AN UNFORTUNATE FACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12478, 23 January 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN UNFORTUNATE FACE.

o . GOOD GROUND FOR ANOTHER CHANCE. I James Brothkridrk was placed in this dock at Clerkenwell Sessions, London, recently' tflreceive sentence. He had pleaded guilty to having stolen ringS and other articles, fain# £16, fiorr the Rev. W. 11. Davies, ,m the Rectory, Spitalfields, where lie had been engaged to clean windows. Tile policfe said l3nlthteridge had served in the army, and had bad sunstroke in India. While Serving in South Africa he was sentenced to ttceltß I months' imprisonment and dismissal from the service for assaulting an offlceh tie had since worked at window-cltertniritj.. The Judge asked the prisoner what he had to say. Rrotheridge : Well, sir, after I was released from my sentence everybody seemed to look at me as if I was a thief. My face was against me, and I was always unhappy, and I thought that if everybody took me for a criminal I micrht as well be one, because people distrusted me, and at last I gave way to temptation. I am Very Sorry now. The Rev. W. H. Davics thereupon interposed, arid said it was a curious thing that after the prisoner's arrival at his house four different persons, each ignorant of what the other had said, remarked to liim how like a thief rothridge looked. Th# •Judge : Some of your people would be useful to the police,* (Laughter.) Mr. DaTifcs then said that the prisoner did not appear to be a confirmed criminal, for lie stole Seme worthless studs and left unMliched a very valuable opal ring, and took a gun-metul watch with a silver chain when he might have taken a cold watcn and chain of considerable value. In the result, the Jiidfi decided to give the prisoner another clitic#, avid handed him over to the care of Mr* William Wheatley. of St. Giles' Christian Mission, on recognisances to come up ftr sentence if called upon.