A PASSION FOR CRIME.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 168, 21 July 1908, Page 2

A PASSION FOR CRIME.

REMARKABLE. CONFESSION FROM THE DOCK. John Edwards (thirty-five), described by the police as an " habitual and dangerous criminal," Was* sentenced at ClerkenweH Sessions to three years' penal servitude for stealing a watch and a railway ticket from a? visitor to London. Edwards has ocr- • tainly had a remarkable career; as he admitted, he has revelled m crime. The following previous convictions were proved against him — most of them for thefts from ' the person: — 1886 4 months' imprisonment. 1887 9 months' imprisonment. 1890 12 months' 'imprisonment. 1391 12 months' imprisonment. 1892 ../....... 12 months' imprisonment. 1894 3 months' imprisonment* icn , (twice). 1895 17 months' imprisonment. 1896 1 month's imprisonment. , 1896 3 years' penal servitude. ! 1901 ......... 12 months' imprisonment. 1902 .: 7) months' imprisonment V (twice). 1903 6 years' penal servitude and; five other summary convictions. His last sentence of five years, m 1903, was for stealing a scarf pin 'from the Earl of Hchester, .and n, that occasion the prisoner delivered the following extraordinary speech • — , - •'Let me tell you this jobbery was delibe- ' rattly planned, and that I carefully reflected on the crime and its consequences. The Devil is too strong for me. I feel reckless with the recklessness of despair at times. I snatched the pin and made off, but-: an unknown irresistible power made rlie turn back and walk into the arms of justice. In the whole course of my years of crime and infamy I have never felt so unutterably miserable and so • hopelessly cast down . I have no pity for myself. Therefore I crave you not to tem-per-justice with- 1 mercy. I haye deserved all I have got for bringing down my old father's and mother's grey hair with sorrow to the grave., I put my downfall to - the neighborhood of St. Giles and Soho, and the associates I mixed with. To breathe the air' of Soho is sufficient to manufacture criminals. The desire / within \ me to commit a theft is great, but believe me to be sincere when I tell you that sorrow and remorse are not strangers to me.- How. often the thought has flit across . my mind that if I had the will and determination to reform and .intend my life I would brighten the last days of. my aged parents, v I would be good, but evil is too strong within me. -Many and many a time when coming out of prison I have formed a good resolution for the amendment of my lifet I have tried over and over again to get an honest living, but^ always ;failed for want of a helping hand, | My father has told me a score of times to - igo on and prosper, and he said : 'My son, a crust of bread and liberty is fair, better than to be cast m prison.' Hope \ has sprung up m my heart, for I do not — rogue and thief as j am— think that I am past redemption.— l am, your unfortunate | and humble petitioner." A statement, which created some amusement, was the fact that the prisoner had m his interval of liberty worked on building the police station at .New: Scotland Yard. On the I'reeent occasion Edwards again addressed *the Court. He appeared quite at ease, and smiled complacently. I. have led a life of crime, and I admit I have revelled m at. I have been a right-down wrong "vn — a thorough bad lot all my life— but lam always looking on the bright side of things, and hope ' to turn over a fresh leaf and lead a new life. The prisoner recalled the fact, somewhat proudly, that while at Portland Prison, serving, his last sentence, he broke free,, and . clambered to' the roof of the gaol, where he remained for hours, impudently cheerful, and defying the whole staff of the prison, who essayed m all sorts of ways to . recapture him. He was only induced to ■ surrender, when the , fire-hose, well directed, brought home to him the peril of his situation. Then he added : 1 I don't know how I drifted back again to the dock. I can only put it down to some curious and all-mastering impulse. ; From the bottom of my heart I really intended to go! straight. For the first time m my life I had a chance. The', Salvation Army were assisting me, and I ought to have got a good ahd honest living, but I went astray again. I have always taken a keen interest m crime. I have always delighted m it, and now I have fallen into this. , On hearing the sentence Edwards turned on his heel, and muttering, left tho dock.