The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-08-17 00:00:00

THE STATIMMAN

Ai' belies 1407011•9•• t• • il•11•!..1es es board tie hulks;
and his dime, out of two* catwitgites, to that of
Governer of lichetter Gaol. He would show, from the
testitoboy of the highest detester, that there was not
a stogie tragsaction of his persecuted client's life that
was set characterised by temerity, besevolsoce, sod
the blichut Christian charity. He asked them wise-
tliseibey would admit the testimony of a files like
Goidiner, who was mature INgidlt, sod black to the core,
before he had arrived it iYssbead ? The .Learned
Counsel conasnewed upon the etideoce for the, Croons"
and contemied that sech conneemest se had be. hilt-
ed epos the fetes, Gardleer, we* seek as the .dieci-
plias of tile gaol reqalred and it woelt be is Its.
-salt to the unierstasdiags of the Jury la sown*
that they world lot agree that • most rigid discipline
was necessary la suclra gaol, or how could be
staid up in the midst of three hundred felons or
murderers? The practice of poetise me la strait
- jacket' who were refractory, aid. giving them. when
they shammed illness, what wu called the black dose,
was perfectly well known is dm army, sad ores in
Beagles-coat School 'where boys shammed Moms, the
practice of administering what was sailed the black
den wu common. He coesleded a speech of several
bears length by saying that he teemed that, by the
evideoce which he should adduce, he Auld rebut the
feel ealemaies that bad bees circulated is every part
admit coentry by the vilifying papers, and reader this
• day of triemph to Mr. Bridle, fee malise had net
been proud,
The first witnem called in behalf of tbe delltalmt
was Eliz. Somers, who stated that in November, ldfiO,
she was • prisoner in ilchester Gaol. She recollected a
quarrel .between Mary Care and gnashed' Smith, sad
recollected Mary Care going into solitary coollemeent.
She recollected going to the cell where Mary Cure was
confined. There was a ire-place in the cell, sod foil
In it. Mrs. Hobbs, who west with the witness, made an
offer of fire to Mary Cure, who replied, slK'd be d—d
if she would have any, for her time was set hug, sad
she did not milid it. She had a basin is be cell.

Creeveniamined by Sergeant Pait..--Sbe was is the
gaol on suspicion of robbery. Was tried and mistimed
to be transported for life. Mary Cure said she was iB
when she came out, but the witness did not believe her.
She and her child appeared lively sad well wbea she
tame out, and both appeared as if they bad been well
fed. Tbe weather was cold, and the cell was damp.
Never tried the effect of being four days with bread and
water only. Mrs. Smith had a young child. and she
was let out on the same day sisllrs. Cure. It was nos
customary to confine womeo with suckling children is
Solitary cells, unless they were reprobates.
Mrs. Thomas, the wife of J. Thomas, the inskeeper
of Ilchester,deposed that she saw Mary Cure some time
after her release, when the child appeared to be la good
health. She has known Mr. Bridle for eleven years,
and had never beard but that he was a very homage
kind of man.
John Traganse' the Master of the New House of Car
reetion at Bedford, was then examined. and said he bad
been for three years the principal turnkey at Ikhester.
When tFe r ind was in a certain way a little rain might
beat against the doors of the cells. Was principal taro-
key at the time Mary Cure was there. He knew her
there as a prisoner, but cannot call it to his recollection
as be had Never beard of it. Persons in solitary eon-
asesneat take their own vessels with them or they were
fetched. Tiso county allowance to persons in solitary
oentimentent was breed and water. There was a shop
book which went round. Witness considetad,Mr, Bridle
as very kind. He had dose inane things hS had u ie.
easloW to do unless be liked. The solitary sells bad
suss story ever them. The solitary °elle werexpen t
tresad. bat about seven or nine inches abovelk yard
Ilastowd were entered by a step. They werearobest:
Awe Morgan was examined by Mr. Idasataa.—Her
.bsoload was a serjeant in the Somereetshire militia.—
Nil was soder sentence of transportation at llebester
sod in 1818. Remembered Mary Cure tightinF Smith,
~aildatre in consequence being confined. Witness re-
mamipared her taking a basin with her and going into
the pastry to get cheese and bacon. Witness saw Mary
Curesuckle her child on the morning that she came out.
Mr. Bridle always behaved like a humus was and
a good Governor.
John Poole, who was a constable in 1819.0
_

recollects
notnatOardiner, and having some converseßon with;
Ishe, when the latter d--d the Magistrates 'sod Hr.
Bridle too. Witness advised him to bumble himself to
Mr. Bridle ; Gardiner said, he'd be d--d it he'd hum-
ble himself to Mr. Bridle or the Magistrates, and d—d
the whole to hell. He was always damning sod blast-
ing until he had the blister on his bead, and thea be
was quiet; He was always swearing at every one about
hi..

Crosoetamined by Sergeant Pact.—He was himself
in the gaol a prisoner, for baying smuggled liquor.
The blister was pal on by the wetness and a man named
Carter. In the morning the strait waistc.oat wise pet en,
and at night it was taken off, and put on again in
the morning. Witness had been in goal a year before
be was confined for smnggling. Witness attended Gar-
diner from the first day to the last of his confinement.
At the farthest, Gardiner was not confined more shah
eight days. Witness did not know of any other strait
waistcoat. Gardiner bad a cap to keep the blister en.
Ile was obliged to kick at the door when be wanted to
eat or drink. Witness did not like to go near him he
was so abusive. He told witness that he should like to
have the skinning of him alive. Witness was told by
Carter to assist in shaving Uardiner's head. Witness
did not know from whom Carter received the order.
Its-esamined.—Mr. Bridle was always topped and
kind and indulgent to the prisoners. r
Charles Marshal deposed, that be was two yeatteeta
ehester goal, and was the master of the work. '
kad d—d all the Magistrates and the whom, aniald
he woall do for the whole of them. Witness had seen
him SO NO the mallet, and threaten the liWof his fella*
prieoffar. Mr. Bridle was very Inman* and kind to all
the prisoners. Witness did not believe that Hannan
bad ever had a blister on his head.
Robert Hibbs was a prisoner in Ilebeseerraol in 1920,
and recollects Gardiner there. Remembers Gardiner
sticking n knife into the knee of Beacham. It was not
a mere scud ; it went almost an inch into die knee, and
blood Slowed immediately it was drawn. Cardinals's"
a bad resolute young man; they were sitting quietly,
and had had no words.
The High Sheriff was then examined, and deposes!
that he remembered, in September last. Gardiner was iu
solitary confinement.

Sergeant Pau. objected to the reception of the evi-
dence of any circumstance which took place after the
cominissioa of the offence imputed to 111 defendant.
Mr. Valentine stated that he was with Mr. Bryce, the
surgeon, in 18:0, mad used to attend the gaol fur Lint
Witness was his partner. In November he. was called
upon to examise iato the state of the health of
nee. Gardiner complained that he was sic t hope
peered to wit to be in perfect health. s ketewis
r. Bridle for three years; his conduct to
that of a heasertand kind hearted man. ,
Si, T. D. Ached had been forty years a Magistrate
of Ike comity, and for sisteen years chairman. In INN,
Mr. Bridle was appointed gaoler, and from the opportu-
cities which the witness had, in his constant attendance,
the witaess Lail known him to be hied and 146anr, aid

. -

exercising every Christian virtue towards the priorities.
He was forbearing in bis conduct to all the prisoners.
It was the constant habit of the witness, because it was
his duty, to go into all the wards of the prison, and
elk the prisoners whether they had any thin to say
against the officers of the prison, end if they had they
woel.l bear it is the prison. Prom the result of all these
inquiries, he was enabled to sty that the defendant was,
in Ms opinion, a most humane man, and of n excellent
disposition.
Cross-exatnieed Ly Mr. Ossecxe.—He formerly re-
shrewd is July. 181$, as Chairman.
By the Joooa.—Por two years previous toJely, 1818,
inconsequence of his decliniog health, his attendance
had not been so active as it had been.
F. Poole, Esq. as a Magistrate of the county, bad had
frequent opportunities, for the last eight years, of harm-
ing the character and witnessing the conduct of Mr.
*Mk I and, from what be had seen of him, if the et-
•ikof gaoler were vacant, he should cot hesitate
to say that Mr. Bridle was the best man be Leta to
811 it.
Do you know wby Mr. Bridle was dismissed ?
The witness did sot make au immediate answer, sad
the questios was repeated.
I think I ;mow the reason which operated on the
unlade of some Gentlemen, to think that be ought to be
dismissed.
The mtestioo was again repeated, and the same anssver
returned, wiles Sergeant Pact. declined to put it again.
Sir Joha Cox Hipposle.y: as a county Magistrate, bad
for a long time opportunities of seeing the conduct of
Si. Bridle, and always thought him a kind and humane
man.
Mr. Culoo the Clerk of the Peace, gave testimony to a
similar dies.
The High SheriCaod also the Under- Sheriff, spoke
is Weser of hi. general Cherseterfor bninaoity.
Mr, Adam, a Magistrate, had known him for twenty
Mrs, and always coashlered him as a humane man,
from the opportunities which ho bad of witnessing his
menet.
Several other Magistrates. the Coroner, and Gentle-
men of the county followed.
:Mr. Join Browne., the policeofficer at Batb; consi-
dered Mr. Bridle as too kind. Many of the prisoners,
Voce thisilloarge, had offered to go thousands of miles
to serve him. •
Messiter, Esq. the Treasurer of the County, bad
heard Mr. Bridle must highly spoken of for tailama-
alty to the prisoners.
Sergeant Pact. replied. In his opinion the Govern-
ment would bate neglected a most solemn duty if they
had not jollity ted this prosecution, The Learned Counsel,
oommeated et greatlength upon the evidence for the de-
fine% expressed his concern that the facts should have
been attempted to be justified, and concluded by calling
apes the Jury for their verdict, in the oame of bemanity.
Mr. Hardy, the successor of Mr. Bridle, stated that
be bad been the deputy-keeper of Neorgate before his
appeintmeat to the office of keeper of Ilchester gaol,
and had known Mr. Bridle for 16 years, and had,always
known him as a humane man. Several other witnesses
gave testimony to the same effect,
Tbirwas the case for the defendant. _

Jostles RICKARDION, in a clear and eloquent charge,
summed up the evidence, which, as regarded the charge
of cruelty to Mary Cure, he was of opinion could not
be made out to the satisfaction of the Jury ; but as re-
garded tip charge of cruelty towards Gardiner, he was
afraid the Jury would feel themselves bound to return a
verdict against the defendant, for the facts were proved
beyond a doubt. The Learned Judge said the defendant
-was justified in a reasonable exercise of the power of
solitary confinement for refractory prisoners, bat this
was charged to bave•boon exorcised by the defendant,
which the law did not sanotion I for no man could be al-
lowed, under any ciresmetenees, to deal so womanly as
fashati done' it the evidence were true. If the case
tteleifisa the testimony of Gardiner alone, perhaps the
mead be immediately rejected, bat It wu sop-
atrosger testimony.
sty, after deliberating for a few minutes. re-
UMW a verdiet,Acquittfog the defendant of the charge
-which lighted to Mary Cure, but finding him Guilty ea
them counts, which related to the charge made of
cruelty and ill-usage of Gardiu r. The Jury begged
leave strongly to recommend him to mercy on account
of his former excellent character.

The Learned Judge said the recommendation should
have its weight.
The trial lasted sixteen hours.

FIRS JT PORTLAND, (MAINS.)

The Portland Gazette, of Tuesday morning, contains
the particulars of the fire which took place in that town
on Saturday afternoon. It commenced in the joiner's
shop of Mr. Friend Loring, in Maine-street—it was sup-
posed by some to be occasioned by the blowing of
rocks in the vicinity ; others attribute it to the smoking
of cigars, by some boys in the neighbourhood, or to the
burning of powder in a small brass gun, by several boys
near the shop. The fire spread with great rapidity to the
adjoining buildings, and its course destroyed the dwell-
ing house of Mr. Joseph Quinby, the house and stable of
Mr. James Deering, (occupied by Mr. Jonas Clark) the
house and blacksmith shop, occupied by Mr. Webber
Noble, the brickhouse owned by Mr. Daniel Green and
S. Hadlock, and occupied by Smith Cobh,O.Twombly,
J. Bennet and widow Twombly ; the house and stables
owned and occupied by Mr. Benjamin Dodge at the
bead of Green-street; the house and two barns owned
and improved by Mr. Daniel Green ; the house and stable
improved by widow Hustoo ; the house of Mr. Alvin
Cashman, (occupied by John Mattock.); the bowie and
stable owned by widow of Salmon Chase, and improved
by Captsin Ansel Lewis' jun. and Charles Kimball ; the
large and commodious house formerly improved as a te-
rcels, but at the time owned and improved by Jos. Gould.
jrsn.; the limits owned by Wm. Pullen, Esq. and eceu•
pied by the Rev. Timothy Wolcott. Clement P--tinell,j.in.
'sad Miss Jane Whitney. All the above buildings, with
It considerable part of their contents, nmountinz to 11
dwelling houses, and ten barns and stable., making 21
in the whole, were entirely consumed. The exertion;
of shout lOU ladies, who assisted in checking the lire,
are highly commended. This was the writ deatnictive
MA which has occurred in Portland since the Revo-
lution.

There were *veral alarms on Somlay. One of them
proceeded from a peat swamp, covered with dry shrub-
bery, on the westerly side of State-street, which was Set
oniire 1 days previous, some distance froin tows;
there being cast quantities of combustible materials, and
the wind almost a gale from N. %V. it raged with great
fury. blowing directly on the town. Its progress was,
*llo‘ CUT, ted, after burning set eral hours. Ind
reaching within a Tinter of a mile of State-stt re,
means of several teams of 10 or 12 oxen each, ploughing
deep ditches.

The prisosers at the gaol made as isieffeetarl attempt
is escape during the alarm.
s
-51ereaatile 'elute have arrived from St. Peters-
burg, dated the 23d alt. The ezehauge ou Lawlos
was at led., sad trade was verr dull. About 1,200
Osaka of Tallow wily had bees psrehased at lOU It ;
Hemp had sd►aa.ed about 5 per cent.. t►e primp
let-
ted). paid having beta as ►igh as 95 tables.

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'• TNt !IMAM STATISVAN'. n 1,1:•01P011MTED WRY TT,
stvrurram."