The New York herald., 1876-12-04
A STRANGE FATE.
An American Citizen Imprisoned in Ber-
muda for New York Debts.
Dangerous Effects c. Conflict
icg Laws.
Remarkable and Romantic Es-
cape Of the Prisoner.

When Dickens, some forty years ago, began hts
praseworthy endeavors TO have the insolvent Debtors
law abolished by giving those painfully realistic PIC
lures OF prison life IN his Little Dorrt and other
novels ma.y. no doubt thought that these pictures
had been greatly exaggerated by him 10 make his
case Happily for England the law has there been
done away with. lisa fact, however. not generally
known that IN one Of Her Majes,y's dom.nions the
West ncies--Bermuda- law that a debtor shal, be
confined prison until he pays the last arthng his
creditor Is still IN force. In this place
has recently taken place which certainly OF the
most extraordinary on legal record. An American
citizen who tailed In business some five years ago.
and who had been adudged bankrupt last January
went 10 Bermuda tor his health One of his
becoming aware OF this, and knowing tho existence
/ OF that law by the which
this gentleman sailed scnt notification some
attorneys at that place the result OF which that
soon as he arrived in Bermuda he arrested
charge Of Indebtedness and put tho debtors jail
There he lay Tor somc six months. and all legal
means for obtaining his liberty proved unsuccessful
he hnay made his escape from the prison and we'd
his home in Brooklyn the goth August OF this
year.
HISTORY cAsg.
The full particulars or this case are as foows:-Tn
1870 Mr. John W. Brown was in business in thus city
as hop merchant and during that year borrowed a
Co., OF Now York. tho loans assuming tho form Of
bills OF exchange drawn by his father upon himself
and by his turning over collatcras to Dcnniston
Cross Co., OF London, receipts for some 4SS bales
| Of American hops which Brown then had in London,
his temporary residence. In the fall Of 1870 he
turned to this country and repaid to his creditors
large Of his Indebtedness but as he could not
pay all he authorized tho sale OF tho hops This
was conducted AT such n sacrifice that he
lost about $7o,oo0 and sil indebted to
| Dennislon, Westleld l. Co. to the amount OF
somc 000 or this his father paid 81 090 and liz
eavo two promissory notes, of 81, 900 ana tho
other for 81, ,000 to Tor SIX months During that
time, howevcr, on account OF the heavy losses in
currcd he failed, aud IN consequence unable pay
tho said promissory notes. Denniston L. Co. there.
upon commenced an action against Mr.. Brown In the
Supreme Court Of New York. tho result of which was
THAT judgment passed against him by default Ex-
cchton thcrcupon issued, but the wrs were re-
turned unsatis1od After this he several times
examined in opon court to hts property, but as
nothing was to be gained from HIM to satisfy tho de-
rands Of tho plaintiffs they finally lot the matter co.
From that time until last winter, period or about
fohr years. tho nattcr rested, and further steps
were taken by his creditors
In December, 1875 Mr. Brown was taken severely
III with bronchitis, and threatened with entire loss
OF his voice. His physician. Dr.. Gber, recommended
him to try the climate Of Bermuda for few weeks,
which being moist and warm was tho only remedy left
for him. He finally agreed to do So making no secret
whatever OF his intention. Hc lett New York by the
steamer Carmen tho 27th Of January this year.
and arrived at Hamilton Bermuda, tho LIST Of Feb
ruary taking his residence at tho Hamilton HOTEL On
tho second day after his arrival he on
writ Of capas Issued by the Court OF General Sessions
In Bermuda, at the suit OF Dennston Co., who had
sent attorney in Bermuda transcript OF tho judg-
| ment New York In default OF bail he was lrnpris-
oued until the 10Th OF January, when no confessed
Judgment on the civil suit WHICH Dcnniston Co. had
commenced against him in bermuda, and which
to the amount OF ihoir judgment against him III Now
York Upon bis confessing no was released, but
Immediately rearreslcd writ OF execution issued
In tho SAT- action. and remained IN prison up TO tho
l5tn oil July
On the lst OF April petition was lcd in tho Dis
trict Court TO aujudcate j. w. Brown, bankrupt,
and on tho 9th OF the same month, he was duly ad-
judged As Donnlston L. Co duly notified OF
these proceedings, and as certified copies
him IN Bermuda, his attorney made a motion 10 have
him discharged the adjudication; tho notion how
ever opposed by the attorney OF the plaintiffs,
and denied by the Judge
Tho people Of Bermuda had meanwhile become in
tcresed this extraordinary case, and was unver-
sally considered an outrage that American clIzen,
owing money to firm III his country, should by
coming TO their island for tho sake Of his health DO
| imprisoned under one Of their local laws. Upon
the opening Of the Colonial Legislature, tho
Governor in ulluding to this case in his
message TO the House OF Assembly, said
Her Majcsty's domnIons where the obsolete penalty
vi Imprisonment Tor debt is enforced Productive OF
hardship, and sometimes the instrument OF private
malce, Is time that the anomaly shpuld cease, and
bill lor It's abolition VIII be submitted TO you" And
iurther on-"rhcro IS before TINS colony pregnant
question, whether usagcs and opiniuns cia
laons derived from bygone conditions shall be main
tanned against the laws oil progress which ire
sstbic IN the cnd or whether by timely and moderate
reforms the permanent elements OF webeing in this
Igoated community be knit together In stronger and
happier union.n Upon a petition OF Brown embody.
before the Legislature, TO release him from prison.
1t WIS defeated however, at the third rcading upon
the advice OF the Attorney General, who was tho
came time Tho chef counsel Tor the plaintiff that IN
case Brown should be released the colony would be-
liable Tor the amount ior which he had been i'm
On the 10Th Of July prisoner received a certin-
OF discharge III bankruptcy, duly atteted by tho
British Consul Upon receiving this his attorney
agun motion for his discharge, but 1t again
opposed by the opposite party ana again denied by tho
Judge.
During all this time the prisoner confined in the
third story Of the Hamilton jail The PRISON was
three story building, the first two stories OF which
we're occupied b7 The conyicts and the top one re-
served tor debtors. He received the same food as
they dld-viz., daily fourteen ounces OF bread and
gin " moasscs, with n pint OF warm watcr
In which 10 dissolve the molasses to have sort
OF drink. Twice week sort OF meat stew served
out, but Wednesdays and Fridays nothing was
gwen the imprisoned but bread and water. In fact,
the only way which his condition was different from
that of tho convic,s that no not obliged TO
break ourteon bushels OF stones day, and that his
cell was locked at eight r. NJ instead Of at SIX. HIS
time he tried 10 occupy with drawing and writing 10
all whom he possibly ousit capable of aiding him in
his unfortunate ndton. His wife, who immediately
followed hum whom she heard OF what had bcalcn hum
sirovc relieve his misery much as possible, and
also Interested the American Consul, Mr. Aien
In hts behalf. lilo opened correspondence
with the Secretary OF Stato Mr. Fish,
! on this subject, but Mr. Fish replied that
his hands bound. Had the prisoner been
criminal he could bc tree but AS he was confined on
merely CIVIL nothing could bs done Tor him. As
all legal means had been exhausted Brown decided
upon escaping. His wife, aided by some Of tho resi-
dents, but whose for obvious reasons must DO
withheld, supplied hun with tho necessary tools, aud
with these 10 manufactured key for his door When
THIS had waited Tor low day. and then,
wncn thero was promise OF dark night, she supplied
hun with light but strong rope ladder He then
waited till midnight, and having previously COW
cred his hands and face with SCOT 80 A. TO appear US
negro opened his door, proceeded 10 the end OF the
corridor attached his ladder the ndow SILL hurried
! hv ri Il and wn9 orc moi frca Ho