The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-07-21
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Il
News. it is the custom OF the criminal class
20 celebrate the Liberation OF comrade BY
dsy of carousal. They wait at the door
of the prison, carry him off in triumph, and
thus guard against any extraordinary CIR.
cumsiance, any exception to the general
rule, which ight occur to save him. But
Of late years, il seems. an opposition has
started; an influence Of an opposite kind Is
wing in wait, and now and then brand Is
plucked from the burning. This opposing
force, it may be thought, is the respectable
class of Manchester, who have thus array
ed themselves against the criminal class.
Alas! no. The good angel is solitary In
d;vidual-a humble workman in foundry.
who obeys the Divine impulse without
knowing why; and without a theory or 9
oIan. neutralises alike the destinies OF the
law and the alIurements oft law-breaxers.
This individual is Thomas Wright, an
old man Of threescore-and-ten, and the faith
er of nineteen children. The following
account is given by the paper We have men
toned of the way in which his attention
was first attracted to the prison world
There was a man OF sailor-like appear
ance who had got work at the foundry as
laborer; he was steady and industrious
workman, and had obtained the favorable
notice OF Mr.. Wright. One day the EN-
ploye. came and asked if he (WnghD was
aware that they had returned transport in
the place! He had learned that the sailor
was such. Mr.. Wright desired to be al
lowed to speak with the man. and ascertain
the fact. Permission was given; and dur
ing the day he took casual opportunity,
not to excite the suspicious OF The other
workmen. of saying to the man, my
friend, where did you work last!' I've
been abroad was the reply. The man
was not liar. After some conversation,
he confessed, with tears in his eyes, that he
had been convict. He said he was de-
sirous of not falling into i'll courses, and
kept his secret, to avoid being refused work
If he told the truth. Wright was con-
WINGED that in the future he would act hon.
estly, and repairing to their common en-
ployer, begged, as personal favor, that the
man might not be discharged. He even
offered to become bound for his conduc.
This was ten years ago; and the prejudice
against persons who had ever broken the
law was more intense than it is now. There
were objections; and other partners had to
be consulted in so delicate a matter. Great
numbers OF men were employed in the
foundry; and should the matter come to
their knowledge. it would have the appear
ance to them Of encouraging crime. This
was OIL the day OF paying wages for the
week. Before night, however, Wright had
the satisfaction TO obtain a promise that,
upon his responsibility, the convict should
be kept. The following day Wright went
to look after his protege-he was gone.
On inquiring, he found he had been paid
off and discharged the previous night. 1t
was mistake. The first orders for his dis
missal had not been countermanded, and
gone he was. Mr.. Wright at once sent
off a messenger to the mans lodging to
bring him back TO the foundry. He re-
turned only to say the man had left his
lodgings at five o'clock in the morning.
with bundle containing all his properly
under his arm la short, notwithstanding
every effort Of this benevolent person to
find him, the poor convict was never more
heard Of.
This incident made Mr.. Wright think
as well as feel. The case was only a soil
tary one. He had been attracted to the
man by the mere circumstance OF their
passing portion Of the day at the same
work; but were there not hundreds Of other
cases, of equal exigence, which had as
strong a claim upon his sympathy? He
went to the New Bailey, and conversed
with the prisoners, passing with them his
only day Of rest-Sunday. The jealousy
with which the authorities at first viewed
his proceedings was gradually changed in
to appreciation; and at length when a pris-
oner was about to be discharged, he was
asked if he could find the man a situation
He did so. This was the commencement
OF his ministry Of love. In ten years from
that time he has succeeded in rescuine nm
wards Of three hundred persons from the
career of crime. Many Of these cases are
very peculiar; very few, indeed, have re-
lapsed into crime. He has constantly five
or six on his list, for whom he is looking
out for work. Very frequently he persuades
the former employer to give the erring
another trial. Sometimes he becomes gusf.
antee for their honesty and good conduct;
for poor man, in considerable sums-f 20
to ECO. In only one instance has bond
so given been forfeited, and that was a yery
peculiar case. The large majority keen
their places with credit to themselves and
TO their noble benelactor. Most of tbem-
for Mr.. Wright never loses sight of a man
he has once befriended, through his own
neglect-attend church or Sunday.scbool
adhere to their temperance pledges, and live
honest and reputable lives. And all this is
the work Of one unaided, poor, uninAuen-
ilal old man. What, indeed, might he no,
DO were he gifted with the fortune and the
social position Of Howard
observation-disclosures is a mountainous