A CONVICT IN TEARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

A CONVICT IN TEARS.

CHIVALROUS PLEAS TO JUDGE YOUTH WHO WAS LED ASTRAY. AN OLD OFFENDER'S APPEAL. Illustrating the truth of the adage that adversity makes strange bedfellows, two men of widely differing character appeared in the dock at Hertford Assizes recently

as companions in crime. John McDonagh, aged 22, kitchen porter, and Charles Reid, aged 51, dealer, pleaded guilty to a burglary at Abbots Langley. Against George Woodcock, aged 35, shoemaker, indicted with them, no evidence was offered, and ho was discharged. There were two indictments, to one of which, involving the robbery of £SO worth of plate, McDonagh pleaded guilty. Reid at first denied both burglaries, but in the middle of tlio case for the prosecution, pleaded guilty. Then it transpired that his hardened, furrowed sallow features were the outcome of many years' confinement in convict prisons, and that the bright-complcxioned young Irishman by his side was a companion whoso acquaintance he made in the Rowton House, at King's Cross, with an unblemished record for honesty.

Tlic ex-convict had the chivalry to take all the blame for the burglarious escapade on himself, and admitted that McDonagh was led aßtray by him. When they met in the cells, just after their arrest, the younger prisoner observed "I am sorry I have had to shop you, but I could not stand it on my own." Eeid told him not to worry. It was proved that Eeid had been convicted at Bury St. Edmund's, North London Sessions, Chelmsford, and Norwich, his sentences including three of penal servitude. His last sentence was three years' penal servitude, passed at Chelmsford, and after his discharge on licence he failed to report to the police. In perfectly-phrased appeal to Mr. Justice Branson for leniency, Reid, with tears in his eyes, remarked:—"l hold myself responsible for what McDonagh has done. He is a good lad, and never passed a blind man or woman in the street without putting his hand in his pocket. He did not know that 1 was a thief. I have led him astray, and I don't suppose he would have done what ho did but for me. I am sorry for him, but he was down and out. " As for myself, I know I have a terrible record, and I can only throw on the mercy of the ocurt. I have had heavy sentences, which have dragged me further into the gutter. At the age of

16 I was sent to prison, and put on the treadmill. You don't send boys of 16 to prison now, but the sentences I have had have made me look on life very harshly." The judge remarked that the story Reid had told was a miserable one. There was no doubt that the, treatment of young defaulters 30 or 40 years ago was not the best. Reid had had several chances, including five sentences, beforo ho was sent to penal servitude. On his admission he had had three terms of penal servitude in this country, and had made no attempt to do honest work. " What can I do," added tho judge, " except to send von back for three years'? When you come out try to pull yourself together.' McDonagh was bound over. Tho property in tho first case consisted of silver plate, valued at £SO. which was found after tho burglary hidden under a heap of straw. Tho police kept observation for two days, and at five o'clock in tho morning their vigilance was rewarded when they saw three men approach the stack find* commence to remove the goods. The police gave chase, but only McDonagh was captured.