Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 1: From the twelfth to the eighteenth centuryGriffiths, Arthur
History
Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 1: From the twelfth to the eighteenth century
Griffiths, Arthur
Criminals -- Great Britain; Newgate (Prison : London, England); Prisons -- England; Punishment -- Great Britain
Some time later Mr. Forster got clean away, as did Brigadier Macintosh
and eight others. Mr. George Budden, formerly an upholsterer near Fleet
Bridge, also effected his escape; and last, but not least, Mr. Charles
Radcliffe, Lord Derwentwater's brother. After Mr. Forster's escape
the Government took greater precautions, and a lieutenant with thirty
men of the Foot Guards was ordered to do constant duty at Newgate.
Mr. Pitt, the keeper, was strongly suspected of collusion, and was
attached on a charge of high treason, being after arrested committed to
the custody of one Wilcox, a messenger, "who used him in a barbarous
manner, contrary, no doubt, to the instruction of the noble lord that
issued the warrant for his confinement." The city authorities, no doubt
exercised at the insecurity of their gaol, also roused themselves "to
look better after their prison of Newgate," and instead of leaving Mr.
Rouse chief turnkey in charge of the whole place, specially appointed
Mr. Carleton Smith, an officer of the lord mayor's, and with him Mr.
Russell, to take care of the rebels in the press-yard. These new
officials "performed their part so well," it is said, "by examining all
the visitors, debarring entrance to all riding-hoods, cloaks, and arms,
and by sitting up all night in the prison, each in his turn, that not
one man escaped from thence during their time."
The new keepers appear to have stirred up much animosity from their
punctual discharge of their duties. Mr. Russell, we read, shortly after
his appointment was very much abused and threatened by Captain Silk and
some of the rebels, who surrounded him in the press-yard, but he made
his retreat without any harm. There must have been some in the reigning
monarch's service with secret sympathies for the Pretender; for it is
recorded, May 14th, that "an officer of the guards with two others
conversed with the rebels all day." They were, moreover, humoursome
and abusive to the new keepers because of their care in looking after
their prisoners; whereof Messrs. Carleton Smith and Russell complained
to the lord mayor, who thereupon ordered that no officer should be
permitted to visit the prisoners without the express permission of the
Secretary of State; and next day it is stated the officer in fault was
"submissive and sorry for his offence." This was not the first offence
of the kind. A few days previous to this the officer of the guard
went in, contrary to custom, with his sword on, to see the prisoners.
He continued with them for some hours, and whether heated with wine
or otherwise, beat one of the turnkeys as he brought in a rebel from
trial. This officer was placed in arrest, and another mounted guard in
his place, who "prevented the drunkenness and other irregularities of
the soldiers which might have given the prisoners an opportunity to
escape."
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