Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-03-31
A New Movement among London
Thieves

An extraordinary movement, some
what analogous to that in Water street,
New York, is going on in New Cut, a
notorious locality in Lambeth. Tho
chief actor in this affair is one Ned
Wright, reformed housebreaker, and
few years ago one of the most dar-
/ ing thieves in England, but who was
some time ago converted while attend
ing one Of the religious services in a
London theatre, and was induced 70
abandon his burglars tools. He has
since turned his attention TO reclairainu
his old associates in crime, and has
already effected more good in that
quarter than all the LondoI city mis-
sionarles put together.
1t appears now that ST. Giles and
White-chapel are not the chief resorts Of
thieves, burglars and pickpocket.. zs d
old, these gentry having concentrated
Themselves in New Cut ENCOURAGED
By success, Ned Wright determined to
have grand field night with the pick
pockets. and issued invitations TO all
who would come-the sole condition
being that they must have been con
Hcted At least once. Notwithstanding
the smallness OF the districl, 500 guesis
responded TO the call but as ticksts TO
the supper could only be issued to tho
number ot 200, = selection WAS necessA-
ry, and two hundred OF the worst char
acter, in London composed the guess
OF the Thieves supper which con
sisted OF soup and bread. The strange
as~embiagc seems to have been mana2-
sd with great success during the meal.
aud when that was disposed of, they
were wonderfully subdued and attel-
tive TO tie earnest address Of Ned
Wright. LET US show our kind visit
or- OH the platform" he began, "that
we really ale men, if rough and desper-
ate ones. Don't lei it be said that we
are sunk to the level of brutes" He
detailed to them his career of crime
frankly admitting his guilt, and givin.
accounts OF thrilling adventures which
he had experienced, until he came to
the subject OF his conversion. 1t was
referring to the effect of the preachers
voice upon him III Astlev's Theatre,
that he said. Though the navy cat
could not make my heart beat, it beat
at the sound Of the words which called
me to repentance.
Alter The extraordinary gathering,
there was the usual Gospel meeting, to
which about half OF the guests were in
dnced TO remain, BY an intimation that
certain benevolent plans of starting men
on All honest way of life would be sub
seqnently iscassed-Those plans, as
explained by Mr.. Wright. We're as
promising as any which coald be devils
ed n proprietor of barro ws, such as
are used bv costermongers, having thir-
ty of these vehicles disengaged, Mr..
Wright proposes 70 find thirty mon for
them, and give them each a shilling TO
begin business. He informed them, by
way OF encouragement, that many a
thriving salesman had risen from as small
a capital to independence.
The buildings in which these meetings
are held il plain brick edifice in New
Cut. for many years well-known
'.penny gati," but now Gospel Hall, and
devoted to weekday and Sunday relie-
ious services. at which all-but chiefly
the outcasts of society-are earnestly
invited to attend. Among the London
city missionaries there are already re-
formed pickpOcket, coiner, garroter,
and penny gaf7' keeper; and now
there is added to this list reformed
housebreaker, all toiling to reclaim their
old associates, and working in harmony
with the midnight Movement"
Mr. Wright has since held another
thieves supper, to which only female
thieves were invited by tickets, which
intimated in prominent letters that no
policeman would be suffered to enter
the building" This announcement was
made in consequence Of eight detectives
having forced their way into The As-
sembly ofmale thieves, just - they were
psaceably separating, and canssd little
confusion. This intrusiOn II the police
appears to have done mere har1 thar
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