April 1782

some time ago who escaped out of New Prison over the said Roofs and
also whether the Walls of the said Prison near the said Houses ought
to be raised lowered or altered to prevent the Escape of Prisoners in future
And Mr. Rogers having Reported that he had Viewed and Examined the
Roofs of the said Houses and finds that some part of the Tiling of the [..]
Roofs are damaged and that the said damage may be made good at
the Expence of Forty shillings That the Wall cannot with safety to the
Goal be lowered and that the best means to prevent Escapes in future
would be by placing a Chevaux< no role > de frize in the front of the buildings
round the said Goal being asked what the expence of placing such
Chevaux de frize would be he declared he was not prepared with any
Estimate It is the Opinion of the Committee that Mr. Sharp should
be paid Forty shillings for the damages Etc. but that Mrs. Sharp be
informed the Justices will not make good any future damage to the
said House or any other Premises that may happen by the Escape of
Prisoners

A Motion was made that so much of the said Report
as last above recited be confirmed and the same being agreed to. It
is Ordered that so much of the said Report last above mentioned be
confirmed and the same is hereby ratified and confirmed accordingly

The third Article of the said Report being now read
as follows Vizt.

The said Committee further Report that having
taken into Consideration the order of Reference to them made at the last
Session Vizt. To examine into the Circumstances of the ill usage of two
Men who were committed to New Prison at Clerkenwell by Thomas
Parker< no role > Esqr. one of his Majestys Justices of the Peace for this County and
having read a written information of James Fraser< no role > and William
Stolbert< no role > the said two Men made upon Oath before John Martin< no role > Esqr.
one of his Majestys Justices of he Peace for this County and now prean [..]
by Thomas Parker< no role > Esqr. the Justice aforesaid and the said two Men
being separately examined in the presence and hearing of Mr. Newport
the Keeper of New Prison and John Humpage< no role > his Turnkey the Committee
were unanimously of Opinion that James Fraser< no role > and William [..]
met with the ill usage complained of but that by their own, account
thereof it appeared they received every assistance from the Keepers in
their Power after they were acquainted with the Circumstance and
that there does not appear to be any neglect of attention in the Keeper
but that they acted according to their duty.