"IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND."

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 41

"IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND."

STORY OF A BIRMINGHAM PRISON WARDER.

How A Famous Novel Was Founded.

In these days of increased liberty and enlightenment it is difficult for most of us to understand fully the meaning of such terms as " prison," " solitary confinement," or " hard labour. Yet though we do not often realise how much incarceration in a prison means to those within, we may surely congratulate ourselves that the gaols of to-day are happy homes when compared with those of some 50 years ago. It may not be unprofitable therefore, more especially to the younger members of the present generation, to look back some 40 years into tbe past, and recall some of tbe incidents which happened in our own neighbourhood, incidents which called forth the just and deepest indignation of the citizens of Birmingham when they were made fully aware of them. The scene of these incidents was the goal at Winson green. Most of the actors in that pitiful drama are dead, or have left the neighbourhood, co that no harm can be done in recalliDg for the benefit of our younger readers, and those older ones who have short memories, something of what took place in our new borough gaol at the beginning of the " fif tie"." One actor at least we have still living among us. This is Mr William Brown, who became a warder thtre in September 1851, and who has remained there ever since. He was one of the few who came out of the searching Royal Commission without blame attached to him, and was complimented by the commissioners on the way in which he had often attempted to mitigate the severity of unjust punishment of prisoners, taking into consideration the stringent regulations which he had, with others, to carry out by order of the Governor. Of this, however, we will speak more fully later on. He is leaving his employment very shortly, after a continuous and honourable service of 40 years, and it is this fact which has suggested tbe possibility that a short account of the crueltie.s of which he was an eye-witness at the beginning of his career may be of interest to readers of the Djiily Mail. Most people know Charles Blade's thrilling and exciting novel, "It; is Never too Late to Mend," with its graphic description of the trials and tortures of prison life; but many do not know that the first half of that story contains an accurate account of what happened in theßirmingham Gaol in the years 1852 and 1853. Those who have read the tale will remember the humane warder named Evans, the one man in the prison who sided with the parson Eden, in bis attempt to mitigate the brutalities oE the governor. This character of Evans was taken from Mr William Brown. The other actors in the tale are sketched from, the other officials at Winson green, but among them there is but one — Evans — who looks upon the prisoners as human beings. Mr Brown is so well known in connection with these facts that he has more than once been offered a large remuneration to appear on the stage to play the part of himself in an adaptation of Beade's brilliant novel. THE BOROUGH GOAL AT WINSON GREEN

The foundation stone of this was laid by the mayor, Thomas Phillips, on October 27, 1845. In the3e early days Winaon green was quite a rural spot. Tne prison van had to come along the Dudley road, and down Winson green lane, a country lane in every sense of the word. Asbford's farm was then standing where there is now a publichouse called the Acorn. Heath street was cut, but was not then passable. There was a fine row of chestnut trees along the lane "running from the place where Villiers street now is down to the Foundry lane. In places the branches reached almost across the road, and the prison officers, riding on the top of the van, had to crouch down to prevent being knocked dowo. Ifc is very different now. The first governor of the new gaol was Captain M-; chonochie, R.N. He was not connected with Birmingham, but was selected partly on the recommendation of the Secretary of State, Sir George Grey, and the Kecorder of Birmingham, Mr M. D. Hill. Great interest was felt at the time in the amendment of prison discipline, and tbe captain was known to be 'a humane man, who had devoted much time to the forming of schemes towards amelioration. He had been for some years governor of the Australian penal settlement of Norfolk Inland, where his system of applying mild persuasion instead of severity of treatment was not altogether successful, and was greatly ridiculed by the colonial press. Ho left there in 1844. The system that he so strongly adrocated was the imposing sentences of fixed amounts of hard labour to be performed in gaol, instead of fixed periods of incarceration there. In plain English, the sooner you did your work the sooner you were let out. Though not strictly according to the law, it was understood that at Birmingba m he was to be allowed to make an experiment of his "mark" system. This was only tried/with bcysunder 16. Roughly speaking, no prisoner was entitled to any other food than bread or water, but was to earn an improved dietary, together with other indulgences and rewards in accordance with tho number of marks he received according to his diligence and good conduct. In 1850 Lieutenant Austin, K.N., was appointed deputy-governor. From the very first he was antagonistic to the governor and bis Bjstem. He was of the school much fostered in a section of our navy, that discipline was everything. He considered that a breach of prison discipline was a crime almost greater than that for which a prisoner had entered the gaol, and he appeared to take a delight in severe punishment. Machonochie believed in remonstrance and persuasion, and endeavoured to send each released prisoner into the world with some chance of succeeding in becoming au honest man. Austin pinned his faith to constant threats of punishment, and an almost perpetual use of the collar, straitjacket, and dark cells. It was soon apparent that these two men could not work together. The officials in the building soon became split up into two factions. The visiting justices sided with the lieutenant. It was evident that he was their favourite. He was given increasing power and authority, while the captain's system was said to be a failure. It is not possible to go into all the details of tbe ca?e which led up to the dismissal of the Jatter on May 9, 1851, by a resolution of

the justices passed in session. The reasons given were incapability through increasing age, too great a laxness in discipline, and the dirtiness, &c, of the prison. Inspector Stevens was then appointed, but he resigned almost at once, and Austin took his place. Machonochie was presented with a purse of £250 by a largo number of subscribers, including a sum of £2 11s Gd collected in pence among a number of discharged prisoners. THE CRUELTIES AT THE GAOL. In 1853, stories began to circulate in Birmingham as to alleged cruelties perpetrated in the gaol. The seriousness and frequency of these allegations gradually increased. The climax was reached when the papers published the evidence given at a coroner's inquest on the body ofr a boy of 15, who had committed tuicide in his call under peculiarly painful circumstances. It was declared that among other illegal forms of punishment strait-jaokets had been introduced, and constantly used, not for restraining violence, but as punishment for the smallest infraction of prison rule. These jackets are provided with leather collars, a'boul 13in long, 3sin deep, and Jin thick, perfectly rigid. The prisoner was first muffled in the jacket, with his arms tied together on his breast, and then strapped so tightly at the back that it was impossible to insert a finger between the strap and the flesh. The leather collar was then fastened on, cutting into the chin and against the neck, preventing any movement of the head. Then the prisoner was fastened up to the wall of his cell in a standing position. This punishment, painful enough at once, became torture when it was prolonged. It lasted often enough for hours, and on occasions boys of 15 and under were kept in such positions from 9 in the morning uatil 10 at eight. When the strapping was severe they often fainted, and were then brought round by flinging buckets of cold water over them, nor were they always at once taken out of the jacket, even when they became insensible. In this position they were fed — and they were not always fed — by one of the warders, who broke up the bread in small pieces and placed it in the prisoners' mouth, and water was given in a similar way. But at times the collar was so tight that it was impoasibe to drink or swallow even the smallest pieces of food. On some occasions the tortured boy would b3 discovered back in the face, and difficulty would be experienced in bringing him round again. Often after being revived with buckets of cold water the lad would be left in his wet clothes for hours, and even wculd be forced to sleep in then>. And all thi3 was inflicted not because the prisoner was dangerous or vi Merit, but simply because he was unable or declined to fulfil the amount of CRANK LABOUR set him, or for talking to another prisoner, or using bad language. This inability or refusal to do the necessary number of crank revolutions was always furnished with a diet of bread and water. A fixed number of revolutions had to be made each day — so many before breakfast, so many before dinner, so many before supper. If the number was not oompleted before breakfast, no breakfast ; if not completed before dinner, no dinner; and no supper, and so on ; so that an ailing man or a weakly boy would go a whole day without food or drink, and might think himself lucky if at 10 at night he got Boz of brown bread and a pint of water. Added to this double torture of strait-jacket and no food, was the rule of no gas and no bed in the cell until 10 o'clock, so that boys worn out in the attempt to perform their alloted task, were left in total darkness, and unable to sleep until late at night, when their hammock bedding was restored to them. And all this because he could not turn a handle with a 101b pressure upon it for 10,000 revolutions between sunrise and night. To have to sit in silence in tbe darkness, worn out with idiotic labour which produced notbicg but intense weariness, hands blistered from holding the handle, bones aching and flesh sore and smarting from the collar and jacket, not even a h ird bed to fling one's helpless body upon and try to forget all ia sleep, clothes I perhaps saturated by the reviving bucket, clemmed to death with cold and almost dying inch by inch for want of even bread, small wonder that even boys of 15 attempted to end it all with 3u'c'de, and were in some cases successful. It makes one's blood boil to think of it even now, when happily it is all pas'. Such tortures would to-day be impossible But when an inklirg of their proceedings came to the ears of the citizens of Birmingham, and wLen the news of the increasing number of suicides at the paol became known, their cuel'ies were condemned with abhorrence by all honest men, and steps were taken promptly to put a stop to them. THE SUICIDE OF EDWARD ANDREWS.

Of all the pitiable cases which were made pnbl>c at t> c inqniy time none wa3 more than that of Edward Andrew?. Mr Bro>Jvn, the humani ar'an warder, who is ahou 1 ; to ratine from WintonGreon G>a', and 'owhom we are indebted for mnch interesting information, has a vivid recollection of this poor lad, although the cruelties he underwent took place nearly 40 years ago. Under the name of Josephs, Charles Rsade has given a vividly true and heartrending account of the boy who was tortured until he committed suicide. The plain facts of the case can be stated here, but those who have an opportunity of re-reading "It is Never Too Late to Mend " would do well to do so. That pxinful narrative ia not exaggerated — it is the literal truth, as given before the Commission. Andrews was 15, and received three months, with hard labour, for stealing 4lb of beef. He had been in gaol twice before — once for throwing stones in the street (14 days), and a second time for garden robbing (one month). There can hardly be a man living who did not throw stones in his youth, and many a respectable citizen has helped himself to his neighbour's fruit in his schooldays. Andrews could not read, and was a desolate, outcast child. He was set to work on the crank, with a pressure of 51b, and had to do 10,000 revolutions a day. He was in a weak state of health, so that he was often deficient in his task. Each day's shortcomings were carried forward as a balance against him. He was, in consequence, fed on bread and water only, which he did not receive until night. On the 12th April he was given three days' bread and water, the three days to -be three consecntjve Sundays— a.t the game time! on the

week days, he was receiving the same diet for deficiency in crank labour. This last punishment was given him for shouting and talking. On the 16th he again failed in his task — bread and water only at night, as before. Oa tbe 17ch he was reported for being lazy, and was put into the punishment jacket, and strapped to the wall. On the 19th, for damaging his crank, he was again placed in the jacket, and kept without food. On that day the chaplain, Mr Sherwin, was attracted to his cell by fearful shrieks and cries of "Murder." The boy was crying most piteously. He spoke of his misery and' wretchedness, and protested that ho was unable to do the work. He also complained bitterly of being deprived of his food, especially on Sunday. At this time many prisoners were literally almost;

DONE TO DEATH through starvation in this brand-new gaol. Mr Sherwin tried to insert bis finger between the leather collar and the boy's neck, but couldn't. ; so Brown, a first-class warder, slackened the straps on his own responsibility, and somewhat relieved him. On tho 24th he was again in the jacket, with buckets of water placed by him. Water was in constant use in the prison for throwing over jacketed prisoners who fainted or shammed fainting while strapped to the wall. Tho Governor Austin constantly threw water over them himself. It Was proved before tho Commissioners that at least on one ocoasion buckets of water had been thrown over a naked prisoner in the female ward. The jacket, with its collar, had been Introduced into the gaol by Freer, Austin's head man, after seeing those in use at Leicester. Later on in the day Andrews was found by Brown, still strapped to the wall, wet through, one foot baie, standing in a puddle of water, ghastly white in the face. On being liberated he fell upon the ground with exhaustion. On the previous day to this he was ia such an utter state of collapse on being taken out of the jacket that for a time it was feared that it would be impossible to bring him round again. On the 27th of April a warder named Jones entered his cell and found him hanging from one of the window bars by his hammock straps. He had broken two panes of glass in order to fix the noose. He was dead, but the body was still warm. In order to reaoh the window he stood upoa his stool, adjusted the fatal leather round his neck, and then kicked his stool away. This was at 10 o'clock at night. The warder had gone to his cell to give him hi 3 raattresf", of which he had bsen deprived, as well as of gas, for many nights until 10 o'clock. The cell was ia darkness, but by the light of the moon Jones saw his white, staring face just above the window sill. He pulled out his penknife, and cut the lad down. Andrews was not a violent boy, constantly breaking prison rules, nor was he am unwilling worker. This was proved by the fact that, although on some days he was deficient in his number of crank revolutions, on others he exceeded the necessary number sometimes as much as by 2000 revolutions. This was owing to the faot that he went on working far into the night to finish his task, and being left in the dark was unable to see the dial plate on tbe machine. His suicide was a deliberate aofc, to rid himself of so much bodily and mental torture. He waa hounded to death by the prison authorities, his only crime b9ing tha theft of a piece of meat to fill his hungry mouth. This oase has been gone into at some lentb, as it is typical of the many other acts of cruelty perpetrated at Winson green. BRUTAL TREATMENT OF OTHBB BOYS. Webb, aged 15, for tbe diabolical offenca of saying " Good-bye" to another prisoner, was strapped to the wall, with his legs, arms, and head fastened in the infernal machine. He was allowed Boz of bread a day and no. water. His humane gaoler fed him bit by bit with this, as though he had been somewild beast. He was put on the crank from 6 in the morniug until 10 in the evening, and then, by way of relief and rest, was strapped into the jacket all night. This process was so painful that it rendered sleep im possible, even when lying on the bed. Shaw and R'chsrd Soott were subject to similar treatment. When they fainted with pain and exhaustion they were deluged with ico-colrl water, in the middle of winter, and left m their wet clothes until dry 'again. This method of cold water brought back a prisoner to consciousness in a second, and was one of the worst brutalities practised in the gaol. Scott was au imbecile lad, and on one occasion tried to strangle himself. He told the Commissioners that he had been strapped bo tightly that he could not Bpeak,, and when unfastened was taken to the bath,, stripped, and a dozen buckets ot water thrown over him to bring him round. Jifa head was sorubhed with a scrubber unlll heshouted with pain. He was then »>ade to. go on his knees naked, and wash the floor. This finished, he was put into, the jacket again and left, all night, fcaao Shaw also attempted to hang himfelf. , THE CA^E OP CHARLES DEVALL* This prisoner was sentenced for 18 month «•„ He had been in gaol before He had ooca been dumb, buh had recovered his speech. He was very ill when he arrived. Cotter!!!, sen., one of the warders, paid to him, •' You are here again, are you ? I'll drive the soul out of you ; I'll see that you don't leave the prison with your life." This prisoner died in about six months. He was terribly disheartened by this speech, and constantly referred to it, saying to the warders, "Cotterill has not murdered me yet." It was known throughout the prison that this man's coffin was ordered a week before he died. FILLING A PRISONER'S MOUTH WITH SALT.

Samuel Hunt was often in the punishment jaoket. He was a violent man, and subject to fits. He was undoubtedly insane at times. He was in the habit of tearing off his clothes, and beating his breast, and preaching aloud from an open Bible. On one occasion he became very violent while having the jacket put on, and attempted to bite the gaolers. The gaol doctor, Blount, who made a most lamentable appearance before the Commissioners, thereupon ordered a lump of salt to bo fetched, and crammed it into the prisoner's mouth, preventing him from speaking, and addiDg greatly to his tortures. Two of tbe warders swore to seaing this done. Austin swore to the contrary, but Blount himself, at first denying it, on beiDg pressed said he could not remember, whereupon Mr Welsby remarked, " If I were to Uvg for 100 years I should not forget fouch

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a thing." However, the governor and the doctor were acquitted of this at the assizes.