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 English Gaols a Century Ago.

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himself keeping a public house, and insisting gem, and escape told them by the heroes of that the debtor should either go to his house the Old Bailey. Lewd women jested at the miseries of debtors' wives and daughters. or to gaol. Water was supplied in allowances of three Lunatics and idiots either terrified the in pints a day, for drinking and washing. The mates by their violence, or furnished sport air was so poisonous, with the effluvia and for the motley crowd. When a new prisoner

excrement of pris appeared, he was oners, that the leaves compelled to put up "c h u m m a ge," or of Howard's memo randum book became "garnish." " Pay or so tainted that he strip " were the fatal words. If he had no could not use it until after spreading it for money, he yielded up a couple of hours be his apparel, which fore the fire, while was sold for the com his antidote, — a vial mon account, and the of vinegar, was unfit following night was for use after a single spent in drunkenness visit. " Hell in min and riot. The gaoler iature" was his oft kept a tap house, and repeated exclama found it to his ad tion. vantage to encourage the practice. Light was exclud ed because the gao Gaming was com lers had to pay a mon. Cards, Dice, window tax. As the Skittles, Mississippi, county allowed no Portobello, Billiards, straw, the prisoners and Fives were aslept on rags or bare mong the indulgen floors; or if, per ces allowed for a con chance, a little was sideration. Prisoners secured, it was not were loaded with changed for months, irons, ostensibly to and became a mass prevent their escape; of filth and nastireally as a means of ness. extortion, for men !/. Sheen; h. Collar; I. Skuu-Cap; k. Fetters. and women were al Such were the evils THE CRUELTIES IN THE MARSH ALSEA PRISON: lowed the " choice of which affected the MODE OF APPLYING THE TORTURE. irons," if they were health and life of the willing to pay for it. prisoners. Their mor Walking as well as lying down was both als were equally exposed to the most perni cious influences. All sorts of persons were difficult and painful. In Ely Gaol, the prop herded together. Felons and debtors, men erty of the Bishop, who was Lord of the and women, young and old, petty offenders Franchise of the Isle of Ely, only ten years and hardened criminals; boys of twelve and before Howard wrote, the prisoners were chained down on their backs on the floor, fourteen years of age listening with eager ness to the tales of crime, adventure, strata- across which were several iron bars, with an