The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-29
COL. BAKERS QUARTERS.
HOW HE IS TREATED IN JAIL-A LIBERAL AL
LoWANCE OF LIQUOR.
[ From the London Telegraph. ]

| From the London Telegraph
| Since the conviction of Col. Baker a great
deal of speculation has been on foot as to the
actual effect of the sentence pronounced upon
| him by Mr.. Justice Brett, whose words, as re-
| ported, have led to very widespread misap-
prehension with regard to their technical sig
MITIGATION. They we're:
"The sentence l pass is that you be impri-
| soned in the common Jail Of this county, in
such a way as shall not subject you to the
| physical degradations of which l speak, for
| twelve calendar months, that you be fined
| 600, or be further imprisoned until you pay
| that fine; and that you pay the costs Of the
prosecution, and be imprisoned for a further
| time not exceeding three months until you
have paid.those costs"
In the absence of a closer definition of the
particular sort Of penalty involved in this
sentence, it has been supposed that an alto
gether exceptional punishment had been
melted out to Col Baker; but this supposition
is somewhat erroneous. The real fact is that,
though not expressly stated, or even suggest
ed by the phraseology employed by the
Judge, the sentence passed on Col. Baker was
that of frst-class misdemeanant, and the
order TOR this Imprisonment in the Surrey
county Jail was as a first-class misdemeanant,
and was so signed by Mr.. Justice Brett. This
being the case, the manner in which the
prisoners punishment is carried out is in no
respect exceptional.
His position and treatment by the prison
authorities are clearly laid down by an order
of the visiting Justices, and sanctioned by the
Home Secretary, in conformity with the act
of 1865, the last direction from the Home
Office being dated 1866, and signed by Mr..
Walpole. AS a matter of fact, the treatment
to which he is subjected is almost precisely
that which, in the days of Imprisonment for
debt, was applied to debtors of the first class.
By the accident of their being no debtors at
present confined in Horsemonger Lane jail,
Col Baker occupies two rooms of the debtors
side of the prison. He is permitted to fur
nish these rooms in any way he likes, subject
to the sanction of the Governor of the Jail
He is not called upon to perform any of
the mental work, such as cleaning his rooms
and making his own bed, which prisoners in
lower category have to do, and he is per-
mitted to supply himself with food, the only
limitation being as to the quantity Of wine
and beer; of the former he is allowed to con-
sumo one pint per diem, of the latter one
quart. Between the hours of 8 in the morn
ing and 6 in the evening, Sundays excepted,
he may receive visitors in strict privacy. On
Sundays he has pew in the prison chapel,
apart from the other prisoners. He can, at
his pleasure take exercise alone or in COM
pdHy VIII OtueT pTlSOueTS OI MS clhSS, OUT, as
there happens to be none at present in the
prison, he is not called upon to make election
in the matter.
With books and papers he is free to supply
himself, and it is only with regard to his cor
that any special surveillance is
exercised. All letters addressed to him or
written by him TO persons out Of the prison
are scrutnized by the Governor before
passing to his bands or before being posted. |
Such are the regulations, made by the visit |
ing Justices and duly sanctioned by the Home |
Secretary, under which the imprisonment of
Col. Baker is being carried out. Our only |
purpose in explaining them now is to furnish |
information which would not have been ne
cessary if the Judge had, in passing sentence,
made it perfectly clear that he regarded Col. |
Baker as /" first-class misdemeanant"