Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 2: From the eighteenth century to its demolitionGriffiths, Arthur
History
Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 2: From the eighteenth century to its demolition
Griffiths, Arthur
Criminals -- Great Britain; Newgate (Prison : London, England); Prisons -- England; Punishment -- Great Britain
From this he was released prematurely through the good offices of a
gentleman who pitied him, only to be reimprisoned, but in Newgate,
not the hulks, for fresh robberies at the Opera House, Pantheon, and
other places of public resort. Once more released, he betook himself
to his old evil courses, and having narrowly escaped capture in
London, wandered through the northern counties in various disguises,
till he was at length taken at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Another narrow
escape followed, through the absence of a material witness; but
he was finally arrested for picking a pocket on Epsom Downs, and
sentenced to seven years' transportation. He made an affecting speech
at his trial, urging, in extenuation of his offence, that he had
never had a fair chance of earning an honest livelihood. He may have
been sincere, and he certainly took the first opportunity offered to
prove it. On the voyage out to New South Wales there was a mutiny
on board the convict ship, which would have been successful but for
Barrington's aid on the side of authority. He held the passage to the
quarter-deck single-handed, and kept the mob of convicts at bay with
a marline-spike, till the captain and crew were able to get arms and
finally suppress the revolt. As a reward for his conduct, Barrington
was appointed to a position of trust, in charge of other prisoners at
Paramatta. Within a year or two he was advanced to the more onerous
and responsible post of chief constable, and was complimented by the
governor of the colony for his faithful performance of the duty. He
fell away in health, however, and retiring eventually upon a small
pension, died before he was fifty years of age.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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