A Murderer's Life in Broadmoor.

Manawatu Herald, 6 September 1898, Page 3

A Murderer's Life in Broadmoor.

CODDLING THE PRISONERS. The public have very little idea of what is really meant when a murderer is sent to Broadmoor Lunatic Asylum. A letter written by a murderer there, giving an account of life in that criminal retreat, throws light on the subject. The writer is Jonathan Lowe, 52, labourer, who on May 20 wa3 sentenced to death at the Central Criminal Court by Justice Hawkins for the murder of Margaret Byrne at Bed Lion-sq., on April 17. It was stated at the trial that in consequence of his annoying attentions to Miss Byrne, a lodging house keeper, Lowe was discharged from his employment, and afterwards wrote her many letters from tho Strand Workhouse at Edmonton, receiving no reply. On April 17 she was found murdered, and on being arrested for the crime accused expressed a hope that Miss Byrne was dead, adding, •• I brought the knife away with me from the workhouse. It has « Strand Union ' stamped on it, and you will find it in ono^of the areas in the square." At the end of a 2 days' trial, when insanity was pleaded as a defence, the jury, after a few minutes' deliberation, found prisoner guilty; and the judge, in passing sentence of death, said the jury had righteously convicted the prisoner of the brutal, cruel, and premediated murder of a woman who had never done him harm. This man was sent to Broadmoor Apylom, from which he has just written a letter to a friend, of which the following is a verbatim copy :— •« I dernßay you think me very unkinde for not writeing to you before now. I wanted to get a little bit used to the place first. I heard you was allwright for gettind back again wen you came to see me at Newgate ; .that Chief Warder there is a very good man. I never had the leost idear of getting a reprieve wen you saw me, but I know now who I have to thank for it. I am very eomfirtable here. I am very kindely treted here ; the superen tend, the doctors, and all the atendents are all very kind and respectfuli to the patents. We have about five hours and half out in the gardens every day. There is books to read, periodicals, and the daly paper to read ; biliards, bagatle, cards, de raonios, chess, draphs, and everything that is neasery fer our amusement. Band plays out in the grounds and there is plenty of musick &mungßt the patents themselves. Wp have our beer and tobaco and plenty r --t fruit ; in fact, lam very comfortable. I am very well satipfied with ray lot. ; it is better than Edmonton. Its all over with the briefs now. I might have done worse. Please qivp my best wishes to all, and let me know anything wen you go up to London. Remember me to — ; also my best respects to all in the kitchen We can correspond with our friendp wen we lik, and receive visitors; all I have to do is to behave mysplf. You must not believe all wat tbr> papers said about me being discharged for digind a cat's eye out with a fork ; that was lies that I lelt her on my own acord for reasons better known to myself; and the paper stated that I was very morose, and that I refused the administeration of the chaplin whilst in the confembd sell. That was also lies. I kept my tongue at the court as well ta I could. I did not want to »candalise her after she as gaun to account. Hopeing you are quite well as thin leaves me at present very comfortable. — I remain, yours respfuly, Jonathan Lowe." It will be interesting to many ppople to know that the scoundrel Prince who so foully murdered Mr Terriss, is living under the exceedingly comfortable circumstances described above.