HORATIO BOTTOMLEY

Evening Star, Issue 19409, 18 November 1926, Page 9

HORATIO BOTTOMLEY

FARING WELL IN PRISON . RELEASE IN AUGUST NEXT Horatio Bottomley,-has entered upon the last twelve months of his imprisonment, and is 'eagerly looking forward to his release. This, he expects, will take place about August next year. He is very fit and well—better in health, in fact, that he has Been for many years, and is . enthusiastically laying plans for his future. “It is sufficient to say now,” says the 1 News of -the World,’ “ that Horatio Bottomley intends, to once more cut a veVy big figure in public life. Despite his downfall,' Bottomley has still many, friends in all grades of society, and, unlike most tifcket-of-loave men, he will leave, gaol with every opportunity to redeem the past and make good.”. Sentenced in May, 1522, to seven years’ penal servitude for fraudulent transactions in connection with the Victory Bond Club, Bottomley, except for the first few months of his incarceration, when ho was very depressed and in ill-health, has never lost his hope or his courage. Pending the hearing of his appeal before the Court of Criminal Appeal and the conclusion of his examination in bankruptcy, he was confined in Wormwood Scrubs Prison. Prom there he was removed to Maidstone Gaol—a convict establishment, where he has remained ever since. It was generally anticipated that Bottomley would# stay at Maidstone only a few months and them go to Parkhurst Prison, in the Isle of Wight, where many .other fraudulent financiers and people of similar, position have served their sentences. But Bottomley found that the air and general- conditions at Maidstone suited him very well, amd when the question of removal to Parkhurst cropped up ho asked to bo allowed to remain at Maidstone. A convict who gains full marks for good conduct while in gaol has a quarter of his sentence remitted, and as Bottomley has earned full marks he expects to be set at liberty about tho middle of August next year, when he will have served five years and three months. In that case he will bo granted a ticket of leave extending over the remaining period of twenty-one months. HOPES FOR THE FUTURE. Ordinarily a convict on license is compelled to report to the police once a month, either at the police station nearest to his residence or to the Convict Record . Office nt New ■ Scotland Yard, as he may elect, but .no doubt in the case of Horatio Bottomley other arrangements wiiTbe made. Most ticket-of-leavo men leave prisim friendless' and forlorn—the only friends they have are fellow-crooks—but Bottomley will have a host of friends to welcome him back to freedom. A very close friend of who was permitted to visit him recentlv, gives a graphic description of his life iin the prison infirmary, of his mental outlook, and of his sanguine hopes for the future. Tt should be explained that Bottomley’s continued incarceration in the infirmary is not due to illness. On the contrary, he is kept there solely because he is able to maintain his health far better thap, he would in the customary quarters, amd,to move him thither would court 1 the risk of a relapse. 111-founded rumors which have been circulated, that Bottomley is a mere shadow of his former self and a ‘‘bag of hones,” may Be entirely- dismissed. He has certainly lost; freight—actually 3|st —but, in his own words, this has been a ‘‘.blessing in disguise.” As a result of his treatment ho declares that he has been “ granted an .entirely, new lease of life,” so that when ho turns his hack on tho portals of his prison his friends will greet & new, rejuvenated Bottomley, with his great mental powers- substantially increased. “ CORRECTOR OF THE PRESS.” I As tho time draws nearer to freedom Bottomley contentedly plays chess, reads extensively, and carries out conscientiously his duties as librarian and “ corrector of the Press.” In regard to the functions of the lattermost, he humorously remarked to his friend that lie had never joined tho union, and is wondering what the “shop steward” will say upon his return. The post involves the reading of proofs of tho Maidstone Prison magazine, ‘ The Star of Hope,’ of which Bevan, the city financier, who is also serving his sentence at Maidestone, was at one time editor. Above all other, things Bottomley has concentrated upon plans for his future, and he promises that when they are disclosed they will startle the world. Bottomley surveyed tho years ahead by depicting himself to his friend as a fighter. “How goes the fight?” ho exclaimed with dramatic emphasis, “What fight?” his visitor asked. 1 With a calm air of reminiscence he replied: “It takes me back to the Albert Hall. A big fight is in progress. Four rounds—four years—have been fought. The going has sounded for the fifth and last round. Bottomley is heating down I the adversary of time and the profesj sional ringside men. When ‘Time’ I was called at tho commencement his j followers were few—only himself and a handful of loyalists.” Here he paused, smiling wistfully, and then, m firm I tones, resumed: “ ‘ Time ' will bo called I at the end,” he declared, “ amd. then who will bo there? And who will not bo there?” THE VICTORY BOND CLUB. Those who have retained their faith in this extraordinary man, says tho ! 4 News of tho World,’ still aver that, 1 given time, ho would have rehabilitatod | himself in the cyes > of tho world and ■ put tho tangle of his affairs in perfect i order. Be that as it may, Bottomley expressed his determination to pursue the matter until ho is “all square” when he is free. He told his friend that he has set his course toward that | goal, and will not relax his efforts until he has attained it. It is his conI sinning ambition to put matters right with the members of the Victory Bond Club. “His sentence was a terrible blow,” declares Bottomley’s friend, “ hut he in bearing it like a. man. Even, the prison t officials will vouch for this, and they 1 say they will be sorry to lose him.”