CONVICT’S ADVENTURES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 June 1930, Page 7

CONVICT’S ADVENTURES

DEVIL’S ISLAND ROMANCE » ~ \ BUTTERFLY FIRM’S SALESMAN The adventures of an ex-convict who wants to return to Devil’s Island were told in the Correctional Chamber, in Paris last month when George Gutmann on appeal, had a sentence of four years’ imprisonment for theft reduced to one of 18 months’ imprisonment.

It was stated that in 1910 Gutmann was convicted of fraud and sent to Devil’s Island, 'where he was one of the most refractory prisoners. Later his conduct became good and he. was given special liberty. This allowed him to work in a private capacity on the island, and he became associated with a firm engaged in the butterfly export trade.

Gutmann worked for them so well that he became one of the firm’s most capable representatives, and the Governor of the colony allowed him six months’ holiday to visit the chief butterfly importing firms in France, Germany and Great Britain. He spent too much money and was ashamed to go hack to Devil’s Island, so he obtained work in Franco. He went back to his old ways and robbed his employer, was arrested, and sent to four years’ imprisonment. Gutmann appealed to the Judges to allow him to return to Devil’s Island, where he had a good position and was earning 40.000 francs ( £320) a year. During his imprisonment in France Gutmann had received a. letter from his former employer on Devil’s Island saying that lie was prepared to overlook his failing if he returned.