The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-02-04
LONDON'S ODD PRISON
Westminster Clock Tower Is the
Finest Jail In England.


The Tower Is the British ParIiament's
House of Detention, and Charles
Bradlauoh Was Its Last Occupant.
The Old Prison In Former Days.
If the average sentenced criminal
were allowed to select bis place of
confinement his choice would prob
ably fall Cd the Clock Tower prison
at Westminster, as that is the very
finest prison in Great Britain and is
able to supply comforts and luxuries
quite unknown to the ordinary Bill
Skies.
But the law decides that members
Of parliament only may be confined
in that jail, although rank outsiders
could be committed to the Clock Tow
er for certain offenses against the
rules and regulations Of parliament.
The Clock Tower prison, as it ex-
lists today, was erected in connection
with the house occupied by the SER
geant at arms. This official is in COM
plete charge of any member COM
mitted to the Clock Tower, and a
member cannot easily make his es-
cape, because, in order to do so, he
must pass through the house Of the
sergeant.
Very few members of parliament
are committed to the Clock Tower in
these days. We have to go back many
years to find a precedent. Mr.. Charles
Bradlaugh being the last member to
occupy the cells at the Clock Tower,
and he did not occupy them long. He
was handed over to the custody of the
sergeant at arms on June %. 1880,
committed to the Tower and released
next day.
There are two sets of cells in the
Clock Tower, an upper and lower,
but both suits of cells are much the
same. In each there is sitting room
Of very ample proportions. well car
peted and furnished and replete with
most Of the things which go toward
making one comfortable
In each suit there are two bedrooms
-one for the use of the imprisoned
M. P, the other for the convenience
Of the jailer, who must always be on
the spot in order to see that the
legislator makes no attempt to escape.
Any member of parliament sent ~
the Clock Tower by order Of the
speaker would be required to pay for
his own food, and If he did not do
so he could be sued in court. Any
legislator incarcerated in the Clock
Tower would be allowed to rise in
the morning just when he pleased, and
he could retire to bed when the spirit
moved him. He could read to his
hearts content and smoke as much
as he liked, there being no restrictions
over such matters; his whole punish
ment would lie in being prevented
from joining his fellows and mixing
with them.
He would be t: q ut to exercise,
but would Away We two othc1als
beside him to guard against any at
tempt at escape, and his exercise
would be taken on the terrace before
the house sat for the day. Under
no circumstances would he be al
lowed to hold converse with his fell
low men. One way or another an i'm
prisoned M. P. would not have a bad
time Of it, and he would not be kept
In confinement for any lengthy period.
But if the Clock Tower is not much
used nowadays, the Tower-the prison
of the house of commons Of former
day-was much in evidence. In olden
times a passing remark, an observa-
ton obnoxious to the house, or. indeed.
any tri1e, was sufficient to send the
culprit forthwith to the Tower, and
not to the Tower only. for member
could be committed to Newgate.
Sometimes the reason for committing