THE ELLESMERE GUARDIAN. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1894.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XV, Issue 1575, 8 August 1894, Page 2

THE ELLESMERE GUARDIAN. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1894.

'i\i \IAK\M\ ..fif.r,.,-,j» ;;.■-,.■- ■],{■: [ At the "Police,/ Court, at; Leegtpn, oil Friday last, a youthful criminal of eighteen summers was brought before Mr Beetham to explain his reasons for felpmously entering the houses of weij[-k|iofyn ..residents of this district, and appropriating,- various sums of nfoney, : which included a 45 note, and also for stealing a numerous a,nd miscellaneous collection' of/goods, composing batches" 'and other articles of jewelry, pot: to mention such trumpery trifles, su,ch as nautical barometers, dressing cases, etc. . .Hi's only explanation was pleading guilty, which was accompanied by a vacuous look of stolid indifference, which would have done credit to a : veteran brave of" the 1 Apache tribe of Ked Indians. However, Mr, Beetham gave. him a little advice, which should have some impression on his youthful mind, and, unless he intends trying to assimilate the famous (or rather infamous) prince of housebreakers, Charles Peace, who, by-the- bye, ended his days under the hangman's personal supervision, he had better look at the- sentence of six months' hard labour merely as a warning, or preliminary of what may follow, unless he makes a decided alteration m the course of his already very promising career. He would do well to store "m his memory the simple but suggestive lines, which go something after this style— „,_.-• . '• He who steals wot isn't his'n, ■• Hif he's eotched he goes to pria'n." But, seriously, this is indeed a sad case, as the youth, . according to his demeanour while m Court, appeared to be unable to realise the serious nature of his position— in fact, seemed to take it as being a matter m which he had no interest whatever, and as JtojaoljfiUJgprtgdJb^yM^

ServiJ;:a long term of inaprisonment f,6r a^'rime of a;"aiirnilaF A .na^ui^ this "--j case may be quoted as^an ilhKtrkion^ of the theory of criminal instincts being m some instances hereditary, and ihfs>makes it feasible that thievish instincts thus inherited consequently yerge,on the borders of kleptomania ; MW the waythisyotitft?^ psXmusr%' j (to use Mr Beetham's manner of *des cribing ;_this_ case of indiscriminate j Burglary), c«rfainl^'a3as'"colou < r l to''tHej theory ( m th ; e'jii3ta;ijf'ce.X)f this case. Be .this^jts it D ?Sy»SSL.^ n^?JMS en^ or sane youth ihoul3-Enow £hHbl7^o"altempi to ■ ■4oJ3UAk,,a^ejie^^L.himsei)reaking m such a. foolish, clumsy, and undisguised manner, has, m thdse days of telegraph, photografph, and telephonic^comznunication Jj^tw^en the cities and townvei^ rembjtef^chance of escaping the of the law ; and^erhaps^w^ do tßis njimce m the bua^lary line tdo v great/^n honour m ,£oupling hi^ casß* witjt the), notorious Charles i Peace,* who/was, cimdoubtedly, a man of gteat, butmi^dirS^e'd, talents. "JEJoweyer, 'thanks to t!he of the police' and detjectiveHii'system of thepresent' day, burglary, cases of such ..clumsy/and stupid detail^ as the one aboye^ quoted" very rarely occur, and it would be a blessing, if. all criminals /were traced and- gunishqd afc easily as the one who receiyeii ' his term of durance vile from thej^tipendiarV Magistrate l^st Friday. , j , , ! [