A CONVICT'S STOTY.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 361, 26 September 1868, Page 7

A CONVICT'S STOTY.

Among the petitions to the House of Commons to be found in the latest report is one of John Parsons, a convict under sentence in Pentonville Prison. In 1854, the petitioner states, he was convicted at the Birminghom Sessions of housebreaking, and was sentenced to transportation for fifteen years. He served the first three years of his time in England, and was then taken to Western Australia, where he served four years and a half. He then received a ticket of leave, and, after working as a domestic servant for two years and a half more, he obtained a pardon for the remainder of of his term. Being desirous of remaining in Australia, he went to Adel aide, where he was recognised by the police as a pardoned convict, and ordered to leave the city in seven hours on pain of being sent to prison for three years. He produced his pardon, but was told by one of the magistrates that it was of no use there, and was recommended to go back to England. He tried to ship to Melbourne ; but no captain would have him on board, as there was a penalty of £IOO for taking convicts to that city. He then went to Singapoor, where, on landing, he was told by the police that, being a discharged convict, he had no right to come there, and he could not remain. He then took ship for England, went to Birmingham, and, finally, to Worcester, in which city he was arrested on the charge of being illegally at large, tried, convicted, and sent back to penal servitude for five years, which he is now serving. He narrated all the preceding circumstances to the Judge who tried him ; and the Judge reserved certain technical points in his favour, which were, however, overruled. He petitions the House of Commons for a remission of his sontence.