
strangled himself in the water-closet of the prison, on
the 11th instant, while the van was waiting to re-convey
him to the police-court. In consequence of this
melancholy event, I am directed by the visiting
justices to acquaint you that it has occurred
to them, that it is desirable that whenever a prisoner
who is about to be commited shall appear tfo be
insane or of unsound mind, or shall be suspected o
private
in-
sanity, or an inclination to commit suicide,he
a by the
communication on the subject should
t the
you
opar i so
willn
committing
And
mronorerquoef
therefore
magistrate
police magistrates. With reference to Rote's
itnostrthucetegdovet
case,
be pleased to issue directions to that effect to the
f the warrant, as the fact was, that the person whom
I am desired to observe that it did not appear on the
face o
he attempted to murder was his own son, an intimation
whereof would probably have led the governor to sus-
pect that the prisoner was not of sound mind, and that
no communication was made, or message delivered, from
the committing magistrate to the governor, either of
that fact or any other, that would induce special atten-
tion or precautions with respect to him, although it did
happen that both by the surgeon and the officers parti-
cular attentions were afforded to the prisoner.
"I am further directed to state that the coroner's
jury who sat on the body, in returning their verdict,
unanimously expressed themselves satisfied that every
reasonable precaution had been taken by the governor
and the officers of the prison against the commission
of suicide, and that a relative of the deceased, who
attended the inquest, joined in that opinion, and
thanked the governor for the vigilance and kindness
which he had shown to the prisoner. The visiting
justices, also, having caused inquiry to be made into
the circumstances of the case, are happy to be able fully
to exonerate the governor and all the officers from any
blame on the occasion, yet they trust that the precau-
tionary measures they have suggested will be approved
and sanctioned by you —1 have lhe honour to , e.
" C. Y. ALLEN, Clerk to the Justices.
"To the Right Hon. Sir James Graham, Bart."
" Wheehall, 21st March, 1846.

" Sir,--I am directed by Secretary Sir James Gra-
ham to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
18th instant, submitting a suggestion of the visiting
justices of the House of Correction at Westminster that
instructions should be given to the police magistrates to
make a private communication to the governor on the
committal of any prisoner who is insane, or suspected to
be of insane mind, or inclined to commit snicide.—l am,
Sir, &c., " S. M. PIIILLIPPS.

" C. P. Allen, Esq."
THE POWER OF COMMITTAL BY THE CORONERS.

The report alluded to the power of committal by the