HORRORS OF NEWGATE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 292, 23 September 1935, Page 8

HORRORS OF NEWGATE

PRISON IN BAD OLD DAYS.

VENGEANCE AND LICENSE. In his “History of Newgate and the Old Bailey” (London), Mr W. Eden Hooper draws a terrible picture of imprisonment and prison life not only centuries ago, but even well into tho nineteenth century. “Newgate prison gradually became the great repository for every class of offender. The common felons and beggars were’mixed with the victims of tyranny, religions intolerance, and commercial misfortune. Those who supported a losing cause were consigned there by those wielding temporary authority; those who persisted in doctrines of faitlv opposed to the belief of the ruling, power were sent there between the periods of their tortures, or while awaiting death; and those w T ho were unable to pay a debt were held there until such a time, as it should be paid, or until their creditors in pity released them.”

It would appear that Newgate prison was normally intended to accommodate 460 people—3oo ordinary male prisoners, '6O female, and 100 debtors. By 1809, records show that close upon 800 men and women were detained there. In -1813 there were 340 in the debtors’ section and 120 in the women’s ward.

Sentences were often atrociously severe. Look at these examples:— For stealing an apron, transportation for life. Stealing bacon, the same. Stealing worsted yarn, the same. Stealing two pounds of potatoes, 14 years. Stealing a pair of shoes, the same. And so on.

A horse thief in; 1583, together with 10 others, was condemned 1 and hanged, and one Thomas Green, goldsmith, on another date'“was hanged, beaded, and quartered for the clipping of coin. . .” During the reign of Elizabeth iree speech and free writing were dangerous indulgences. Wo read that Stubbs, a writer, and Page, a publisher, bad their right hands cut off for publishing “a seditious libel,” while in Charles I.\s time William Prynne, who had impeached the Star Chamber, was condemned! by the Earl of Dorset to be branded on the forehead,' and to have his ears cropped—this among other punishments. He was also pilloried, and they burnt his writings under his nose, so that he was nearly suffocated. The general 1 conditions of prison life in the seventeenth century form an astounding contrast to the strict, one may say decorous, regime of to-day. There were extremes of repression arid license s de by side. “Manacles were clapped on all comers until a financial bargain liad been struck before their arrival . . .

and wore on both the hands and feet, and were heavily made.” Extortion by the head gaoler and his underlings had been customary for generations, and in more or less degree they continued until the middle of the last century. The place was a largescale nest of bribery.

Then there were the drinking cellars, in which felons or debtors who were able to afford it could get drunk at will and the will, at least, was never want-

miSPrices are interesting: Wine was two shillings a bottle, “strong drink’’ fourpenec a quart, and brandiy fourpence a quartern. Prisoners were indiscriminately herded together, hardened and vicious criminals side by side with youths, and even children. Sleeping) accommodation was appalling. For the use of “beds” in some of the wards 3s 6d a week was charged. On what was known as the “Mastei iside” of the prison) every felon or debtor had to pay 14s lOd on entrance for various “lees” and “garnish,” and in addition was charged Is 6d for coal, and Is to be spent among the other prisoners. Jn a division of the g°al called the Press Yard and Castle, “divers large spacious rooms” existed, and these could be reserved for important State prisoners or wealthy criminals. You paid a premium calculated on your position, and this fee varied from £2O to £SOO. I‘or a room the rent was 11s 6d a week, and all other necessaries you had to provide yourself.