A THIEVES' SUPPER IN LAMBETH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 596, 20 April 1870, Page 3

A THIEVES' SUPPER IN LAMBETH.

.*. Ned Wright, TnE "Reformed Bdrglas." A gathering of an unusual character took place on Wednesday evening in the New-cut, Lambeth. A reformed burglar, named Ned Wright, has for some time past been conspicuous for his labours among the outcasts of that district, and on Wednesday he invited about two hundred professional thieves to meet him at a " soup supper." There was no lack of guests, the sole necessary credential being a "previous conviction." The singular scene is thus described by a London reporter : — Turning into a little ante-room, where are a few ladies, two or three gentlemen, and a great number of half-quartern loaves and empty basins, we ask for Mr Edward Wright, who comes forward and replies, in a tone of great manliness and frankness to our questions. Ned Wright, as he is now familiarly called — " Mickey Moon " used to be his nickname among the thieves when he was one of them— is a young man of powerful build, quite a match, probably, for any two ordinary roughs. Some four or five years ago he became a deeply-religious man, abandoned his burglar's tools, and was not only bent upon becoming honest himself, but has devoted all his energies to inducing his former companions to follow his example. We are told, and have reason to believe, that among the roughs and criminals of the New-cut he has worked with great success. Himself a living example that even a thief may think better of his way of life, and amend it, the thieves whom he invites to listen to him feel themselves to be under the influence of a living example as well as of dry precept. Encouraged by the measure of success already achieved, Ned Wright determined to have a grand field night with the pickpockets, and hence the gathering on Wednesday night. While the soup was being ladled out we suggested to Ned that probably there were none of the more skilful clas3 of cracksmen among his guest 3. He admitted that, for the most part, they were " bluey hunters " and "pigeon coves " — or in other words scamps who stole lead off the roofs or bell handles from doors, and the like petty descriptions of larceny — but he added that he expected some swell mobsmen and " opera jumpers " (men who dress well and pick pockets at the opera), who being being down upon their luck would be glad of a basin of good soup and a half quartern.after having being reduced for some time to " a palmer's pint and three " — i.e., a pint of bad coffee and three slices of bread. He assured us that thieves led by no means easy lives, but that, on the contrary, want aud hunger and cold were often daily experiences with them. With our curiosity a good deal stimulated by this preliminary conversation, we prepared to follow Ned Wright into the hall, which was now quite full. There was plenty of noise and horseplay in the hall before the visitors entered, but very little afterwards. Ned Wright received a round of cheers, mingled with some good-humoured chaff, which he put a stop to by telling them, " You're going to have a clinking. clump of bread each, and if you make your jaws ache now they'll be no use when you get the tommy. Now, there is one piece of bread for each of you, and if any one sees his neighbour trying to take two you must round on him " — an order that was vigorously hurrahed. The bread, on being passed round, was snatched and devoured with the avidity of extreme hunger; and, in sooth, thieving is but a sorry business, if we may judge from the ravenousness of its devotees. Their clothes were deplorably ragged and scanty, and they tore the great | haunches of bread to pieces in a manner that testified but too keenly to the emptiness of their stomachs. But, though evidently very ! hungry, they obeyed orders, and sat patiently in their seats till they were served in their regular turn. The hot soup was probably a still greater temptation. The waiters were few, and the basins circulated too slowly for the eager appetites of the guests, but as a rule they put a curb on their impatience and abstained from making a rush. One burly fellow, who was inclined to be demonstrative, looked thoroughly ashamed when Mr Wright, pointing to him, cried, "If our friend in the white jacket were to do that in I Wandsworth, they'd know what to do with

him, eh ?" To which appeal came a general cry of "Three days' bread and water." Supper over, Ned Wright walked on to the platform (where were a few ladies and gentlemen), and addressed the assemblage. First, he asked them all to take off their caps, which was instantly done — a sharp, bare-headed boy in the gallery crying out, " But suppose we ain't got none ?" The men we-e next told to sit down and to keep quiet. The language of the speaker was homely and forcible. He commenced: — Now, men and boys, although I know you are a don't care set of fellows, I want you to show you can do what I ask you to-night. I suppose you're most of you out of work, and without any characters to lose; if not, you've no business here, for this meeting's intended only for those who've got into trouble. Now, I dare say there are many of you who'd like to have a coster's barrow with a stock of goods on it. Well, I've got something to say about that before I've done ; but, first, I want you to sing a hymn with me: — " We're bound for the land of the pure and the holy, The home of the happy, the kingdom of love. Ye wanderers from God, in the broad road of folly, Oh, say, will you go to the Eden above." The hymn was sung in a hearty, if not in a very melodious manner. The speaker then continued: — " Now, would you like to go there ? (A general cry of ' None of that.') Now, I'm going to wrap up what I've got to say so as to finish before eight. What have you come here for ? Not only for the soup, but chiefly for the salvation of your souls. I tell you that, whatever you may think to the contrary, your souls are as valuable as that of the Queen that sits on the throne. Some people suppose that men and lads who subject themselves to thieving are to be lost sight of — that they are to go down with the tide. But I say 'No/ because I am myself an example that, however bad a man's character may be, there is a chance for him to recover it. In this world, you and I know very well that a man's past character will tell against him, but it is not so with God. The country remembers, as it were, a man's offence against him all his life; but when you sin against God, if you repent, He blots out your sin and remembers it no more." Here is another specimen of Ned Wright's style: — " Now, about seven years ago, my name was in the papers, and was well known to all of you as one of the men who was to row on the Thames for the coat and badge. I was to row with Tommy Short, and I remember how some of you now present used to be on the banks when I was practising, and how you swore vengeance against any one who should interfere with my winning. I remember going down in my little boat, the day before the race, and after a pull I got back to the boat-house, and was being treated very kindly, when I heard a cry, <A boy overboard.' I ran out, and I found myself on the dummy, and looking round at the people. Ah ! that was a sight I shall not forget in a hurry— the white faces of the men and the women crying, and the horror on every countenance. But I saw some bubbles coming up on the water, and I thought ' it may be the last breath of the dying boy;' and on that thought I jumped in, with my clothes on, and went down to the bottom of the river, and felt the body of the boy, but there was no move in it. I brought it up, and it was taken to the house, and the mother was weeping as if her heart would break; but life slowly came back to the body, and she was comforted. Now, men and boys, it seems to me that all of you here are like that lad, and that you have got mothers who are breaking their hearts over you, who are saturating the Throne of Grace with their tears: you are floating down the stream of life into eternity; you need to be rescued from everlasting death." | These specimens will convey an accurate idea of the style of the speaker. He cer- | tainly carried with him the attention of the audience. Faces that were careless and mocking at first gradually deepened into seriousness, and any attempt at ridicule or noise was immediately suppressed. Another hymn having been sung and prayer offered up, the assembly was told that those who wished to do so might leave ; but that the promised statement respecting the costermongers' barrows would not be made till later in the evening. It was satisfactory to observe that a considerable portion of the gathering preferred to remain. The proceedings lasted about two hours, and during the whole of that time we did not hear one | blasphemous or indecent expression.