The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-27


pur readers will no doubt Tefffenlber a'saa
case mentioned some days ago In our columns
of n lady being robbed In London OF a small
amount Inv a very ,Ienitent thief, who wrote
a Iatbetic letter, craving forgiveness, ana
offering TO give himself up II communicated
with. Tn consequence Of this her husband
bcfriended the man. 1t then appeared TINT
no had lived as jewellers assistant with one
Mr.. erich. Mt bennington, WarWiekshtre,
who. finding that he had acted dishonorbty,
discharged him. 1t fs singular coincidence
that the lady he robbed in London was this
very Mr, crich's sister. IL would seem from
this and similar cases. such rs that admiraDle
play "The Ticket.of-Leave Man " so torcloiy
illustrated, that: il the descens,ts drern1 has
commenced there is rarely chance OF re-
tracing If Il helping hand is not held out Tor q
first offence is very often no sort OF PROOF OF
determined deprayity.
4 very remarkable and gratifying instance
of n mans being morally set on his legs
again occurred some years ago in London.
A gentleman advertised for servant. de
received reply. 1t appeared satisfactory,
but he being very particular said that ne
must have q personal interview with tne
mans last employer. He was then request
ed to call on q given day at large, tash-
ionable hotel Mt the west end OF LONDON.
He did so, and was received by person
who seemed eminently respectable, ana gave
the candidate for the place capltal ciarac,
ter. Thereupon he took him, and tound
the man an admirable servant. Alter he
had been with him for some time the man
ushcrcd in one morning a person VINO Salu
that he wished to see Mr.. -- on Dusl-
ness. This individual, having entered, wait
ed fill the door was carefully closed, and
then laid, i'm low tone, am detective,
sir. and | have called to give you what Is,
fear, an unpleasant piece OF information.
That servant Of yours who showed me IN
here is a ticket-ot-lcarc man." "Oh !" re-
plied Mr. "there must be some mis-
take; know all about the man." f.
The visitor smiled incredulouSly. Mr..
went to the door and summoned his servant.
John, this is policeman, who says that
you're a convict tell him that it can't be,
for heard your history from your last
place" The man held down his head. " us
TOO true, sir" he said. Mr.. - was aghast
with establishment. "But how in the world
can it be, then, that the gentleman whom l
saw at the hotel should have accounted for
your life from his own personal knowledge! 7"
IL will explain all that presently, sir he
said, as he looked significantly at the officer,
whom Mr. - then thanked and dismissed.
"Tne truth is" he continued, when the
latter had left the room, d" ! was the person
YOU saw at the hotel.' "Iou!" exclaimed
Mr. -, in aStonishment "Ies, sir. |
was utterly desperate knew that unless l
could get place should have to 60 to steal
Ing, and l resolved to make last effort. l
disguised myself with false hair, and took
the rooms for a couple Of nights, where
YOU saw me. OF course it was very
wrong of NE to deceive you, and the clrcum-
stances was in are the only excuse l can
plead. At best, sir, see only this i'll extern
uation, that have served you honestly and
faithfully" Mr.. -, Il kind-hcarted man,
felt heartily sorry for the man. He mentlon-
ed his case TO friend who was equally SYM
pathetc, and the end OF it was that he was
successfully established, by their aid, in a
small business, and lie has been doing re-
markabIy well. The London Prisoners
Aid Society" has been dom" great work
in the same direction, and thongh it has no
doubt not unfrcquently committed the offence
Of sending some pcuilcnt thieves to recon-
ncncc life on these shores when there was
10 chance for them in their own country, we
can almost forgive this, looking TO the noble
aim of pluckng soul from the jaws OF per-
dilon, and giving hope where there was
none.