The Helena independent., 1893-09-01
PUNISHMENT TOO CRUEL
8J
Scenes in Charles Reade's Novels
That We're Only Too Ter
ribly True.
Describes Thrilling Punishments
OF Prison Life that Really
Took Place.
The Author Of "Ips Never Too LAte Ii
Mend" Reveals tho Terrors of
English JAils.

What reader of Charles Readc's ever pop
nlar novel, tits Never Too Late to Mend"
has not been touched by the intensely thrill
Ing stories of prison life contained in it and
felt deep sympathy with the poor sufferers
whose terrible experiences are 80 viyidly
toldp No one, we would assert The story
reads like a highly colored fiction, yet ev-
cry word Of it is absolutely true.
Very few people may be aware that this
celebrated book was founded on the cruel
ties practiced in the Birmingham Jail in
the years 1852 and 1853 Indeed, the orig
inal of the character of Evans, the humans
itarian, still lives, and in fact is even now
in the service of the prison authorities. He
is Mr. William Brown, the chief warden of
Winson Green jail, Birmingham, and
many times he has been offered a large re-
Enumeration to appear on the stage to play
the part of himself in an adaptation of
Reades brilliant novel.
| His story ii indeed sensational one and
forms wonderful chapter of prison life in
the fifties, and also contrasts In striking
manner the treatment Of prisoners now
adopted.
! In 1862 Lieutenant Austin was appointed
governor of Winson Green prison. He had
| formerly been in the navy, and in that serv-
ice had forced himself to the conclusion
that discipline was everything. He took a
delight in severe punishment and consd-
cred that breach Of prison discipline was
crime almost greater than that for which
prisoner entered a Jail. He pinned his
faith to constant threats Of punishment
and an almost perpetual use OF those bar
/ barous tortures, the collar, straitjacket,
/ dark cells and crank labor.
| 1t was in 1858 that the public first had
their suspicious aroused that cruelties of a
gross character were being practiced in the
Birmingham Jail. In that year a 15-year-
old boy committed suicide in order to es-
cape tortuous punishment. The facts that
came out at the inquest highly incensed
the inhabitants.
1t was proved beyond doubt that strait
jackets were constantly used as punish
ment for the smallest offense, such as the
inability of prisoner to fulfill the amount
Of crank labor set him, or for talking to
another prisoner, or for using bad language
These jackets were provided with per-
fectly rigid collars 13 inches long, 31a inches
deep and one-quarter inch thick. The pris-
oner was first muftled in the jacket, with
his arms tied together on his breast, and
then strapped 80 tightly at the back that
it was impossible to insert finger between
tho strap and the flesh. The leather collar
was then fastened on in such manner that
it cut the chin and neck and prevented any
movement of the head Then the prisoner
was fastened up to the wall Of his cell in a
standing position. This punishment was
terribly painful, and yet it frequently last
ed for hours, and on occasions boys of 15
were kept in such positions from O'Clock
in the morning until 10 at night!
Very often they tainted and were then
brought reund by a liberal application OF
water which was thrown on them from
buckets.
The prisoners in this position were fed by
warden, who broke up the bread and
placed it in the prisoners mouth. Some
times, however, the collar was so tight that
prisoner could not swallow bread or water
Among the labor boys had to perform
was the turning of a crank handle with {
10 pound pressure upon 1t for 10000 revo
lutions between sunrise and night. Sc
many revolutions had to be made before
breakfast, 30 many before dinner, 80 many
before supper. If the required number wa!
not completed before breakfast, no break
fast; If not completed before dinner, NJ
dinner; if not before supper, no supper, 81
| that a weakly man or boy would go |
whole day without food and would thinl
himself lucky If at 10 o'clock at night h
got eight ounces of brown bread and a pin
of water.
During the whole of the time these abom
Unable cruelties were being practiced, tn
chaplain and Mr.. Brown were doing thei
utmost to relax the terrible prison discl
pline adopted by the harsh governor. The
worked together with will, and many
many times have prisoners fallen on thei
knees in thankfulness for timely succo
which had been rendered them.
At length, at the demand Of the inhab
tants OF Birminghanl a royal commissio
Of inquiry was held to inquire into the trut
of the allegations. The whole of them wer
! found to be true.
One particularly pitiable case was tha
of boy named Edward Andrews. abou
whom, in the name of Josephus, Read
gives true and heartrending account. "A
: Brown has vived recollection Of this poo
boy He was sent to Jail for three montl
for stealing four pounds of beef. He ws
very weak, but was notwithstanding pl
to the crank.
One day tho chaplain, Mr.. Sherwin, W,
attracted to the boy cell by cries of "Mu
der!' He found the boy crying piteousl
and he said he was being starved. He WI
in the strait jacket at the time, and IL
chaplain tried to insert one of his tinge
between the collar and the boys neck, b,
) failed. Mr. Brown happened to be pas
: ing at the time and he slackened the stral
5 on his own responsibility and greatly r
lieved the little sufferer.
Z Several times after this the boy was pu
ished by order of Austin, and on many c
casions buckets of water were thrown ov
). him. Onoe Brown found the boy strapp