SNOOKS AND THE CONGO STATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9991, 30 November 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

SNOOKS AND THE CONGO STATE.

At Dublin, on October 15, ft ourious-lookinp individual was indicted, under the name of Septimus Snooks, alia Sandy McN'abb, aliai Titus Oaten, on a cliargo of larceny from a military club. On being arraigned lie pleaded guilty to the charge, and on reference boinfj raado to the prison records it was found that ho hud been in gaol on thirteen previous occasion', and that there was a remnant of 114 days to be served by him, under a sentenco of penal servitude, upon the revocation of his licenso of ticketoHeave, which would expire on his present convjction. Mr. Justieo O'Brien, in paying ".enfepep, was proceeding to comment upon the deplorable position in which the prisoner' found himself, when the latter interrupted with the remark, <! Ves, my lord, it is always so with the Snooks family. (Laughter.) They are always unfortunate. The law is very heavy on them, but it will be all changed in tho twentieth century." > (Langhts.r) His Lordship said it was futile ■ to try to reform a character like this. Prisoner : When the authorities have dono with me on this occasion 1 intond locating myself i in the Congo Free State. (Laughter.) die Lordship: It might not be too good place for ' yon. Some persons have not fared too well 1 there. Prisoner: Yes, my lord, they might i Stokes me. (Much laughter.) Hut I think I 1 would he too much for liein. Ilia Lordt ship: Under the circumstances I could not i contemplate sending a man of your eliarac--3 ter from the country responsible for your i) protection to another country like tho t Congo Free State to poison it by the intra* • duction ot criminality. Prisoner: r ell, » my lord, I think it would be hard for mo fc to poison a place that is already so infected / with vice. His Lordship said the Congo ;i Free State lip w0,u14 gpu(| Mf. Snooks to o would be the county prison at liihnainhara, b' in which ho would have to serve the rem--6 nans of his 114 days, and then tho sentence • of the Court in the-'present ease would be ir twelve months with hard labour,