CHAPTER XVII.
THIEVES IN THE LOCK UP—A HORSE-STEALER TELLS THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.
There were an unusual number of charges to be heard at the court on the day in which Peace was examined. A gang of poachers were charged with an attempt to murder a gamekeeper in the neighbourhood. The prisoners who had been committed were therefore removed from the cells to make room for the fresh arrivals.
Peace, Mr. Green, and five others were conveyed to a lock-up which was situated at about two miles distant from the court. They were to remain there till the prison van returned to take them to the county gaol.
The lock-up in question has long since undergone demolition, and indeed at the time of which we are writing it was only occasionally used as a temporary and supplementary prison-house for offenders.
It was part of a large building originally erected as a receptacle for fraudulent debtors.
Peace and his companions were safely deposited in the prison van which conveyed them to what was in reality only a wing of the substantial-looking building.
They were conducted into a large lofty stone-room, with windows near to the ceiling, much after the fashion of Millbank prison.
In front of these were strong iron bars.
A long massive table stood in the centre of the cheerless apartment, and around this were arranged a number of chairs.