PRIVATE PRISONS.
Probably few people are a Ware of the existence of the five private prisons in England. . . To begin" vvitli, there is a prison at Windsor Castle where refractory, servants, hitlers, etc., employed at the |Royal residence are,lodged by the aujthorities when guilty of any offence. Though it is a good many years since the last prisoner was lodged there, the power to place anyone, behind those prison bars still remains. There is also a private prison at Buckingham Palace. Offenders, before committed to its precincts, are tried by tfie "Board of Green Cloth," consisting.. of the.; Lord Steward, the Treasurer Comptroller, and the Master of the Household. This unique body of magistrates can try offences ranging from high treason to petty theft, and when found guilty the prisoner is sent to this Royal prison. Perhaps the most extraordinary of all private prisons is the Clock Tower of the House of Commons, where more than one refractory member of the "House" has been confined. It is the Speaker who has the power and right to order any person th(|-e if it really becomes necessary. Such an experience once befell the late Mr Charles Bradlaugh and also several prominent Irish politicians.
The strange survival at Oxford, in virtue of which the duly appointed proctors of the University ha\'e the power to imprison any person whom they believe to be a hindrance to the welfare of the town, is also of marked interest. The person upon wEbm they cast a disfavoiirable eye heed not be a criminal; it is simply a. matter of opinion with these proctors, who can deal out punishment as they please and brook no interference from the law,
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19190516.2.34
Bibliographic details
PRIVATE PRISONS., Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9611, 16 May 1919
Word Count
281PRIVATE PRISONS. Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9611, 16 May 1919
Using This Item
See our copyright guide for information on how you may use this title.