The gaoler of Bristol pri...
The Times, 1824-10-27T00:00:00

The gaoler of Bristol prison some davs ago ascertained from a pers)n confinedt there for a robbers-, that there was a coiner in Birmingham, whose industrv and talent was procuring for hint .oensiderable sums 01 or money. Aiixiois to givo a proot of hiC vigi- lance. thetamoler prevailed upon the prisoner to give an exact de. sOriptiot ct the p.lce in whichi this mnal-practice was carried on. A complete labvrinth was3 described, but the urisoner tron long service in! the tr:tde, seas posscssed ot' thc clue, antd Sl accurately detailed the windings and conipicitced passs.s wihicl: led to the penctralia of the coiner, that an atteetpt to ar nrehnetid the ofllnder was deterniiniii 4upon. The gaoler took vwith him an active and daring ofFicer to Bir:nimghain, and proceeded in the dead of tigiht to the spot. Thle coiner seas hard at work at the momnct tiose t:vo tremendous visiterg pounced upon him. All the apparatus lay befor!: him, anal his h.ands were black with quickdilvur. Ali,' sahd he, * ge.ntie:neo, I'm your prisoner. r have bevn sold, and, it': all oer .vi'h mne 1 see." He appeared qlute ch'lpfden, but at.ter a li.sle whi!o bec.:iDe resigr.ed to tht! fate vhich he *aid awaited him. The gaoler spoke as kindly to him-, as he c.iu:dkld er the ap in:ev:i n- en sable dtiseer i n which his pri- soner W.as placed, anli sia(l that wvhile there w. ; life there was hope. " Alas there is no hope for mc-uhat catn he clearer ti;an my inis- fortune ?" This :ne!anicholy strain celled forth a trw more conso- ltory obscrvafions, aitni the gaoler informed his prisoner that the hour was late. and they inust all depar: together. '- Yes," said the coiner: '-i'll just wash this wicked siulfoff mv hands, and accompany you." Me then walked over to rite wash-hanrd-basin. which stood in a ecrrettr of the room, sta:mpe(d iipon the floor. and suddenly disap- peared through a trap-door. Tite gaoler and his companioin it] an instant lumped upotr thetrap-door, whichi closed the motnent tie descenstt was made, resolved to run all h;azards rather than lose their object. Thecoiner was, however, too clevera fellow not to secure himselfa little better than was expected. The tratp-door was im- m.ovable. The Cisappoitted geaolex called out to the fugitive, who only answered in the words of the poet, " Adieu, adieu, remember mc." The gaoler pulled out his pistols, told the * scoundrel" he should c ot escape in that manner, and ran to the room-door with a de- termiomation to catch hinioin tlieIowerroosn,wi;th itse entrance to which he ha.l bee- .adeacquainted. Here, too, le svas at fault; the door was locectl, and he antd his companion were in their turn the coiner's pri- soners. After bawling and roaring for a considlerable time, during which preparations were madc below stairs tor departure, they began to null at the lock, which resisted all their efforts. They then rested for a while, and upon resuoing their labour, both tumbled down. tite door hlyi:ng suddenly open. The coiner very humrranely resolved nat to detain themi longer thin his necessi:y reqtired, anti sent t messcnger to unlock the dloor. After an ineffectual searchl. the Bristol adventurer rettirned astonished and exasperated. About nine vears ago. a man namned Fiutily alias Billy Alorgan, was transported. Ie had been what is csited an out end outer amongst the thieves, anci concerned in several cart anti wag. gon tobberies. The police liad had their vigilant eye upson hiim for a length of time, and at last succeeded in catching him in a cart, to wIhich he and two other thiieves had transferred a large piece ot' cloth, in the neighbo'srhood oi' tise Angel Inn, Islington. He and his as. sociates were transported. The contuct of Finny, who was so nauness, in consequence of an apparest defect in tle lianti. which, lIowever, was benefitted by the deformity giving hbim the power ot rapidlh grasping the property of otlers, was unexceptionable at New Soutth Wales. lIe workedi hard. and became pnssessed of nearly 200 dollars. T-e period of Isis transportation (7 years) havion ex- pired, liewas determined to return to hiis native country. and reform altogetlier. Eut how to eFect this weas the rub. H e was apprehensive that he should meet with sotne impediments at home, if he did not appear independent ; attd therefore resolycd at all hazards not to spend a shilling of Ihis lionestly earned property, until lie once snore got into his old quarters. A vessel wdsabout to sail thr England. He stitelted his money about his person, and witliout bidding any one good bye, contrived to stow himself away between two bales in the hold of the ship witlout betng seen by a human being. He calculated very fairly that if he coold mnanage to keep Isis own secret for a few days, the vessel would not be likely to return merely to dis- pose of him. In his hurry and anxiety to leave the place of retri- bution, he however fbrgot to carry about him the nmeains of support. ing existence. The ship sailed, and for six days tite unfortunate convict kept his place without murmur,and without a morsel of food. But the liope whicl sustained him for so great a lengths of timc, even under the control of famine, began to lose its effect uDon his physical vigour,and the ship's crew were on the seventh day alarmed by his groans. Ife was pulled by the legs from his place of refuge, and presented a speetacle of the most appalling description. By the united skill of the surgeon and the cook, he speedily recovered. The eaptain believed that he had on board a " returned transport," nd dit not give credit to the assurance of Finny that his " time was out,"4and Ile was authorized to come liome. In order to prevent his escape niore effectually, the poor adventurer was doubly ironed, and in that condition he was landed in Wappinir, taken before a magis- trate a few days ago, and charged with the capital offence of breaksing away from his sentence. Finny was quite at ease the moment he set his foot upon dry land, and returned the captain many thanks for the comfortable passage. I{e assured the magistrate that his term of transportation had elapsed two years ago, and declared that nothing should ever tempt him to deserve another voyagein the samedirection. He described Isis affection for home as a passion which increased in proportion to the difficulties that presented themselves, and vowed that he was effectually cured of his old habits by the wholesome caistigation of exile. The magistrate told him it was necessary for him to prove that he had not violated the law by returning before he could be set at liberty. Finny named several officers who were aware of his settensce, and requested that Bishop might be sent for. This was done, but Bishop had no recollection of the man. Harri. son, the marshalmarLn however, having heard of the circumstance, paid the convict a visit, and immneliately recognized him as an old acquaintance. It has Aince been ascertained that Finny's account of. himself was correct, and he was liberated yesterday, upon which occasion he declared that rather than put his game hand upon the property of other pcople, he would deceend to the meanest Occupation.