END OF WASTED LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20490, 15 February 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

END OF WASTED LIFE.

HOW JABEZ BALFOUR DIED.

FACING JK PITILESS WORLD.

SALVATION- ARMY'S KINDNESS,

Art interesting account of tho final scenes in tho life of the late Jabez Spencer Balfour, tho notorious figure of tho great Liberator frauds, is told in the memoirs of tho late General Booth df the Salvation Army. Ho says:—"The day came when this man, a crushed and lonely figure, left Parkhurst Prison to face a pitiless world. Ho applied to us and was placed in the hands of. Qolonel, now Lieut.Commissioner Unsworth, with instructions to do all that could be done for him. I think tho rest of tho story had better be told, as nearly as may be, in the Commissioner's words."

The story is as follows : —" Sitting in my office ono morning, I was rung up and asked if I would interview Mr. Jabez Balfour, who had applied to tho Army for help. I replied ' Send him along and I will do all I can for him.' In a few minutes there camo in at the door a man very unlike the one I had pictured. But at the sight of tho man as he was pity rose up in my heart. He was a short man, his hair which had been brown, was now grey and scanty, his brow was high, his nose and chin not prominent, but tho

eyes still flashed with occasional fire. His clothes hung loosely on his shrunken frame. His manner was respectful and •digirific'd, not cringing; "He" preferred not' to talk, certainly not about what he had gone through in prison, and ho made no mention of events before that.

" Next morning tho poor suppliant came to my office again. I gave'him a few words of cheer, and took him to my friend. He soon entered into tho business. The two men so differently cii'cujmtanc.ed, tho prosperous city magnate'and-the exconvict. talked over the matter as experts. Term:: were arranged, a salary was fixed, a berth taken on an early boat for India. , " So Balfour made his way to. the hills of India, and soon waaat work with something of his old ability. But alas! his fate was stealing behind him. The manager of the works had to be informed that this was the notorious Jabez Balfour. There was nothing to be done. The poor hunted outcast had to' leave everything and return. " Never shall I forget the despair that was on his face when he again stood before me. He cried, ' I am forsaken of God and man. My punishment is greater than I can bear.' Then I rang my friend on the telephone and asked fo.r anotherinterview. He had just purchased a.

Welsh colliery which ho. was. intending to develop. He needed, houses building' and possibly Balfour was tho man. Arrangements were soon made,

" The tears flowed down Balfour's cheeks as lie thanked me, bift he, wn,s joyful at heart. Wo had prayer—and -Balfour prayed—prayed for himself. Then came (he hurry of departure. Off lie went with his little bag and well-worn rug. The kindly guard inquired his destination, and said that lie would wake him when (he station.was reached. Happy and hopeful, ho rested his head in his liands and tried to sleep.

" And it was th'o long sleep. When the guard came to wako him Jabeft .Balfour was; clean. '