The Delawarean., 1900-09-08
PLEASANT PRISONS.
THE SPECIAL ONES IN THE ENGLISH
PARLIAMENT.

lands parliament has its own special
prisons within its own precincts which
are intended particularly for its own
members and persons who violate its
| own dignity, rules and customs. OF
course these prisons seldom are used
now, but they have been in the past
and not so very long ago, and may be
again. The house of commons has
one set and the house of lords another
The commons prison is little way
up in the Clock Tower. Here are two
| sets of prisons, intended only for the
accommodation Of one prisoner each,
one set being a little higher up in the
| tower than the other Each set con-
sists of Il sitting room and two bed
rooms, the former being nice, com
Portable room about three by five
yards, with neat carpet and chairs
| good enough for anybody. The extra
bedroom is not intended for the pris-
amer or for amy friends whom he might
desire to put up for the night, but is
| the sleeping apartment of the official
| who looks after him during his incar
ceration. This man is usually the SUI
sides looking after his man, he is also
his servant for the time being, and
waits upon him just like any other
He never need worry himself much
upon the question of the possibilities of
the prisoners escape, for the sergeant
alarms is responsible, and inasmuch
as the only way Of getting to and from
! the prison is by way Of this sergeant's
house and through it, the risk Of such
a thing ever happening is practically
I prohibtiye.
While he is there the prisoner really
has a good time. No restrictions as to
hours are placed upon him, and lie may
rouse himself from his slumbers just
when he feels most inclined and return
to them ID the same way. Practically
tile only thing lie cannot do is TO walk
about outside just as he pleases, but lie
4 is permitted to take al hour and a
/ half's exercise each morning and an
hour in the afternoon on the terrace
of the house, and the terrace, broad
4 and long and with its splendid outlook
upon the river, is by no means "A bad
place to take exercise If he were left
III tAliINtN DSQalI0GAls lllt llll9Oncl lll5 IL
dive into the river and swim away, or,
what would he simpler, hail passing
boat. So, just for precautions sake,
couple Of officers accompany him
4 While lie takes these breaths of fresh
air.
He goes on Sunday to the church in
Vincent square. and on these occasions
also he has couple Of innocent looking
attendants.
Moreover, there is no question of 50
many ounces of bread and meat. but if
he has the money to pay for it he may
feed himself upon the choicest viffnds
that the most cultured palate could
suggest. The house of commons has a
first class restaurant, where the hungry
Nj. T.. may dine us well as he could any
where in London. Each day the dishes
which the kitchen has prepared are
J indicated on menu which is brought
: up to the prisoner, and he ticks off any,
thing for which he feels fancy, and
it is brought to him. The only draw
back from his point of view is that the
bill is presented to him just as it would
be anywhere else, and in the event of
his refusing to pay up he would eventu-
ally be served with a court summons.
Among the occupants of the Clock
Tower have been the late Charles
Bradlaugh, who found himself con-
signed thither on account of little
difference with Mr.. Speaker on the
subject of the parliamentary oath
, When Northampton returned Mr.. Brad
laugh to parliament he was not allow
ed to take the oath nor the substituted
process known as affirmation. Mr.
Bradlaugh, however, secured a New
Testament and took self administer
ed oath, after which he proceeded to
the next step of signing the roll. He
refused to withdraw when the speaker
, requested him to do so, and conse-
) quently. the sergeant-at-arms took
charge of him. and to the Clock Tower
, prison he went.
When the erection of the Tower
bridge was being considered. a state
ment was made that the Tower bridge
bill committee was subject to bribery
and corruption-a serious charge. Two
; men responsible for it were pronounced
TO have committed a breach of privi-
, lege, for the house is very sensitive
. upon such matters, and the speaker is
sued a summons for their appearance.
One of them. Mr.. Ward, gave himself
up without delay. and be got seven
days in the Clock Tower prison. The
other offender, after a little delay. was
captured and was for brief period
housed at Newgate.
The first Nj. p. imprisoned in the
/ present house of commons was w.
' Smith O'Brien. One day in 1876 he
i committed contempt of the house by
declining to sit upon certain commit
tee Consequently he was sent to pris-
on during the few weeks that the com
mittee deliberated. This time, how
lever, he was not sent to the Clock
Tower prison. which was not finished,
r but did his durance in the cellar of the
, house.