Star.
London, England, 1822-08-17 00:00:00

SUMMER ASSIZES.

.

WELLS, AUGUST EL
THE KING V. WILLIAM !MULE.
The defendant, the wellskno-wn keeper of Ilchester
Jail, was indicted for cruelty and unnecessary Ave-
rity to Mary Cure and Thomas Gardiner. .
Mr. Serjcant YELL, stated the case, and called
Mary Cure—She .was in Ilchester jail about three
years and a half ago. A quarrel took place between her
and a fellow prisoner ; her name was Betty Smith.
They were both had down, and locked up flops
Thursday to Sunday. It was in November ;. the
season was very cold--very cold weather; there were
sleet and snow on the ground. had at that time a
infant at the breast. It was three months old Whenn I
went in ; I was in a month ; it was between one and
two o'clock. I had no fire until Saturday morning;
it was a stone floor. I was allowed bread and cold
water. One day I was without any water—l did' not
see any person to ask for water. I was locked up the
whole of the day—it was Friday. I had no water
until Saturday—it was brought to my cell in a bucket.
I was obliged to drink out of stile bucket. I never
had anything to dip it out with was obliged to
think it out of the bucket, until I came out ; I was
let out in the yard about an hour on the Saturday
morning ; was not out on the Friday ; on Thursday
evening 1 cane out; I came out to drink, and went
to my bed cell. Was in the bed cell all day on Fri-
day. On Saturday I had a fire in another cell—my
child was with me—l had nothing to supply the child
with ; my milk had failed me. I found myself in
this situation on Friday night; I had none for the
child. Ali Friday I had no water. On the Saturday
I drank a great deal, being very thirsty ; was well
when I first went in on the Thursday. I was very
cold when I was let out on the Sunday morning ; and
on the Sunday night I was very ill, and obliged to call
up in the middle of the night Mr. Hobbs ; my com-
plaint was in the bowels. Mr. Bridle locked me up
in the cell himself ; I know a person of the name of
Treganzer. She saw him when confined ; I was not
1 ,eked up in the bed cell on, the Thursday ; it was
not dark nor light. Mr. Treganzer had me out of the
bed cell on Thursday, August 2 ; I remained there
the whole night—l had been confined three months;
and had been in the other wards with other women.
Cross-examined by Mr. C. F. WlLLlastS.—She
had been in three months ; she is not a married wo-'
man ; has had three children ; saw Mrs. Holts the
same day she was locked up ; she had some crockery-
ware; she had a cup and saucer,. and a basin or two
ii-. the pantry; the prisoners find their own crockery;
she was locked up between one and two; cannot
say the hour ; she was let out on Thursday evening,
it was about seven o'clock ; she was let down from
one cell to the other, and she drank out of the pump ;
she must pass it to go to the cell ; her basin is the
size of a sugar basin ; did not know where she was
going ; did not know how long she was going to be
confined ; was not offered a fire the first day ; did not
say, on her oath, that she would be d—d if she would
have fire ; did not ask for it the first day ; on Friday
she was in the bed cell all day ; she was not let out
to walk on Friday ; Smith was confined for the same
offence; nobody came on Friday to the bed-cell ; she
had one bed there ; there was no additional bed-rug
sent on either day ; did not on a former occasion
swear that she asked for water many times on the
Friday, and that she could not get any water till the
next day. If I did say so, I never saw any one; I
saw no one on Friday ; on Saturday morning I said
to Mr. Treganzer, that I was very cold, and wanted
a little fire, and asked him to speak to Mr Bridle;
he said Mr. Bridle had company ; I said that I and
my child mere cold ; the candle wasbrought, and the
fire lighted for her: there was fuel in the fire-place.
JUDGE.—Was it the cell you were in on Thursday?
—Yes, from which I came on Saturday. The first
time she asked for fire was on Saturday. She knew
Mr. Bridle; he never used her cruel before; he had
got a subscription set on foot to release her from a
fine ; her crime was.taking a few turnips. Mr. Bri-
dle took the last shilling on purpose; don't know
that Mr. Bridle sent her mother about the subscrip-
tion ; don't know if Mr. Bridle wrote the paper; this
was the first time I was in prison ; made no com-
plaint to the Magistrates when they came afterwards.
1 saw Mr. Hunt on Thursday last; he sent for me; I
went to him; I don't know that he is a kind man in
particular; I went to him last Thursday. I know
Mrs. Shepherd ; I cannot say when she went first ; 1
saw Mr. Shepherd very often; did not say to Mrs.
Shepherd that 'she had nothing to say against Mr.
Bridle; he was very kind the first time, until she was
locked up; might say he was kind the first time.
used to go very often to Squire Hunt to carry goose-
berries, and which I did sell, your Honour ; no•one
told me to go to Mr. Hunt. Mrs. Hobbs did not
hear me. 1 was examined before the Comtnissioners
when Mr. Hunt was there; cannot say that Mr.
Hunt did not visit me in my cell about it; Mr. Hunt
has talked to me before last Thursday ; he Men-
tioned it to me once or twice; last Thursday was the
last time. I had Is. 6d. allowed me for my child.
• Mr. GASELEE.—She had no opportunity of laying
out the Is. 6d. for her child.
The witness spoke so low, that it was with great
difficulty it could be taken down.
Jane Hobbs, examined by Mr. ADANI.—She was
matron of IlcheS.,er for nearly five years; she left in
.1e2o; the .duty of the matron is to superintend the
ft:males ; they are kept in different wards ;. recollects
Mary Cure was there ; does not know the year ; it is
three or four years ago; remembers a person of.t.he
Dame of Smith was there when Mary Cure was; re-
members she was put in close confinement ; I believe
it was Wednesday or Thursday, but I am not certain
as to the day; 'she had an infant at her breast ; 1 be-
lieve it was four or live months old ; she was absent
following, until 1 beheld
until the Sunday morning
her in a cell, behind the back part of the prison ; the
cells are in the back part fur locking up persons that
are disorderly ; it was -a small damp cell ; did not
observe the floor, they had but one cell ; the bed was
iu the cell; I took he: back to the ward again; she
complained of being cold, and asked for tea or gruel.
—1 remember 'her being taken ill, and that an alarm
was given. Her husband is task-master. • I believe
the time was November—the weather was dry, but
very cold.
Cross-examined by the Han. THOMAS ERSKINE.—
There had been a quarrel between she and Smith •
her husband sent to Mr. Bridle. Supplies female pri-