The Sun. — 1846-07-25 (London, England)

ABUSES IN THE MILBANK PRISON. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE moved, pursuant to notice, that the petition of Mr. Edward Baker, presented on the 12th of June, complaining of certain abuses existing in the Milbank Prison, be referred to a Select Committee. ,He did not propose to enter iate the Weg4ti946 of the peti tioner. The petition contained a number of charges of cruelty and misconduct against the Governor of the prison towards the persons confined in that prison. These charges could, he thought, be all substantiated, if a Select Committee were appointed to inquire into the subject. One of the charges was that the prisoners were sentenced to seven days' confinement, upon bread and water, for opening their bibles and reading therein during the time of divine service. Another case was that of a prisoner who was sentenced to receive 100 lashes for ewting a cat on the wall with a pair of scissors; and that, in consequence of this corporal punishment, he had been confined for a period of ten weeks, during which he was not allowed any religious instruction, nor was the chaplain allowed to visit him. In the former case the Governor had exceeded his duty by confining the prisoner for seven days, for by the regulations of the prison he had only the power of confining a prisoner for three days. As to the second case, the prison regulations regarding corporal punishment, it was ordered that no whip should be used except such as had been approved by the prison inspectors, and which had their seal upon the handle. In this case, however, the night before the punishment was to take place, the governor sent out for a lash of double the weight, which lash he had wound round with wax-cord, which increased the severity of the punishment to a considerable extent. There was also the case of a prisoner who was confined for twenty-five days, and kept on bread and water, till he died a mere skeleton. Four suicides had been committed, and twelve prisoners had attempted to commit suicide. but had been prevented in consequence of the vigilance of the warders. There was another practice to which he would call the attention of the House. The governor was in the habit of raising a false alarm of fire, and a hundred and twenty persons have been called up out of their beds in the depth of winter for what is called " fire practice;" and this was in the habit of being done for the purpose of entertaining the dinner friends of the governor. There were also charges of favouritism, and numerous others, which into. An would not then detain the House by entering An inquiry into these charges ought to take place, and it would facilitate the solution of the problem of the best method to treat the criminal. He said it advisedly, and in his place in that House he was prepari d to prove every charge which was alleged in the motion. Sir G. GREY said an inquiry was made already by the Government into the facts, and the charges were reported not to have been substantiated. There had been only four suicides out of 11,000 persons who had been committed, the whole convict population that were sentenced to be transported passing first through Milbank. He would promise to lay before the House the report, and it the House did not consider that report sufficient, he would agree to any inquiry the Hon. Member chose.  Mr. HUME said, after the frightful atrocities which were daily coming to light from the Andover Committee, his confidence was exceedingly shaken in persons who were possessed of authority. He would, therefore, recommend the adoption of the suggestion of the Hor. Member. Captain PECHELL would recommend his Hon. Friend to persevere, for the public would not be satisfied, after the charges that had been made, that an inquiry should be delayed. Mr. SPOONER considered that the Hon. Member would come with a stronger case to the House if he would consent to the suggestion. Mr. AGLIONBY said he hoped no delay would take place. An inquiry should be made, and not postponed; the characters of public servants were involved, and that rendered investigation imperative. The former was conducted in the walls of a prison, with no one present to represent the accuser, and it was alleged that answers were put in the mouths of the witnesses, and that their answers were stopped when they seemed to imply the truth of the charges. The public would never be satisfied unless there was a full and searching investigation. _ _ _  Mr. WART said, that only one side of the case was referred to the inspectors, and consequently the investigation was of little use. He considered that a geod case was made out for an inquiry, and he should support the motion.  Sir R. INGLIS said that the Right lion. Gnntleman the Secretary of State, merely stated that the House was not yet in a condition to pronounce an opinion on the subject, and merely asked fbr a brief delay till he made inquiry into the allegations. He thought such a course was the proper one under the circumstances. He would support him. Mr. B. ESCOTT supported the motion. He thought the inquiry should be granted, as it was a very fit subject for the House to investigate, and he could not understand why it was refused. _ .  Mr. CHRISTIE would vote for the inquiry without hesitation. The report referred to by the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State ought to have been laid on the table before this. He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would grant the Committee. Mr. HENLEY opposed the motion. If the House went into inquiries of this sort there would be no end to them. The course proposed by the Right Hon. Gentleman was the proper one under th• circumstances. The House then divided when there appeared— For the motion Against it Majority The House then went into Committee of Supply.