The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-31
CHARLES READE's FAMOUS JAIL
The Prison Described in s.Sever Too
Lnte to Mend.ti

tFrom the London ESDTeSs-)
Rear Admiral Arthur Tinklar. R N,
has announced his intention of retiring
from the Governorship of Her Majesty's
prison at Wfnson Green, Birmingham
after holding the position for more than
a quarter of a century. This jail was
the scene of the awful prison atrocities
related by Charles Reade in cit Is Never
Too Late TO Mend" and most Of the incl
dents in that terrible story are taken from
the report of the Royal Commission sent
down to enquire into the matter
''Josephs' was a ffteen-year-old boy
named Andrews who had been sent to Jail
for three months for stealing piece of
beef, and was 50 merciiessly treated and
starved by Lieutenant Austin (Hawes),
the Governor, that at length he hanged
himself in despair. The Rev. Ambrose
Sherwin was the prototype Of Mr. Eden,
the kind-hearted chaplain, who rebuked
the Governor for his severity: and Warder
Evans was based on Warder Brown. who
recently retired. anG is still living TO tell
the story of the atrocities
The sentence of three months imprison-
ment passed on Lieutenant Austin, and
the popular indignation aroused by his
eruelties, produced a much more humane
regime within the walls of Winson Green,
so that, wren Captain Tink!ar took office.
some twenty-five years ago, he found the
entered upon his duties Immediately after
the exposure.
As a midshipman he had fought in the
Black Sea during the Crinlean War, and
was rewarded with the Turkish and Cri-
mean medals. with Sebastapol clasp. Sub
sequent1y he was engaged in many opera
lions in the Chinese war of 1851, receiv-
ing the China medal and Canton clasps.
His methods were in singular contrast
FjNa-n # uHr .jgaJvT
tin Although the new system at Winson
Green was based on humanitarian prin-
cfples Admiral TinklaT found many ways
by which he could alleviate the lot of
his charges. One of these was the aboli-
ton of the dark cell, TO which a pris-
ouer might be consigned for fourteen days
at a time It occurred 10 one of the
Birmingham magistrates to try the effect
of such confinement on himself
Admiral TinkIar placed him in the cell
shut the door and left him in Zimmerman
| darkness. A few minutes sufficed to con-
vince the magistrate of the awful horror
Of the place, and, acting on his represen-
tations, the Governor of the jail WIS only
too ready to abolish the black hole, and
to substitute for it one to which little
light is allowed to enter.
He would have been more than human
however, if, during his long period OF
prison rule, he had never fallen into the
snares set by the old jailbird. Some time
ago, a man who had spent the greater
part of his life within prison walls, sought
an interview with Admiral Tinklar, and
so impressed him with his desire TO re-
form that the Governor actually persuad-
ed the Home Secretary to remit the term
of Imprisonment which he had to serve
! under broken ticket of leave Further
than that. he obtained a situation for the
fellow and gave him a sovereign to set
him on his feet, but all in vain--wfthin
six months he was again in the admiral S
| charge serving a sentence for robbery.
One more curious instance may he
given of how ADMIRAL Tinklar was i'm
! posed upon but mis- time unconsciously.
! One of the prisoners had been engaged to
paint the Governors house, and in the
nomentary absence of the warden he
took the opportunity Of boiling With
calm assurance he walked from the
| room where he was working into the
| entrance hall, donled the admirafs ever
! coat and silk hat. and. after completing
his responsibility by seiZing an umbrella
| stepped out of the front door as though
| he had just been engaged on morning
| cali The man was considerably eha-
grined to find himself back in the jail at
/ nightfaU, and clothed in less fashionable
| raiment than he had worn during MS
| Temporary visit to the city.