Eighteen Months' Imprisonment - free ebook by Donald Shaw

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Eighteen Months' Imprisonment

Donald Shaw

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40 chapters

EIGHTEEN MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT

EIGHTEEN MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT

(WITH A REMISSION) BY D— S— LATE CAPTAIN — REGT. ILLUSTRATED BY WALLIS MACKAY LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS Broadway , Ludgate Hill NEW YORK: 9 LAFAYETTE PLACE 1883 LONDON BRADBURY, AGNEW, &amp; CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. CHAPTER I PAGE MY ARREST 1 CHAPTER II THE HOUSE OF DETENTION 12 CHAPTER III “SETTLING DOWN” 20 CHAPTER IV “PRISON FARE” 31 CHAPTER V GEORGINA 41 CHAPTER VI BOW STREET 48 CHAPTER VII NEWGATE 54 CHAPTER VIII THE SCAFFOLD 67 CHAPTER IX A PRIVATE EXECUTION 75 CHAPTER X “

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CHAPTER I. “MY ARREST.”

CHAPTER I. “MY ARREST.”

On a dreary afternoon in November, cheerless and foggy as befitted the occasion, and accompanied by that gentle rain which we are told “falleth on the just and on the unjust,” I suddenly, though hardly unexpectedly, found myself in the hands of the law, as represented by a burly policeman in a waterproof cape and a strong Somersetshire accent. The circumstances that led up to this momentous change can be briefly described. I had gone to the office of a solicitor—one White, with whom I had had

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CHAPTER II. THE HOUSE OF DETENTION.

CHAPTER II. THE HOUSE OF DETENTION.

After a delay of about twenty minutes—when for the first time I found myself an inmate of a police cell—a very civil gaoler (with the relative rank of a Police Sergeant) announced to me, with a “Now, Captain,” the arrival of one of Her Majesty’s carriages. One has frequently heard of the Queen’s carriages meeting, and not meeting, distinguished personages, such as Mr. Gladstone, Sir Garnet Wolseley, the King of the Zulus, and German princelings; but the carriage I refer to must not be confused

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CHAPTER III. “SETTLING DOWN.”

CHAPTER III. “SETTLING DOWN.”

Fresh arrivals appear to come to this awful place at every hour of the day and night. The police courts belch forth their motley loads on an average about twice a day, and when the Sessions are “on,” prisoners arrive as late as nine and ten of a night, and the rumbling of “Black Marias,” the shouting of warders, the turning of keys, the slamming of doors, and a hundred other “regulations” that make night hideous, lead one to imagine oneself in a third-class hostelry alongside a railway station.

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CHAPTER IV. “PRISON FARE.”

CHAPTER IV. “PRISON FARE.”

A greasy cold chop, smelling as if it had been cooked in “Benzine collas,” and with about as much warmth as would be imparted to it by a flat iron, a slice of bread that had evidently been cut in the early part of the day, with salt, mustard, a lump of cheese, and a potato piled up beside it, and a pint of the flattest, blackest, nastiest ale in a yellow jug without a spout, with my name pasted on it and the plate, constituted my meal, and nothing but philosophy and a certain amount of hunger co

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CHAPTER V. GEORGINA.

CHAPTER V. GEORGINA.

Who has not heard of Georgina? Ask Gounod, ask Monsieur Riviere, ask Mr. Vaughan, ask me, ask yourself, indulgent reader. I made this lady’s acquaintance some five years ago, about eleven P.M. , outside Covent Garden Theatre, when she was apparently being supported by her seconds and spongeholders, after her third or fourth round (I forget which) with the “Leicester Square Pet” or the “Regent Street Chicken,” or both. I was not an eye-witness of this revival of the good old days of the ring,

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CHAPTER VI. BOW STREET.

CHAPTER VI. BOW STREET.

An eventful day was now approaching, and on the morrow I was to appear at Bow Street for the first time after my formal remand of the previous Friday. I felt an instinctive conviction that my appearance (even though it had not appeared up to that time in the newspapers) would be generally known, and draw together a crowd actuated by motives either of like, dislike, or curiosity; nor was I wrong in my surmise. An official at the police court informed me that numbers of inquiries had been made a

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CHAPTER VII. NEWGATE.

CHAPTER VII. NEWGATE.

So much has been written about this national Bastille, and so many have gone over the building, that one feels as if writing about “a tale that is told.” Nevertheless, I trust my narrative may describe things never before alluded to, and be found to contain matters of interest that came under my personal observation. The first thing at Newgate that a fresh arrival has to submit to is the indispensable bath, accompanied by a very minute and simultaneous search. I was at once ushered downstairs

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CHAPTER VIII. THE SCAFFOLD.

CHAPTER VIII. THE SCAFFOLD.

In the corner of the yard where I daily exercised stood an unpretending looking shed, with slate roof and large folding doors, and resembling a coach-house more than anything I can compare it to. This building always puzzled me, and I enquired of my friend and fellow-lodger, Mr. Mike Rose, what it was. I then discovered it was the scaffold, that grim limb of the law on which so many wretches have periodically suffered within three weeks of their sentence at the Old Bailey Sessions, or, as they

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CHAPTER IX. A PRIVATE EXECUTION.

CHAPTER IX. A PRIVATE EXECUTION.

The eventful day at length dawned when the scaffold was to be brought into requisition. “The condemned sermon” of the day before, to say nothing of the evident bustle that was going on, had sufficiently prepared our minds for what was about to happen; and the getting our breakfasts half an hour earlier, and the omission of the usual passage cleaning, all clearly pointed to some unusual occurrence. My friend the warder, too, kept me thoroughly au courant with what was passing, and when giving m

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CHAPTER X. “NEWGATE ETIQUETTE.”

CHAPTER X. “NEWGATE ETIQUETTE.”

Visits at Newgate are made under great disadvantage, and have not even the recommendation of privacy. A few of the more respectable (as regards clothes) prisoners, such as myself, were allowed to see our daily visitors in a portion of the enclosure a little removed, but still so near the regular place that it was almost impossible to hear what was said on account of the terrible roar made by the united lungs of a hundred malefactors and their demonstrative friends. Visits are only permitted be

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CHAPTER XI. THE TITLED CONVICT.

CHAPTER XI. THE TITLED CONVICT.

On the morning after my arrival at Newgate it was with considerable surprise that I saw a man in convict dress, who was apparently the object of special watch and guard. My curiosity was considerably increased from the circumstance of his being the only individual out of some two hundred in this conspicuous attire; he was moreover clearly not a novice, but wore the dreadful suit with the apparent ease of a man to whom it was by no means a novelty. He looked horribly ill, and a terrible eruptio

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CHAPTER XII. THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

CHAPTER XII. THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

After my sudden summons to attend the Court I found myself in the yard below, where, in company with some twenty others, I was placed in rotation according to a list the Governor and chief warder were “checking.” This formula being completed, we proceeded in single file, preceded by an “officer” and followed by a patriarch, along the subterraneous passages that connect the prison with the Old Bailey Court-house. These passages are the last remnants of the old prison, and demonstrate the change

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CHAPTER XIII. “CORPULENCY.”

CHAPTER XIII. “CORPULENCY.”

From my birth up to within the past twelve months I have had the misfortune to be afflicted with one of the most dreadful diseases that flesh is heir to. It is one that entails suffering both to body and mind, and from which a vast proportion of humanity suffers in a more or less aggravated form. It is a slow and insidious disease that never decreases of its own accord, but on the contrary develops itself with one’s increasing years as surely as the most virulent cancer. It has this advantage

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ABSTRACT OF THE REGULATIONS

ABSTRACT OF THE REGULATIONS

RELATING TO THE TREATMENT AND CONDUCT OF CONVICTED CRIMINAL PRISONERS. 1. Prisoners shall not disobey the orders of the Governor or of any officer of the prison, nor treat them with disrespect. 2. They shall preserve silence, and are not to cause annoyance or disturbance by making unnecessary noise. 3. They shall not communicate or attempt to do so with one another, or with any strangers or others who may visit the prison. 4. They shall not disfigure any part of their cells or damage any proper

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SYSTEM OF PROGRESSIVE STAGES FOR MALE PRISONERS SENTENCED TO HARD LABOUR.

SYSTEM OF PROGRESSIVE STAGES FOR MALE PRISONERS SENTENCED TO HARD LABOUR.

1. A prisoner shall be able to earn on each weekday 8, 7, or 6 marks, according to the degree of his industry; and on Sunday he shall be awarded marks according to the degree of his industry during the previous week. 2. There shall be four stages, and every prisoner shall pass through them or through so much of them as the term of his imprisonment admits. 3. He shall commence in the first stage, and shall remain in the first stage until he has earned 28 × 8, or 224 marks; in the second stage

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SHORT PRAYERS FOR MORNING AND EVENING.

SHORT PRAYERS FOR MORNING AND EVENING.

O God and Holy Father, Thou hast in mercy watched over me through the night; in Thy tender love keep me this day from evil. I have greatly sinned against Thee. Do Thou turn me from all my evil ways; wash me in the blood of Jesus, and let Thy Spirit lead me that I may hate sin and love what is right. Let Thy grace preserve me amidst all trials, that I may be made truly a servant of Jesus Christ and ever love and serve my God and Saviour. Amen. O God , Thou hast safely brought me to the close

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NOTICE.

NOTICE.

“Prisoners who desire assistance from the agent of the Discharged Prisoners’ Relief Committee, in finding employment on discharge, should apply to the Governor fourteen days before they go out, when their cases will be investigated. Wilfully false statements as to antecedents, &amp;c., will disqualify a prisoner from assistance, as will also misconduct in prison.” There is no institution I heard so much abused as the above, and although I cannot speak from personal knowledge, I should say t

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DIETARY FOR CONVICTED PRISONERS.

DIETARY FOR CONVICTED PRISONERS.

No. 1. Men , Women , and Boys under Sixteen Years of Age , with and without Hard Labour . Breakfast Daily 8 ounces bread. Dinner 1½ pint stirabout (containing 3 ounces Indian meal and 3 ounces oatmeal). Supper No. 2. Men with hard Labour . Breakfast 6 ounces bread, 1 pint gruel. Dinner Sunday and Wednesday 6 ounces bread, 8 ounces suet pudding. Monday and Friday 6 ounces bread, 8 ounces potatoes. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 6 ounces bread, ½ pint soup. Supper Daily 6 ounces bread, 1 pint gr

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TABLE OF SUBSTITUTES

TABLE OF SUBSTITUTES

For cooked English beef or potatoes, which may be issued, if deemed necessary, by the authorities. In lieu of four ounces cooked English beef: Five ounces Colonial beef or mutton, preserved by heat (served cold); nine ounces beans, one ounce fat bacon, four ounces American or other foreign beef, preserved by cold (weighed after cooking), eight ounces cooked fresh fish; six ounces cooked salt meat; twelve ounces cooked salt fish. In lieu of three ounces cooked English beef: Three-and-three-quarte

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CHAPTER XVI. THE VISITING JUSTICES.

CHAPTER XVI. THE VISITING JUSTICES.

Something was indeed up; a letter, in fact, that I had clandestinely written had been intercepted. Personally I was indifferent to the result; the worst had been done to me when I found myself in prison. Degrees of punishment had no terrors for me, and I was equally callous as to whether employed in a “situation of trust” or languishing in a punishment cell. To me all appeared tarred with the same brush, and I loathed the privileges and punishments, the indulgences and deprivations, the spiri

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CHAPTER XVII. PRISON TRADES.

CHAPTER XVII. PRISON TRADES.

A great variety of trades are represented in Coldbath Fields—such as tailors, shoemakers, blacksmiths, tinsmiths, worsted-workers, laundrymen, bakers, needlemen, basket-makers, mat-makers, printers, bookbinders, carpenters, plumbers, and glaziers. Of these mat-making and laundry-work are considered the hardest. The men selected for following any of the above vocations are looked upon as privileged individuals, and infinitely better off than the ordinary oakum-picker—a task that everyone has to

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CHAPTER XVIII. “THE OUTER WORLD.”

CHAPTER XVIII. “THE OUTER WORLD.”

The unfortunate contretemps that had indirectly associated me with the dismissal of a warder caused me to be looked upon for some time by his confrères with considerable distrust; it was generally understood, however, that I was not a man that could be bullied with impunity, and would unhesitatingly have reported any attempt of the kind. I attribute this diagnosis of my character to my bearing from the first. I made it a rule to be scrupulously courteous to the humblest turnkey if he showed an

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CHAPTER XIX. “THE CONVALESCENT WARD.”

CHAPTER XIX. “THE CONVALESCENT WARD.”

On my admission into hospital I was at first sent to the convalescent ward, a huge room devoted to light and unpronounced cases. It accommodates 40 patients, and the entire furniture may be roughly estimated as consisting of 40 beds, 40 tables, 40 chairs, one shovel and tongs, and one thermometer. The beds are ranged round the entire room, the tables and chairs a yard apart forming two rows down the centre; the thermometer is suspended from a beam, the shovel is chained to one fire-place, and

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CHAPTER XX. CRIMINAL LUNATICS.

CHAPTER XX. CRIMINAL LUNATICS.

In one of the padded cells was a dangerous lunatic. For weeks and months he had kept up an incessant conversation with himself, occasionally diversified by shrieks and yells. At first it was believed the man was shamming, and he was taken before the visiting justices and sentenced to be flogged, but this usually infallible cure had not the desired effect. Clothes were converted into rags in an incredibly short space of time. He was handcuffed in front, and still they were destroyed. He was

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CHAPTER XXI. PRISON CELEBRITIES.

CHAPTER XXI. PRISON CELEBRITIES.

I was surprised at the number of respectable men—such as solicitors, an ex-officer of Guards, a bank manager, a man of title, stockbrokers, cashiers, ex-officers of the army and navy, clerks, clergymen, etc.—in Coldbath Fields. Some of these had quite lost (supposing they ever had any) their pristine semblance of respectability; others, again, retained the appearance of persons of education, and spoke and deported themselves as such. A lamentable instance of the fatal effect of associating wit

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CHAPTER XXII. THE TREAD-WHEEL.

CHAPTER XXII. THE TREAD-WHEEL.

By Act of Parliament, all prisoners, till quite recently, were photographed after admission to the various prisons. This universal system is now abolished, and since January, 1882, it is only reserved for habitual criminals and prisoners sentenced to police supervision. I had the good fortune to add to my experiences and my desire to see everything, by coming under the universal system, I having become a Government ward exactly eleven days before the expiration of the Act. One morning, whilst

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CHAPTER XXIII. GARDENING.

CHAPTER XXIII. GARDENING.

I had at last indeed tumbled on my legs. My new duties offered a combination of advantages—such as variety, fresh air, newspapers, tobacco, etc.—far in excess of my fondest dreams. There are six so-called gardeners, who are constantly employed in the grounds. At 7.30 they go out, and rarely return before dinner; and again at 2, remaining out till 5. In fine weather this is a great relief, and I enjoyed many an afternoon basking in the sun on a grassy bank. Gardening. “Something approaching.”

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CHAPTER XXIV. THE CHURCH MILITANT IN PRISON.

CHAPTER XXIV. THE CHURCH MILITANT IN PRISON.

Religious ceremonial plays an important part at Coldbath Fields. The quantity, indeed, is lamentably in excess of the quality, and leavened with a degree of barbaric hypocrisy incapable of engendering any feeling but that of nausea. Language fails me in trying to describe it in its proper light; and though reluctant to appear as scoffing at religion—which I emphatically repudiate—what I saw and heard makes it a hopeless task to allude to the subject and yet divest it of its component parts. T

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CHAPTER XXV THE HOSPITAL DEAD-HOUSE.

CHAPTER XXV THE HOSPITAL DEAD-HOUSE.

During my career as a gardener I became very unwell. I attribute this in a measure to a recurrence of a malady contracted in the tropics, and a chill I caught from lying on damp grass in a draughty yard. Another cause of my serious and probably life-long illness may possibly be traced to an insane and spontaneous act—an over-taxation of nature—many months previously. I had fined down in the ordinary course of events to the weight and bulk (according to my theory) that nature clearly intended;

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CHAPTER XXVI. BURGLARS “I HAVE MET.”

CHAPTER XXVI. BURGLARS “I HAVE MET.”

The number of admissions into hospital about this time necessitated my having a companion billeted on me, an unfortunate Frenchman, utterly oblivious of any language but his own; and as it turned out that his attainments in English were exactly of the same extent as that of the warders in French, there seemed to be an impassable gulf fixed between all communication of ideas, if either party had happened to possess any. He was complaining to me one day of the disadvantage he laboured under, and

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CHAPTER XXVII. “JUSTICE TEMPERED WITH MERCY.”

CHAPTER XXVII. “JUSTICE TEMPERED WITH MERCY.”

I had now been many months in hospital, though all the care and kindness I received seemed incapable of improving my condition. Strengthening medicines, stimulants, tonics, all failed to rouse me, and the tempting food, that I had only to suggest to have provided, could not induce me to eat. I was subjected to a minute medical examination, and my lung was found to be affected. Later on a further examination proved that the malady was slowly progressing. To remain in prison was certain death,

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CHAPTER XXVIII. A RETROSPECT.

CHAPTER XXVIII. A RETROSPECT.

I cannot conclude my story without asking, What constitutes honesty? and if anybody can give a really logical and satisfactory reply, I would ask him, Has he ever met a really honest man? In the conviction of being credited with a reprobate mind, I freely admit my inability to answer either question satisfactorily. It is my experience, indeed, that no such thing as honesty—as at present understood—exists, and that it is simply a question of time, circumstance, or opportunity, although I have me

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Will shortly appear.

Will shortly appear.

WHERE TO DINE AND WHERE NOT TO BORROW. A VERY COMPLETE LIST OF RESTAURANTS, WITH THEIR PECULIAR SPECIALITIES; AND USURERS, COMPRISING BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, TRADESMEN, AND PROFESSIONAL MONEY LENDERS. FROM PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE . By D— S— Price 1s. Bread and Biscuit Bakers W. HILL AND SON ADVERTISEMENT HEADING AND COAT OF ARMS To Her Majesty the Queen. W. HILL &amp; SON, MAKERS OF THE WHOLE MEAL UNFERMENTED BREAD AND BISCUITS. WHOLE MEAL PLAIN DIGESTIVE BISCUITS, At 2s. and 4s.6d. per Tin. Sp

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BIRKBECK BANK,

BIRKBECK BANK,

( ESTABLISHED 1851 .) 29 &amp; 30, SOUTHAMPTON BUILDINGS, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON. The BIRKBECK BANK opens Drawing Accounts with trading firms and private individuals upon the plan usually adopted by other Bankers, but with the important exception that it allows interest, at the rate of Two per cent. per annum, on the minimum monthly balances, when not drawn below £25. No Commission charged for keeping Accounts, excepting under exceptional circumstances. Money is received at Three per cent. i

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The Birkbeck Building Society’s Annual Receipts Exceed Four Millions.

The Birkbeck Building Society’s Annual Receipts Exceed Four Millions.

HOW TO PURCHASE A HOUSE for TWO GUINEAS per month. With Immediate Possession and no Rent to pay.—Apply at the Office of thee Birkbeck Building Society . HOW TO PURCHASE A PLOT OF LAND for FIVE SHILLINGS per month. With Immediate Possession, either for Building or Gardening purposes.—Apply at the Office of the Birkbeck Freehold Land Society . A Pamphlet, with full particulars, on application. FRANCIS RAVENSCROFT, Manager, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane....

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LORD LYTTON’S NOVELS.

LORD LYTTON’S NOVELS.

KNEBWORTH EDITION. In crown 8vo , cloth , with frontispiece , price 3s. 6d. each Volume . EUGENE ARAM. THE CAXTONS. NIGHT AND MORNING. DEVEREUX. PELHAM. THE DISOWNED. MY NOVEL. Vol . I. GODOLPHIN. ,, ,, Vol . II. A STRANGE STORY. ERNEST MALTRAVERS. WHAT WILL HE DO WITH IT? ALICE. Do. THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII. LEILA; AND THE PILGRIMS OF THE RHINE. HAROLD. KENELM CHILLINGLY. THE COMING RACE. THE PARISIANS. Vol . I. ZANONI. ,, ,, Vol . II. PAUL CLIFFORD. FALKLAND AND ZICCI. RIENZI. PAUSANIAS TH

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Uniform with the “Knebworth” Edition of Lord Lytton’s Works

Uniform with the “Knebworth” Edition of Lord Lytton’s Works

The “Harry Lorrequer” Edition OF CHARLES LEVER’S NOVELS. Price 3s. 6d. each Volume , with Illustrations . LIST OF THE SERIES. HARRY LORREQUER. JACK HINTON. CHARLES O’MALLEY. 2 vols. ARTHUR O’LEARY. TOM BURKE. 2 vols. THE O’DONOGHUE. THE KNIGHT OF GWYNNE. 2 vols. ROLAND CASHEL. 2 vols. THE DALTONS. 2 vols. THE DODD FAMILY ABROAD. 2 vols. SIR JASPER CAREW. MAURICE TIERNAY. CON CREGAN. THE FORTUNES OF GLENCORE. DAVENPORT DUNN. 2 vols. THE MARTINS O’ CRO MARTIN. 2 vols. ONE OF THEM. BARRINGTO

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CAPTAIN MARRYAT.

CAPTAIN MARRYAT.

An entirely New Edition of the Works of Captain Marryat , in Monthly Volumes, crown 8vo, bound in blue cloth, price 3 s. 6 d. each; printed from handsome New Type, with Six Original Illustrations by the best Artists. Peter Simple . Japhet in search of a Father . The King’s Own . Newton Forster . Frank Mildmay . Olla Podrida . Midshipman Easy . The Poacher . Jacob Faithful . Pacha of Many Tales . The Dog Fiend . Valerie . Rattlin the Reefer . The Phantom Ship . Percival Keene . Monsieur Violet .

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JAMES GRANT’S NOVELS,

JAMES GRANT’S NOVELS,

2s. each , fancy boards . THE ROMANCE OF WAR. FIRST LOVE &amp; LAST LOVE. THE AIDE-DE-CAMP. THE GIRL HE MARRIED. THE SCOTTISH CAVALIER. LADY WEDDERBURN’S WISH. BOTHWELL. JACK MANLY. JANE SETON; OR, THE QUEEN’S ADVOCATE. ONLY AN ENSIGN. PHILIP ROLLO. ADVENTURES OF ROB ROY. LEGENDS OF THE BLACK WATCH. UNDER THE RED DRAGON. MARY OF LORRAINE. THE QUEEN’S CADET. OLIVER ELLIS; OR, THE FUSILIERS. SHALL I WIN HER? LUCY ARDEN; OR, HOLLYWOOD HALL. FAIRER THAN A FAIRY. FRANK HILTON. ONE OF THE SIX HUND

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