CURIOSITIES OF CRIME.

NZ Truth, Issue 79, 22 December 1906, Page 7

CURIOSITIES OF CRIME.

No man m England, apart from politics, caused more excitement at the close of the* eighteenth century than George Waldron, alias GEORGE B ARLINGTON. . . Some doubts are expressed as to his parentage. - Some authorities say that ho was the son of a Captain Barrington, belonging to a marching regiment, and that liia mother was a milliner named Waldron. That the place of his birth was the village of Rush, 17 miles north of Dublin, on the coast, where th.* captain and his company .happened to be stationed. Another authority says that his father was named Waldron, a working silversmith, and that his mother, a Miss Noi'tli, followed the occupation of a mantua— a fashionable garment of the long ago — maker, or, as she would be called by the lower order of Dublin people, a "maixtymaker." The place of

Waldron's birth is given by this authority as Maynooth, a small town m the County Kildare, 15 miles from Dublin, and famous for its R.C College and the commotion caused annually m the House of Commons over the "Maynooth Grant," and the year, 1755. Much has been written about Barrington, to give him his most popular name, a great deal of which is pure fiction. For instance, one volume describes him as having

COMMITTED ' TWO MURDERS to avenge tho death of his beautiful young wife, Matilda '""Egerton. an assertion entirely unfounded. A family lawsuit ruined the parents, the Waldrons. They sued a relative for the recovery of a. legacy, to which they conceived themselves * entitled, and lost. But, though they were unable to give George what was known m those days as a superior education, his parents, w-hen quite young, had him well grounded m the arts, of writing and reading, and afterwards, through the favor of_ a- medical gentleman resident m Mayuooth, he was taught arithmetic and the principles of geography 'and English grammar. When' 16 years of age, or m 1771, ;the ; lad's manner attracted the attention of a church dignitary, ' whose influence^ got him into a free grammar school m Dublin, where it was proposed he should prepare himself for Trinity College. In order that he might appear as the equal of the youths at the grdmmur school, his patron supplied him with money and every necessary to make his stay at the school respectable and comfortable.

When George Barvington was six months at this school he became

INVOLVED IN A QUARREL with a lad much older than himself. Blows were exchanged, but George Barrington, came. off second .best. ' In revenge lie stabbed his antagonist with a pen-knife, and had not others interfered he would 'probably have committed murder, and New South Wales and Botany Bay would have been spared at least one noted colonist. For this offence, Barrington was subjected to the "discduline of the house," the usual school birching, m all probability, which so irritated the future Botany Bay high constable that he made up his mind to abandon not only the school, but family and friends. His plan of escaping from the school was soori formed, but before absconding ho stole ten or twelve guineas from the school master and a gold repeating watch from his sister.

In the middle of a still night, m the month of May, 1771, George Barring-ton bade adieu to the school-house, and. following the great north road from J.'iiblin next evening arrived at Drqgheda<;32 miles from Dublin. Here, believing Himself safe from pursuit, he put at at a small public-house for rest and refreshment. In the morning he made the acquaintance of a COMPANY OF STROLLING ACTOR'S, veritable barnstormers , and after very little cogitation joined them.. -.

••*-.• *..-_- --.-■ The manager of this band of worthies was an ex-London - attorney's clerk named Price. The attorney had the reputation Of being ' OF THE PETTIFOGGING ORDER, intimately acquainted with the town, and up to aU the arts of fraud, deception or violenco practised m it by : the ■most unscrupulous class to obtain money- My. Price had come under the ban of tlie la : w m London, and was an involuntary exile-- in Ireland. Price soon became the confidant and councillor of Barrington. By Price's advice he renounced his name of Waldrori and adopted that of Barrington, and joined the' company as an actor. In the. short space of "our days George Barrington became so initiated into the mysteries of the theatricalprofession that he was able to undertake the part of

J AFFIER IN "VENICE PRESERVED" without the aid of a prompter. His first appearance was made m a crowded barn m the neighborhood of Drogheda, and his maiden effort was received with unbounded applause.

His success, however, was so great and his reputation as an actor blazoned abroad, that it was considered undesirable to remain so near his old schoolhouse, the scene of his first theft, lest he might.be callad upon to fill a part on a "stage" fitted up with a drop, before his character as a player was fully established. The whole company resolved' to move northwards with all convenient Steed, so as to put some gO mile* netween themselves and the city of Dublin. Tlii' company, tlie. crowded barn.notwithstanding, was not ■ flush of money, and Barrington, m a burst ' of generosity, presented Price with his sister's "-old watch, which was instantly disposed of for the ' '

BENEFIT OF THE STROLLERS. The cash was equally divided, aud thscompany set out ou its' march for Landon-

GEORGE WALDRON, ALIAS GEORGE BARRINGTON, «- ■■ — Prince of Swell Mobsmen. — : _, ; — IN TWO PARTS-BRITISH AND AUSTRALIAN. . <_, . Part I— The Britsh. m (BY "OLD CHUM.")

Dei ry. During the tramp, it was discovered that .tiie ..ehidura of the company had surrendered her heart to the new Jafßer. Her affection was returned, and the con-: nection was only severed by the death of the lady. * » » The Belvidera was the daughter of -a respectable tradesman at Coventry. She had eloped from her father's house at the age of 16 years with a lieutenant of marines, who took her to Dublin, and there m less than three months abandoned her. In want and misery, she accepted a proposal made to her by Price to join his company. She is described as "young and beautiful," and it cannot be wondered that George Barrimgton fell a victim to her charms. The poor sfirl was . unfortunately drowned m crossing the HISTORIC RIVER BOYNE, \ through the carelessness of the ferryman, and at" the early age of 18 years. •-* The money raised by the sale of Miss j Waldron's watch was quite exhausted on the arrival of the company at Londonderry, and means must be found to re-. 1-ienish the exchequer. Here Price became the instigator of means. As Barrington had a good appearance, .was of good address and affable, the manager of the ( strollers Suggested that he could easily introduce himself into public' places whore the merchants and dealers of the town resorted, and that he might without difficulty find a means of picking their pockets and escaping unseen and undetected*

The idea pleased Barrington, «.rid as the fair of Derry was coming on, it was determined that Barrington should try his 'prentice hand upon the. pockets of the farmers who attended to buy and sell. The design was carried into execution with success. The first day's effort resulted m a haul of 40 guineab iv cash and £100 m bank notes. The discovery of the thefts '

CREATED CONSTERNATION amongst the bucolics, but the players remaining m the town .no suspicion attached to them, and the depredations were set. down to some of the hangers-on who followed fairs m England and Ireland. After playing a few nights m Derry, the company moved to Ballyshannon, where Barrington may be said to have commenced life as a professional pickpocket, m the summer of the year 1771, and the sixteenth year of his age.

At Ballyshannon, m the County of Donegal, Barrington passed the autumn and winter of 1771 with the company of strollers, playing two days m the week, and

PICKING POCKETS wlien opportunity offered. This business, though attended with danger to' his personal liberty, Barrington found more profitable than the theatre, whore his fame and proficiency by .no means jcept pace with thc expectations formed by his first appearance. He determined upb'n quitting the stage.

He now set out upon his professional caceei;^ . a,n<j .became was., called.,, a "gentleman "pickpocket," by adopting the airs and importance of a man of fashion.Price,, however, .^hac^. made a. false step somehow, Vs3." ionyafctedV- and sentenced to seven/ years" transportation. .. There was no "Botany Bay" then; and presumably "Mr. Price was sent to the American colonies to do his hit of time. This so alnnned ■Barrington that he hurried off to DUbljn, where he practised his pocket-picking on dark nights only. He soon made liis native Ireland too hot to hold liim, for, at a race meeting m the County, of Cariow. he' was detected picking the- pocket of a' nobleman ; but. on the property being restored, the victim declined <to prosecute. Barrington immediately left Ireland, and . made his

FIRST APPEARANCE- TN ENGLAND m 1773. On his first visit to Ranelag'h with a party he quitted his friends aiid picked the pockets .of the Duke , of ...emster and Sir William Draper of considerable sums of money. He 'also, secured a lady's Jjold -watch, got away lindiscover-: ed, and rejoined bis friends.

In 1775 he visited the most celebrated watering places, especially Bath, and passing, as a gentleman of family and fortune, he was noticed and received by persons ol the highest class. On his return to T-ondon lie formed a sort of

partnership with . a man named Lowe, and became a most daring pickpocket. On the Queen's birthday, he went to Court m the garb of a clergyman, ancl not only picked many pockets, but was able "^o rob a nobleman of his diamond "order," and leave the palace undetected. *\ * * In the witter bf 1775, t!.e Russian Prince, OrlolT, visited England. The various circunliitances of his history, the high favor he ehjbyed at the Court .f uis-sovereig-n, and tha valuable firesents he had received from her, were frequently mentioned m 'P" ( he newspapers. Amongst the rest was P. A UOV'P SNUFF BOX, set with brilliants,, and valued at the enormous sum of Ji'3o,ooo. This bauble particularly attracted the attention of Barrington, and it was not long before he formed a plan of 'obtaining' it. A favorable opportunity altered- itself at Co- . vent Garden Theatre-. He. contrived to get nem- the Prince, and -oonvujed tho precious snuff-box from the pocket of the I'rince to his own. The operation was not performed . with Harrington's usual dexterity ; he bungled U . The Prince lelt the uttack, and immediately seized Harrington by the collar.' During the confusion that ensued the thief slipped the box into the hand of its owner, who was well [.leased with having recoveredUso easily. Barrington \?as, However, secured and committed to Tothillfields,. i-sriihiwell. previous to- his examination at Bow Street. On this' occasion he represented himself ns belonging to an la.rnient aud respectable family m Ireland, adding that he had been educated for the

; medical profession, and had come to ! London to improve m it. He burst into tears before the magistrate, and the Trinco declining to prosecute, the weepi ing 'culprit was discharged with some i wholesome advice from tho magistrate, j The advice, however, had no effect uponlum : he had gone too far to recede, and was compelled to follow the OCCUPATION OF A PICKPOCKET as a means' of living.- --* • # In following this calling, Barrington frequented- both Houses of Parliament, j One day- k the House of Lords he -was i recognised by a stranger and turned out of the building. A threat of venreance i was heard to slip from hia lips, and he ! was given into custody, and, bein.7 un- ' able to find bail, waa again committed j to Tothillfields Prison, where he reinain•ed a considerable time. On his dis- '; charge he returned to his old profession, but he was not. long at the game before he waa detected picking the pocket ol a woman m Drury Lane Theatre, for which he was indicted and convicted at the Old . Bailey, m the year 1777, and was sen- ' fenced to three years' hard labor on the ! hulks at Woolwich. His good conduct ' there obtained him a large remission of punishment, and alter serving one year of the three he was discharged on the recommendation of the superintendent of the gang. » * * Within six months of his release he was detected picking the pocket of a lady during divine service at St.; Sepulchre's Church-' Convicted of this offence, he was again sentenced to hard labor at Woolwich. This time the sentence was for five years, and. in pursuance of it he , was removed to the hulks m the year . 1778. .. ■ . ■» '•--■»." •' 'During this term! : he ATTEMPTED TO COMMIT SUICIDE, stabbing himself m the breast with a penrknife. The wound was deep and dangerous, 'healed slowly, and left the would-be suicide very weak. In this state it was Barrington's good fortune to attract the attention of a man of rank and influence,, who was visiting the hulks inquiring into the . condition of the ' convicts. He had pity on Barrington, and secured his pardon on condition that he quitted tbe Kingdom., This he eagerly agreed to do, and, provided with money by his benefactor, he lelt London for Dublin. .' . * *■'■_*• He was scarcely m Dublin before he ..was ; again arrested for picking a nobleman's pocket of watch and money at the theatre ,* the evidence was incomplete, and he was discharged. As soon as he was at liberty he left for Edinburgh. There, he was suspected,* and he • decided to ■■'■.'■"-'... BRAVE AI>L DANGERS and return to London. In the great metropolis he frequented the theatresand the places pf public resort and was again taken intq custody. He was acquitted for want of evidence, but was detained m Newgate for having returned to England m violation of the condition of exile. He completed m Newgate his original sentence of five years.

On his discharge, he again resorted to hia old tt'ade, and -was arrested for picking pockets m Drury Lane Theatre. ,He escaped, however, m disguise, and went north, but was arrested for the theatre theft, and acquitted for want of evidence. He next visited Dublin, but his stay was short, and on returning to England was captured m the . act of picking a pocket at Epsom races, tried at tbe Old Bailey on September 1, 1798, found guilty, and sentenced to seven years at Botany Bay.: Barring-ton's carper m New South Wales will be given next week.