The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-06
LONDON'S ODD PRISON
Westminster Clock Tower Is the
Finest Jail In England.
BUT IT IS ALWAYS EMPTY.
The Tower Is the British Parliament's
HOUSE Of Detention, and Charles
Bradiaush Was Its Last Occupant.
The Old Prison In Former Days.

6raciauSh 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 Injuries
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
err for certain offenses against the
rules and regulations of parliament.
The Clock Tower prison. as II 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
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
BraGlaugh being the last member TO
occupy the cells at the Clock Tower.
ard he did not occupy them long. He
was handed over to the custody Of the
sergeant at arms on June 23. 1880,
committed to the Tower and released
next day.
There are two sets of cells in the
Clock Tower, an upper and lower.
bur both suits of cells are much the
same. IN each there is u sitting room
OF very ample proportions. we'll car
pcted and furnished and replete with
most OF the things which go toward
making ore comfortable.
In each suit there are two bedrooms
one for the use Of the imprisoned
NJ. r. 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 to
the Clock Tower by order Of the
speaker would be required to pay for
so he could be Sued in court. Any
legislator incarceratcd in the Clock
Tower would be allowed 70 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 taken out to exercise,
but would always have two officials
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
Tow men. One way or another an I'm
orisoned NJ. ?. would not haze 4 bad
dine of 1t. and he would not be kept
N confinement for any lengthy period
But if tie Clock Tower is not much
used nowadays, the Tower-the prison
Of the house of commons of a former
uay-was much in evidence. In olden
times a passing remark. an observa
ton obnoxious to the house. or. indeed
any trifle, was sufficient to send the
culprit forthwith to the Tower. and
not to the Tower only. for member
could be committed to NewSate.
Sometimes the reason for committing
member to the Tower was somewhat
amusing, as witness the case Of q
member for Southampton who once
entered the house in drunken condi
ton and, mistaking the speaker for AZ
owl sitting in an ivy bush. addresseG
him as such. Result-the Tower
However. the member was released
next day and severely reprimanded
for his ridiculous behavior.
The Tower was made use Of by tht
long" parliament. In one day as many
rs eleven Presbyterian members Of the
house We're committed to the custody
Of the sergeant at arms and flung into
the Tower. And, to show that mem
bers were not committed for errors i,
speech alone. one has only to mention
the case OF Captain Churchill. who II
refusing to take merchant ships under
the protection othis man OF war unles.
he received a gift of 600.
In those days they had to pay, stifiIy
for the privilege Of being sent to the
Tower. as witness an extract from ths
diary of Lord Clarendon, written TIKI
day. following his committal =. :.