Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-10-09
A BRILLIANT ROGUE.
AS SKiLLFUL AND SUCCESSFUL A
THIEF AS EVER LIVED.

THIEF AS EVER LIVED.
rhe Thrilling Career Of George Barring
ten = PicIpoclet. High Rolling Adj
vonturer and Australian Potentate-Two
Well Known Lives.
George Darlington, whose real name
was Henry Waldron, was the son of q May.
nooth silvcrsnith and a nantua maker.
When boy he quarrelod with fellow
scholar at Dublin grammar school, and
was whipped. In revenge he stabbed his
opponent and, if possible, would have
murdered him. For this affair he was
logged so furiously that he determined to
run away from school. So he stole e12
md silver watch from his pIeceptor and
disappeared in the middle Of a May night
At Drogheda he met a company of stroll
ing players and lodged at the inn where
they were staying. Their manager, John
Price, took fancy to Darlington and en-
gagged him as an actor. Indeed it was
Prico who suggested tho changing of
Henry Waldron to George Darlington, be-
cause it looked better on the bills.
Price brought him into tender connection
with a member of the company who called
enamored completely of the young wom-
an, proposed to him to share the manage
ment of the troop
Darlington complied and became joint
manager with Price. 1t was not long be-
fore Price found it expedient to insinuate
to burlington that young man of his adj
dress might introduce himself easily into
public places, and that he might find OPP
portunities of picking pockets unnotioed
and of escaping undetected, more espe-
cially at that particular time when the
fair was being held. Prices scheme
pleased harrington, and tho next day he
carried it into execution with great sue
cess. The acquisition amounted to about
ESQ in Irish currency. Ballyshannon
was the next place visited. While in this
place Darlington quarrelled with Price
with the result that the two adventures
parted company.
Accompanied by Miss Edgerton, the
young man left Ballyshannon. and jour
neyed southwark, until. in crossing the
River Boyne, she was drowned. After the
funeral he went to Limerick and in a few
weeks more to Cork. There Darlington
found Price penniless and his company
dispersed. They formulated scheme by
which Darlington was to pass for gentle
man of fortune while Prico was 10 play
servant. The plot worked to charm.
They had credit enough to secure horses
and an outfit, and Barringtons plausible
address did the rest. Operating among
the best class Of the extrayagant gentry of
the time, tho two rogucs became familiar
and popular figures in the first society of
Ireland, and at the end of 1772 had a CAPT
tai Of 81, 100. On this they settled in
Cork, where Price was detected in an at
tempt TO rob young squire, arrested and
sentenced TO seven years transportation.
Darlington escaped to Dublin, where he
lived quietly for time. Then he obtained
passage as guest in Sir Alexander
Schomberg's yacht to England. Schom-
berg was very useful to him, and the adj
Vcnturer also found Of great service the
friendship of a fellow passenger on the
yacht, the Duke of Leinster.
A moro profitable acquaintance to Bar
rington, however, was young captain in
the army. For many months they lived
wild life in London. Then Barrington's
funds ran low, and be went to work
again. He picked pockets right and left,
even dipping unsupported into his friends
the Duke CT Leinster. firing Of London,
Darlington visited Brighton in the sum
Ancaster, who received bin as a gentle
man Of fortune and noble family. This
opened up to him royal array Of victims,
and brought him into contact with the
most fashionable circles. He spent the
day at court On tho anniversary of the
quoens birth, when he not only contriyed
TO rob tie nobility present, but to cut of
the diamond order CT a noLlcman. He got
it away from the palace without suspicion.
AS this was TN article of too much value
TO be disposed Of in England lie sold it to
Dutch jew.
In 1775 the Russian Prince CrloE paid
his first visit to England The Empress
Catherine had expressed her appreciation
Of his merits by presenting TO him gold
snuffbo1 set with brilliants. This trophy,
which was said to be worth $50, 600, was
fanoied by Darlington, and be determined
TO get it. One night at COyent Garden
theater he took it from the pocket Of the
prince, but was caught before he left tie
box in which the nobleman was seated
ard for the first time was arrested. In
court he told such pitiful and plausible
story that the judge was deceived, and in
consequence the prince declined to prose-
cute him. His release followed, but he
left the courtroom q ruined man socially.
Cut by his former intilnates, he sank rap
idly and in year was virtually common
thief. Finally he was caught fairly and
was sentenced to seven years transporta-
ton to the Australian penal settlements.
During the voyage to Port Jackson in
1871 he rendered great service on the con-
Vict ship by assisting in the quelling of
mutiny. This reward was ticket of leave
Us soon as the colony was reached. AS
convict prisoner oyerseer be proved so hon.
est and Jealous that he received u govern
ment grant of land on the Parametta riv-
er, the stream where Irickett and other
Australian oarsmen made records years
after he was dead and forgotten. He re-
tained place as convict overseer until his
death in 1911.
His ticket Of leave expired, and he found
himself a rich and free man, but he de-
clined to return TO England. There he
had been q common malefactor. In Aus
tralia he was potentato in small way,
so he remained a potentate to the end. He
is remembered today because Of two lines
in the prologue which he wrote for the
opening of the first theater in Australia
True patriots we, for, be it understood,
We left our country for cur country's good.
Even those lines are remembered better
than their author.-New York Sun.