The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-08-31
PLEASANT PRISONS.
The SPECIAL ONES IN THE ENGLISH
PARLIAMENT.

They Are Intended Particularly For
Members aud othcr Person. Who
Violate rnrIiamcnrs own Dignity,
Rules aud Customs.
Few persons are aware that Eng.
lands parliament has liz own special
prisons within It's own precincts which
are intended particularly for It's own
members aud persons who violate its
own dignity rules AMI customs. OF
course these prisons seldom are used
now, but they have been I'm the past.
ana not SO very long ago. ana may bc
again. The house of commons has
one set and the house OF lords another.
The commons prison IL "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 In the
tower than the other. Each set con.
slsts OF u sitting room and two bed.
rooms. the former being nice, com
Portable room about three by five
yards, with n neat carpet ana chairs
good enough FOR anybody. The extra
bedroom is not intended for the prs.
oncr or for any friends whom he might
desire to put up FOR the night, but II
the sleeping apartment OF the official
who looks after him during his lncnr.
ccration This man Is usually the su.
pcryisor 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
lie never need worry himself much
upon the question of the possibilities Of
the prisoners escape. for the sergeant.
alarms is responsible, and lnnsmuch
as the only way of getting 20 and from
the prison Is 10y way of this scrgcants
house aud through IT.. the risk OF such
thing ever happening Is practically
prohibltiyc.
While he ls there the prisoner really
has good time No restrictions as TO
hours nrc placed upon him, and he may
rouse himself from his slumbcrs just
when hc feels most inclined nnd return
Co them IN the same way. Practically
the only thing hc cannot do ls to walk
about outside Just as he plcasos, but he
Is permitted 60 take an hour and
half's exercise cnch morning and an
hour In the afternoon on the tcrrnco
Of the house. nnd the tcrrncc, brond
aud long and with It's splendid outlook
upon the river. ls by no means n bad
place 10 take exercise. If ho were left
entirely unguardcd, the prisoner might
dive into the river aud swim away, or,
what would bc simpler. hail passing
boat So, just for precautions sake, a
couple OF officers accompany him
while he takes these brcaths OF fresh
mir.
He goes on Sunday 10 the church In
Vincent square. aud on these occasions
also he has n couple OF Innocent looking
attendants
Moreover there Is no question OF 80
many ounces Of bread ana meat. but II
ho has the money 10 pay for II he may
feed himself upon the choicest vinnd5
that the most cultured palate could
suggest The house Of commons has "A
first class restaurant. where the hungry
NJ. T.. may dine as well ns he could auy-
which the kitchen has prepared are
Indicated on menu which ls brought
up 10 the prisoner. and hc ticks OF any
thing for which he feels a fancy. and
n rs brought 10 him. The only draw.
back from his point Of view II that the
bill ls presented 10 him Just ns II would
bc anywhere else. nnd I'm the event of
bis refusing 10 pay up be would cyentu.
ally be- served with n court summons.
Among th~ occupants Of the Clock
Tower have been the late Charles
Brndlaugh. who found himself con.
signed thltbcr on account Of little
difference with Mr.. Speaker on the
subject of The parliamentary oath
when Northampton returned Mr. Brad.
laugh 10 parliament. he was not allow
ed 10 take the oath nor the substituted
process known as affirmation. Mr.
Brndlaugh. however. secured New
Testament and took self administer
cd oath. after which be proceeded 20
the next step Of signing the roll He
refused 10 withdraw when the speaker
requested him 20 do So and coBse-
uuguiiN 1NH hffEfhui III -diiIH iDoh
charge Of him, aud 10 the Clock Tower
prison be- went
when the erection OF the Tower
bridge was being considered. n state
ment was made that the Tower bridge
bin committee was subject 10 bribery
and cOrruptlOn-a serious charge. Two
men responsible for II were pronounced
10 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
up without delay. and be 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 T. imprisoned Ia the
present house Of commons was w.
Smith OBricn. one day In 1916 be
committed contempt of the house by
declining 10 slt upon certain commit
tee. Consequently be was sent TO pris-
on during the few weeks that the com