Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-09-07
PLEASANT PRISONS.
THE SPECIAL ONES IN THE ENGLISH
PARLIAMENT.

Members ana other Persons who
Violate ParIinmcnt's own Eignity.
Rules md Customs.
Few persons are aware that Eng
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 a 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 little higher up I'm the
tower than the other. Each set con-
sists of sitting room and two bed
rooms, the former being n 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-
/ onCr or for any friends whom he might
desire to put up for the night but is
/ the sleeping apartment of the official
VINO looks after him during his incar-
ccration. This man is usually the SUI
pervisor of badge messengers. and. be-
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 sergcant's
/ house and through it, the risk of such
a thing ever happening Is practically
/ prohibitivc.
While he is there the prisoner really
has a good time. No restrictions as to
hours are placed upon him. and he may
rouse himself from his slumbers just
when lie feels most inclined ana return
to them in the same way. Practically
the only thing he cannot do is to walk
about outside just as he pleases, but he
is permitted to take an hour and n
half's exercise each morning and an
hour in the afternoon on the terrace
Of the house and the terrace, broad
and long and with its splendid outlook
upon the river, is by no means n bad
place to take exercise. If he were left
entirely unguarded. the prisoner might
dive into the river and swim away. or.
what would be simpler, hail a passing
boat. So, just for precautions sake. u
couple of officers accompany him
while he takes these brcaths of fresh
air.
He goes on Sunday to the church in
+ Vincent square, and on these occasions
also he has a couple of innocent looking
attendants.
Moreover, there is no question of 50
many ounces of bread and meat, but if
he las the money to pay for it he may
feed himself upon the choicest viands
that the most cultured palate could
suggest. The house of commons has Il
first class restaurant, where the hungry
NJ. Z. may dine as well as he could any
where in London. Each day the dishes
/ which the kitchen has prepared are
indicated on menu which is brought
up to the prisoner. and he ticks off any
81
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
he 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 4 self administers
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 priyi-
lege, for the house is very sensitive
upon such matters, and the speaker is
sued n summons for their appearance.
One OF them, Mr.. Ward, gave himself
VI without delay, and he got seven
days In the Clock Tower prison. The
other offender, after little delay, was
captured and was for a brief period
housed at Newgate.
The first NJ. p. imprisoned in the
present house of commons was W.
Smith O'Brien. One day in 1916 he
committed contempt of the house by
declining to sit upon a certain commit
tee. Consequently he was sent to pris-
4, .