Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-02-20
LONDON ODD PRISON
Westminster Clock Tower Is the
Finest Jail In England.
BUT 1T IS ALWAYS EMPTY.
The Tower Is the British Parliament's
House Of Detention. and Charles
6radlaush Was Its Last Occupant.
The Old Prison In Former Days.

Bradlaueh Was Its Last Occupant.
The Old Prison In Former Days.
II 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
er 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 ut arms. This official Is In com
plete charge of any member com.
mitted to the Clock Tower. and II
member cannot easily make his cs-
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 nj the Clock Tower.
and he did not occupy them long. lie
was handed over to the custody Of the
sergeant at arms ON June IS. $780,
committed TO the Tower and released
next day.
There are two sets of cells In the
Clock Tower. an upper and Il 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 rcplete 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. r., the other for the convenience
OF the jaller. who must always he 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
his own food. and II 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
hA EnI lao, .f,.tF
moved him. lie could read to his
hearts content and smoke ms much
as he liked, there being no restrictions
over such matters: his whole punish
mcnt 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
low men. one way or another nm I'M
prisoned NJ. i. would not have a bad
time of 1t. and he would not be kept
in confinement for any lengthy period
But II the Clock Tower Is not much
used nowadays. the Tower-the prison
Of the house of commons of n former
day-was much IN evidence. In oldcn
times n passing remark. an Observa-
ton obnoxious 10 the house. or. indeed.
any trife, was sufficient 10 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
n member 10 the Tower was somewhat
amusing. rs witness the ease Of
member for Southampton who once
entered the house in drunken condi-
ton and. installing the speaker for an
owl sitting in an Ivy bush. addressed
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 the
long" parliament In one day as many
as eleven Presbyterian members OF the
house were 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 IN
speech alone. one has only to mention
the case Of Captain Churchill. who II
1860 was committed to the Tower FOR
refusing to take merchant ships urdei
the protection of his man Of war unless
he received a gift of goo.
In those days they had TO pay stiiliy
for the privilege OF being sent Ia the
Tower. as witness an extract from tn,
diary OF Lord Clarendon. written The
day following his committal to the
tower. He says: "Mr bod brought me
n note OF the fees. which come 10 Else
viz. the governor. fl00: gentleman
porter. eco: gentleman gaoler. el0."
When member offends In these
days and requires to be "named'-al
ways necessity before committal-ht
Is not sent TO the Clock Tower. but i
suspended from duty and Is not allow
td TO enter the house for so long as tho
members decree. -pearson's Weekly,