THIS year marks the 166th anniversary of a remarkable tale of Monmouth’s prison governor, who may be unique in legal history by being the only governor to end his career behind bars in his own jail. In the days before Monmouthshire County Council was established in 1888 magistrates were responsible for much of local government, as well as roads, bridges and prisons. One of their tasks was to appoint prison governors and closely monitor the running of jails. It was their diligence in an audit of Monmouth Jail in May 1854 which led to a most extraordinary disclosure. Several years earlier they had dismissed the governor of Monmouth Jail for being absent for long hours and sometimes returning home drunk. His behaviour was seen as totally unacceptable and not compatible with the status of a senior officer.