The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-09-01
G.. OW eco.
Opposite Pstsnt Once. Washington. 0. G.

The story that comes rom IAN
Francisco of piracy and murder in
the south Seas has u remark abic re-
semblance to one with which the
late Lord Sherbruok thea simply
Robert Lowe. had legal connection
at the time he was i lawyer III Aus
tralia, remarks the New York Record
CT Lord Sherbrook made q good Ical OF
money during his nine years ut the
Australian bar says I. 7. OCounor
out there is only one forensic speech
of his at the antipodes that is worthy
of comparison with the oratorical tri-
umphs in England. The occasion
was q sensational trial-the appall-
ing finale Of lurid life.
One of the oldest and most respect
ed OF English families whose head
sits in the house of lords. and whose
name is by no means unfamiliar in
the commons had the misfortune. in
the early years of the century, to be
cursed with . son who developed OK
traordinary criminal instincts in his
very boyhood. He was sent to sea
and had risen to the position of COM
mander in the royal navy. when he
committed robbery was tried at the
Old Bailey and was transported to
Australia under sentence OF four
teen years. On landing in Sydny.
Smith," as we shall call him. was
promptly liberated on ticket, OIL leave.
and then he gave full play to his
criminal instincts committing nearly
every crime in the calendar short Of
murder.
At length the Colonial authorities
resolved to send him to that lonely
speck in the Pacific, Norfolk Island.
which was then reserved for the
worst and most incorrigible prisoners.
He was accordingly placed on boarc
a government brig in company with
some forty other irreclaimable Grim
inals. Che night the brig was caugh
in terrific storm. and smith. not
withstanding that he was heavily
ironed contrived to get on deck, seize
q quantity of arsenic and throw poison
into the cooking utensils. Next day
every soul on board save Smith
and nine other desperadoes whom
hs had taken into his confidence were
seized with violent pains and became
absolutely helpless.
Thereupon Smith" and his cou
federates took possession of the brig
and ruthlessly threw overheard alik'
the dying and the dead not evel
sparing their fellow convicts who II
their irons were brought up one b.
one and cast into the sea. Smith
then assumed command OF the brig
and sa led away for America Wha
q situation for Mr. r l. Stevenson
Unfortunately for himself Smith
touched at a New Zealand port wher'
the brig was recognized and recaptur
: ed. Brought back to>ydney Smith
turned informer alleging that hi
part of the piratical seizure was play
, ed under compulsion. So he saved hi
{ neck. while his nine confederate
we're hanged.
On the earnest solicitation OF YER
influential people, smith" was give
one more chance, and permitted t
remain in sydney and labor in tn
government dock-yard. But on
morning poor widow was found ly
ing in her house. barbarously mul
dered with q tomahawk. One finge
had been severed and taken away
the murderer in his haste being un
able to pull the gold ring off. The rim
was soon afterward pawned for
" snall sum. aud from the pawn
b brokers' description Smith wa
4 promptly identified and arrested q
the murderer. Robert Lowe was RI
+ tanned for his defense and the fact
8 OF the prisoners guilt being conclu
sive, he relied solely on the plea
y 'instinctive crim1nality" supportln
: it in a speech of marvellous power an
psychological insight. But it We
all of no avail. Smith" was convic
ed and executed