EX-CONVICT IN TEARS

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 13, 21 August 1930, Page 12

EX-CONVICT IN TEARS

DRAMATIC PLEA TO JUDGE SUCCEEDS:

"SILENT TOMB OF PENAL

SERVITUDE."

With tears streaming down his face., na ex-convict madj a dramatic appeal

for' mercy at Liverpool Assizes. He was Thomas Benton, 54, seaman} who with another seaman William Winn, 25, pleadedi guilty to breaking into a house at Wallasey and stealing two medals.—A police officer stated that Benton ,ana-, tive of Leeds, had been repeatedly in and out Of prison. He was sentenced to three years' penal servitude for housebreaking in 1929. At Bristol in 1923 he was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude for housebrgaking and? in 1925 was transferred to Broadmoor Criminal Asylum. He was discharged last month on licence which would expire next July. c' I am afraid your case is a hopeless one," remarked Mr Justice Acton to Benton. ~ Benton asked'for permission to speak. The judge asented and Benton declared: I have come out after doing a very long term of penal servitude. Four times during that sentence I got so despondent ♦'depressed that I tried to commit suicide. Since I have been in Liverpool, Mi- Kent ,of the Discharged! Prisoners' ■ -Aid Society has provided me with board and lodgings and done his best, .with every noble and untiring effort to obtain work.for me..l have, tried myself. MiKent, and the police know how' I have tried;. What could I d'ofl was branded by the law. I, must have a little.- entertainment. I: have just ;come out of a terrible time in peiial servitude, with no pocket money, and no word from my wife and boy> whom I have not seen for ten years. Wrote a letter explaining" that • there was only one thing to do—commit suicide or commit a crime which would lead me back to the dismal tombs' of penal servitude.-I am greatly sorry for what I have done. I have not hadi a chance in life. I have been * trodden, branded and dragged about from" pillar to post, and nobody wants nie. Benton went on to say that he was ' A NONETITY IN" LIFE and that he would be better in his grave. Holding a handkerchief to his eyes, 'he continued: — If you can show mercy, my lord, give ' me a redeeming chance. I am not bad at the bottom of me. My character is as black as the ace of spades, but I"have : a principle. Don't send me back to' the, silent tombs of penal servitude. If there is any mercy left, sir, have mercy. ' ' I have taken into consideration, bad as your record is," observed the judge, '' that rall 4;here is again you on this occasion is. this one offence, which of itself would not be a desperately serious one. You must go to prison for 20 months with hard labour. , Benton:. Thank .you. Winn, who admitted two similar offences was sentenced to 15 months' hard labour., He had a; number of previous convictions including one for housebreaking and larceny at Winnipeg. He was sent back from Canada as a criminal deportee.—-"It is .quite clear," commented the judge, '/that you arc on the high road to penal servitude. TJris- is-the last chance you will get.' '