WASTED LIVES

Evening Star, Issue 14512, 2 November 1910, Page 4

WASTED LIVES

Some very remarkable instances of wasted lives wore disclosed at the London Sessions last Wednesday, when three prisoners, who have practically spent their lives in prison, were dealt with for fresh offences. Tho first was Kato Driscoll, a woman of thirty-six, who was charged with being an habitual drunkard. When asked if she pleaded guilty, Kate uttered an emphatic “ No,” and startled the Court by a 1 statement to tho effect that during the i last seventeen years she had only had between nine and twelve months out of prison—a pretty.conclusive answer to a charge of “ habitual drunkenness,” surely! Tho next rogue and vagabond dealt with was John Williams, aged fifty-eight. He began his prison career in 1863 with a month for larceny. Since then he has been convicted of various offences a dozen times, and has received sentences amounting to thirtyeight years and nine months. Here is the complete record of this habitual criminal:—

1863 ... 1 month 1885 ... 6 years 1868 ... 1 year 1889 ... 4 months 1869 ... 7 years 1892 ... 5 years 1877 ... 3 months 1896 ... 7 years 1877 ... 9 months 1904 ... 5 years 1879 ... 1 year 1908 ... 6 months 1880 ... 5 years 1910 ... 1 year

This shocking record of a misspent life was nearly equalled by Ellon Adams, who, since she took to evil courses in 1861, has received sentences varying from four months to seven years, and aggregating thirty-seven years and one month. Hero is tho record of this soventy-years-old offender: —

1861 ... 18 months 1891 ... 16 months 1864 ... 4 years 1893 ... 3 years 1869 ... 4 months 1896 ... 18 months 1871 ... 1 year 1900 ... 5 months 1872 ... 7 years 1900 ... 6 months 1881 ... 7 years 1901 ... 3 years 1890 ... 6 months 1904 ... 5 years 1910 ... 1 year

Tho man Williams, it seems, never really had a chance, for he was first sent to prison at the tender ago of eleven, and ho was only seventeen when he was sent to penal servitude for seven years. He is, indeed, a living example of how criminals were manufactured in the days when the First Offenders Act and the Borstal system wore unknown quantities.—London correspondent, September 18.