Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-02-25
L0NDON'S 0DDPR
Westminster Clock Tower Is the
Finest Jail In England.
BUT 1T is ALWAYS EMPTY.
The Tower Is the British Parlaments
House 'of Detention, and Charles
BradIaueh Was Its Last Occupant.
The Old Prison In Former Days.

House 'of Detention, and Charles
BradIaueh Was Its Last Occupant
The Old Prison In Former Days.
If the average sentenced criminal
were allowed to select his place of
confinement his choice would prob
ably fall on 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
or for certain offenses against the
rules and regulations Of parliament
The Clock Tower prison, as 1t ex-
lists today was erected in connection
with the house occupied by the SER
geant at arms This official Is in COM
plcte charge of any member COM
mitted to the Clock Tower. and
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 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 % lSS0,
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
pcted 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
NJ. F., the other for the convenience
of the taller, who must always be on
the spot in order to see that the
LEGISLATOR makes no attempt to escape
ANY member Of parliament sent to
the Clock Tower by order or 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
rs he liked, there being no restrictions
over such matters; his whole punish
mcut would lie In being prevented
from joining his fellows and mixing
with them.
He would be taken out to exercise,
but would always have two officials
beside him to guard against any ut.
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 fel-
low men. One way or another an IN
rrisoned NJ. +. would not have 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 oldrn
times a passing remark, an obScrva-
In
any trihc. was sufficient to send the
culprit forthwith to the Tower, and
rot to the Tower only, for member
could he committed to NewGatc.
Sometimes the reason for comnittin"
me"lDcr to the Tower was somewhat
amusing. as witness the case or
member for Southampton who once
entered the house in n drunken condi-
ton and. installing the speaker for an
evil sitting in an ivy bush, addressed
lin as such. ReSult-tlc Tower.
However. the mcmber was released
rcXt day and severely reprimanded
fnr his ridiculous behavior.
The Tower was made use Of by the
long" parliament. In one day as many
rs eleven Presbyterian members OF the
house were committed to the custody
,f the sergeant ut arms and flung into
the Tower And. to show that mem
bers were not committed for errors in
speech alone. one has only to mention
the case of Captain Churchill. who IN
1869 was committed to the Tower fol
refusing to take merchant ships under
the protection of his man Of war unless
he received gift Of FOO
In those days they had 10 pay stit'ly
for the privilege Of being sent t" the
Tower. MS witness an extract from the
diary of Lord Clarendon. written the
day following his committHl to the
tower. He says: Mr.. bod brought ne
q note Of the fees. which come to El"0
viz. the governor, 600: gentleman
porter l@0: gentleman gaolrr, t1N."
When Il member oiTcnds in these
days ard requires to be 'namcl'-al-
ways II necessity before ommittaI-Ee
j. not sent to the Clock Tower. but Is
suspen!cd from duty and is not allow.
ell to enter the house for 80 long rs the
members decree pearSOn's Weekly.
Her idea.
Mrs Mur@inS-! hear your husband