GOOD CONDUCT

Evening Star, Issue 19617, 25 July 1927, Page 5

GOOD CONDUCT

HORATIO BOTTOMLEY IN PRISON RELEASE AT HAND Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 23 Horatio Bottomlcy has earned the maximum remission of sentence for ood conduct, and is due for liberation on August 9. The Maidstone prison officials are determined that the liberation be absolutely secret, in order to avoid a demonstration by the prisoners. His nephew says that Horatio is in splendid health, having lost bis former excessive weight, and is amazingly confident of his power to reinstate himself.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

DETERMINED TO MARE GOOD Horatio Bottomlcy is eagerly looking forward to his release. He is very fit and well— better in health, in fact, than ho has been for many years, and is enthusiatically laying plans for his future. “It is sufficient to say now, says the ‘News of the \\orld,’ “that Horatio Bottomlcy intends to once more cut a very big figure in public life. Despite hi* downfall, Bottomlcy has still many friends in all grades of society, and, unlike most ticket-of-lcave men, he will leave gaol with every opportunity to redeem the past and make good.” Sentenced in May, 1922, to seven years’ penal servitude for fraudulent transactions in connection with the Victory Bond Club, Bottoraley, except for the first few months of his incarceration, when be was very depressed and in ill-bealtb. has never lost his hope or his courage. Bending the hearing of his appeal before tbo Court of Criminal Appeal and the conclusion of his examination in bankruptcy, he was confined in Wormwood Scrubs Prison. From there he was removed to Maidstone Gaol—a convict establishment, wher he has re «lined ever since. It was generally anticipated that Bottomlcy would stay at Maidstone only a few months, and then 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 tho air and general conditions at Maidstone suited him very well, and when the question of removal to Parkhurst cropped up he asked to be allowed to remain at Maidstone. A convict who gains full marks for good conduct while in gaol has a quarter of V- sentence remitted, and ' unley has earned full marks he expects to bo set at liberty about the middle of August next year, when he will have served five years and three months. In that case he will be granted a ticket of leavo extending oVer the remaining period r twenty-one mouths. 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 at New Scotland Yard, as ho may elect, but no doubt iu tho case of Horatio Bottoraley other arrangements will ho made. Most ticket-of-leave men leave prison friendless and forlorn—the only friends they have are fellow crooks—but Bottoraley will have a host of friends to welcome him back to freedom.

A very close friend of Bottomley, who was permitted to visit him recently, gives a graphic description of his life in the prison infirmary, of his mental outlook, and of his sanguine hopes for the future. It should bo explained that Bottomley’s continued incarceration in the infirmary is not due to illness. On tho contrary, ho is kept there solely because he is able to maintain his health far better than he would in the customary quarters, and to move him thither would court the risk of a relapse.

111-founded rumors ■which have been circulated that Bottomley is a mere shadow of bis former self and a “ nag of bones ” may bo entirely dismissed. He him certainly lost weight—actually 3sst —but in his own words this has been a “blessing in disguise.” As a result of his treatment he declares that he has been “ granted an entirely new lease of life,” so that when ho turns his back on tbe portals of his prison his friends will greet a new, rejuvenated Bottomley, with his great mental powers substantially increased

“ CORRECTOR OF THE PRESS.” As the 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 latter post, he humorously remarked to his friend that he had never joined the union, and is wondering what the “shop steward ’ will say upon his return. The post involves the reading of proofs of the Maidstone Prison magazine, ‘ The Star of Hope,’ of which Bevan, the city financier, who is also serving his sentence at Maidstone, was at ono 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 the years ahead by depicting himself to his friend as a fighter. “ How goes " ’ L ?” ho exclaimed with dramatic emphasis. “ What fight?” his visitor asked. With a calm air of reminiscence ho -epliecl • “It takes me back to tiro Albert Hall A big fight is in progress. Four rounds —four years—have been fought. The gong has sounded for the fifth- and last round. Bottomley is beating down the adversary of time and the professional ringside men. When ‘ Time ’ was called at the commencement Iris followers were few—-only himself and a handful of loyalists.” Here ho paused, smiling wistfully, and then in firm tones resumed. “‘Time’ will be called at the end,” he declared, “ and then who will he there? And who will not bo there?’’ THE VICTORY BOND CLUB.

Tliuse who have retained their faith in this extraordinary man (says the ‘ News of the World ’) will aver that, given time, lie would have rehabilitated himself m the eves of the world and put the tangle of his affairs in perfect order, Be that as it may, Bottomley expressed his determination to pursue the matter until he'is “all square’’ when he is free. He told his friend that he has set his coarse toward that goal, and will not, relax his efforts until he has attained it. It is his consuming ambition to put matters right with the members of the Victory Bond Club. “ His sentence was a terrible blow," declares Bottomley’s friends, “ but he is bearing it like a man. Even the prison officials will vouch for this, and Mmy say they will be sorry to lose him.”