The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-14 00:00:00

LIFE OF THE NOTORIOUS ~PHIL
DIXON," DICTATED BY HIMSELF.
(From the Shropshire Conservative.) _

.[The subject of the following autobiography was
convicted at the last Chester Assizes of having re-
turned from transportation before the period of his
sentence had expired, and now awaits at Knutsford
his removal to a penal settlement.]
Chester Castle, Aug. 10, 1849.
I was born in the year 1820. .My parents were
poor people, end lived in Chester, of which place
I am . a native. When I •was seven years of
age I was sent to the Rev. Mr. Briggs' school, in
Queen-street. My father was for some time a Pro-
testant, but through my mother's influence became
a Roman Catholic, and in this faith I was
brought up. I continued at this school until I was
about twelve years of age, and soon after this I lost
my mother. `rhere wire five of us in the family;
three of whom were living at home at Boughton. My
father was given to drink, and left us all in a
destitute condition, so that from twelve years of age
I was left to get my living in the best way I could.
One day I was -in the market, and Miq. Currie sent
me home with some flower lintsi—this • was on a Sa-
turday. She told me to come again to my dinner on
the following day, Sunday. She -wished me to go
to church, and I went. She then told me to come
the next day. She appeared to be interested in me,
and shortly after she brought me a suit of livery,
and engaged me as her servant. After I had lived
with her nearly twelve months, she told me one
day not to go into the town, as the cholera
was very bad. Aga'nst her will, and unknown to
her, I went in my livery—this was at Boughton
wakes, and was the commencement of my bad
career. I did nut return to my situation, but after I
had spent all my money in drinking and debauchery,
I went home to my father's house, who was also a
great drunkard. Had it not been for the common
small ale houses, I should never have been brought
into these troubles—in these I spent my money
th card playing, dice, and gambling of every
description, and was associated with a number
of bad women of the town. After I had
spent my money, I went and slept in any
outbuildings or stables -wherever I could get, until I
became filthy and as black as a sweep. Mr. Hassell,
from Abbey-court, knew that I was in service at Miss
Currie's, and seeing me in such a filthy condition, he
called me to him and said, if he promised to get me
Lack again to my situation would I go and conduct
myself as a good boy. I said I would. He took me
to Miss Currie's, and went in and spoke to her whilst
I remained outside, and shortly after they both
came out and ordered me to get my supper. I
continued with her a month or two longer—
she was an excellent good lady, and was
more than a mother to me. She would have made
a man of me had I taken her advice. I always went
to church with her every Sunday, as my mistress
was very particular in this, end we had prayers in the
family. One Saturday, when returning from the
market, I met with one of my old companions, who
wished me to meet bim at the Coach and Horses in
Boughton, as there was a raffle for a copper tea-kettle
that evening. I left my place again, got drunk, and
never returned to my situation. Miss Currie fre-
quently saw me, and asked me whether I was in
work. I always said yes; at the same time I was
livery, sold my boots,
my livery,
my money with bad
hat,not andl
h had nr
to, wa pnadw
snpeedn
trn
women.

Shortly after this I was enticed away by some
gipsies, and went tramping about the country. The
first night I staid with them was in bole-lane.
They put me to lie on some straw under the cart;
and before I went to bed the women came home with
plenty of broken victuals of all sorts, such as beef,
mutton, &c., which they got by telling fortunes.
They spoke a language to each other which I did not
understand. I used to put their horse and ass in a
field at night, and was called up about three in the
morning to bring them back again. If any hay
was seen in the field I was always sent to bring it to
the camp. I was frequently sent to pilfer beans,
potatoes, turnips, fowls, and anything else I could
meet with. I travelled with them into Wales, and
into IlTarwickshire. We then returned again into
Shooklach' near Malpas, when one night they all got
drunk and had a regular fight amongst themselves,
and I ran away off to Chester. I went to Birkenhead,
and had about 4s. or ss. in my pocket. I started over
to Liverpool, and got with a regular gang of thieves
in Banister-street, at a lodging house. After I
had been there for a night or two, one of the lads
ked me ii I would purchase a pocket•handkerchief.
He showed it to me. I said it was the wrong sort.
He then pulled out several others, and asked me
if any of them would do. I told him he had better
pawn them. I knew he had stolen them. He did so,
and on the following day (Saturday) I went into the
market with several of them to see what we could
pilfer. We had not been in long, before we went
and bought some fruit at a stall, and the woman
that kept it shouted and fainted; the others left me,
and ran off to the ledging.house, and I followed
them, and found they had picked her pocket, and
stolen from her 6/ 18s., of which I received 20s. I
then returned to Chester the following day, and
went to live with Mr. Sneade, the butcher, in
Flookersbrook.

I did not remain with him more than about three
months. I then went to live with Mr. Snelson, in
Bridge. street, as ostler. I was angry with my
master, and after I had lived with him about three
months, I left him. I was then about fifteen years of
age. Shortly after this I lived with Mr. Cope, in
Boughton, and bought old iron and stores. I was
with him, on and off for about three years, when I
became acquainted with my wife. I was very fond
of drink, which induced me to commit many small
robberies, such as picking pockets, stealing from the
shops, going into confectioners, and stealing cakes,
&c. Going down John-street one day, I went into
the yard of Mr. George Harrison, surgeon, and there
saw a large brass mortar. I bought it from him, as
it was too heavy for me to carry, otherwise I should
have stolen it, as I had many opportunities of doing
so, and often tried, but I could not lift it. I gave
him ss. for it, but it was worth 11. lls. Bd., which
sum I got for it from Mr. Cope. After this I went
to work on the Birkenhead Railway. I then saved
about 51., a good suit of clothes, and a watch.

When I -was about eighteen years of age I got
married. After this I bought a barrow and dogs, and
I went to fairs and races. I then commenced gam-
bling and everything that was bad, such as fighting,
drinking, and stealing. I was a good boxer, and
often got well treated for fighting by rich and poor.
I had often been in Chester prison for fighting and
getting drunk. I was convicted once at Knutsford,
and got one month, for stealing two sovereigns from
la man that was drinking with me at Tarvin.
When I was at Wrexham fair I got acquainted
with Conolly. We came to Chester, and went to the
I.rewhouse pear to the walls. It is just close to Mr.
Huxley's brewery. 'We unlocked the door of a pri-
vate house with a false key. We searched the house,
but could not find anything that he wished to take.
Then we broke into Mrs. Rutter's house, for which
we were both convicted. We stole about 2521. 2s.
in money and plate. The night we took it, we went
and hid the plate; the jewellery we stole I threw
away; we hid the plate in Garden-lane, near to the
college. The third night after the robbery was com-
mitted the servant girl was taken up, she had in-
formed Conolly where everything was to be found in
the house ; Conolly was courting her ; they lived in
Handbridge, but not in the same house, and she gave
him all the information about Mrs. Rutter's house.
For this we were both tried and sentenced to fifteen
years' transportation ; but we cleared the girl before
the magistrates. I was so dreadfully distressed in my
mind concerning my wife and children, that I was
quite tired of my life, and attempted to commit suicide
in the dock at the Town-hall, during the time of my
trial ; it was with a razor which I picked up in the
city gaol, and which I believed belonged to one of the
prisoners. I feel now that it was through the
mercy of God I was not permitted to do so ; I am
thankful that lam spared, as it would have been
an awful thing to have committed suicide. I
do not say I will not attempt to make
my escape again, as I am Willing to suffer
anything—any hardship—so that I may be with
my wife and family again. I will lead a different life
for the future, for my own sake, and for the sake of
my dear wife and children. lam quite convinced ifi
it were more l"generally known what hardships a
transport has to endure there would be less crime
committed. The two years that I have already suf-
fered convinces me that no greater trials can possibly
be endured by a human being. Death is far more
preferable.
I was removed from here shortly after my trial to
Millbank prison, where I was kept in solitary con-
finement, but had plenty of good books to read,
which were the means of bringing me to think se-
riously of my past life, and what I had brought my-
self to. In consequence of my good conduct I was
removed with nine more, out of about 1,400 prisoners, to
Portsmouth, to the York hulk. Here I remained for
nearly twenty months ; during this time I saw 14
convicts so severely flogged that the flesh came from
the backbone, and were immediately sent out with the
other convicts to work again, all for bad behaviour.
On one occasion I was present when a-convict of the
name of Hatter murdered our guard, James Connor.