PRISON ISLAND ROMANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 180, 1 August 1925, Page 18

PRISON ISLAND ROMANCE

"JACK SHEPPARD'S ESCAPE." FOUR TIMES IN 40 YEARS. IN FEVER'S GRIP. Victor Hugo's story of Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables" is recalled by the adventures of Honore Chantecaille, once a baker, now in custody awaiting the decision of a court as to whether he is to be released or cast back on an isle of captivity such as he has escaped from four times within forty years. In 1886, Honore (then about 20) was sentenced at Limoges Assizes to transportation for life," with, five years' hard labour for stealing. • After three years of exemplary conduct on New Caledonia, Honore longed for his home and liberty. On a British Ship. He escaped, joined a British sailing vessel, and cruised about for three years. Three months after he reached France he fell into the hands of the Paris police during a raid. There' was ho ciiargc against him; but he was recognised as an escaped convict. He was again transported, this time to French Guiana (South America), the Devil's Island region of Robinson Crusoe's adventure. .After two vain attempts nt evasion, Honore, in July 1900, made his way through the virgin forest, ar.d, after terrible suffering for ten days, he reached a river which led him to Venezuela, after another fortnight's perilous journeying. In Venezuela, Honore Chantecaille remained eight years, and worked his way up until he w T as given charge of a plantation. Then fever laid him low. A doctor advised him to visit France. He did so, and lived 15 months unmolested in Paris. Then he was once more recognised—after nine years —and sent back to Guiana. Police Hear Queer Story. Again he escaped to Venezuela. Ten more years passed.. In 1920 Honore was 55 years of age. Weakened by the climate, and hoping that the past was now forgotten, he once more returned to his native country and found wo"rk as a baker's assistant at Angouleme. Here he lived honestly, married, and was generally respected. One day last year his old enemy, fever, seized him, and in a fit of depression he went to the police and narrated his life-story. Charitable persons in Angouleme, among them a barrister, are now enI deavouring to procure a pardon for this i modern Jean Valjean.