Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-08-17
A BRILLIANT ROGUE.
AS SklLLFUL AND SUCCESSFUL A
THIEF AS EVER LIVED.

Tho Thrilling Career of George Barring
ton - A Pickpoclset, High Rolling Ad-
Well Known Lives.
George harrington, whose roal name
was Henry Waldron, was the son of a May
nooth Elversmith and mantua maker.
When n boy, ho quorreled with fellow
scholar at n Dublin grammar school, and
was whipped. In revenge no stabbed his
opponent and, If possible, would have
murdered him. For this affair he WAS
flogged so furiously that he determined to
run away from school. so no stole e13
and silver watch from his preceptor and
disappeared In the middle Of a May night.
At Drogbeda he met company of stroll
Ing players and lodged at the inn where
they were staying. Their manager, John
Price, took O fancy to Darlington and en-
gagged him as an actor. Indeed 1t was
Price who suggested the changing Of
Henry Wnldron to George harrington, be-
cause it looked better on tho bills.
Price Wrought him into tender connection
with momber Of the company who called
herself Miss Egorton and when he had him
enamored completely Of tho young WON
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 IL expedient TO insinuate
to harrington that n young man Of his ad-
dress might Introduce himself easily into
public places, and that he might find OPP
portunities Of picking pockets unnoticod
and Of escaping undetected, mare espe-
chilly at that particular time when the
fair was being held. Prices scheme
pleased Darlington, and the next day he
carried it into execution with great sue
cess. The acquisition amounted to about
e190 in Irish currency. Ballyshanpon
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 Edgcrton, the
young man left Ballyshunnon and Jour
ncyed southwark, until in crossing tho
River Boyno she was drowned After tho
funeral he went to Limerick and in few
weeks more to Cork There Darlington
found Price pennicss and his company
dispersed. They formulated "a scheme by
which Darlington was to pass for gentle
man of fortune while Price was to play
servant. The plot worked to IA charm.
They had credit enough TO secure horses
and an outfit and Barrington's plausible
address did the rest. Operating among
the best class Of the extravagant gentry of
the time, the two rogues became familiar
and popular figures in the first society of
ireland, and ut tho end of 1172 had CAPT
tal of FL, 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 "a time Then he obtained
passage MS guest in Sir Alexander
Schon berg's yacht to England. Schom-
berg was very useful TO him, and the ad-
vcnturer also found of great service tho
friendship of fellow passenger on the
yacht, the Duke Of Leinster.
A more profitable acquaintance to Bar
rington, however, was young captain in
the army. For many months they lived n
wild life in London. Then Barrington's
funds ran low, and he went to work
again. He picked pockets right and left,
even dipping unsupported into his friends,
the Duke of Ieinsttr. firing of London,
Darlington visited Brighton in the sum
mer of 1775, and there met the Duke Of
Ancastcr, who received him as a gentle
man of fortune and noble family. This
opened up to him royal array of victims,
and brought him into contact with tho
most fashionable circles. He spent the
day at court on the anniversary of the
queens birth, when be not only contrived
to rob the nobility present, but to cut off
| the diamond order of a Dobleman. He got
1t away from the palace without suspicion.
AS this was an article of too much value
to be disposed of in England he sold it to
"a Dutch jew.
In 1915 the Russian Prince Orloff paid
his first visit TO England. The Empress
Catherine had expressed her appreciation
of his merits by presenting to him Il gold
snuffbox set with brilliants. This trophy,
which WAS said TO be worth $50 600, was
| fancied by Darlington, and he determined
to get it. One night at Covent Garden
thoater be took 1t from the pocket of the
prince, but was caught before he left the
( box in which the nobleman was seated
and for the first time was arrested. In
I court he told such pitiful and plausible
story that the judge was deceived, and in
consequence tho prince declined to prose
cute him. His release followed, but he
! left the courtroom ruined man socially.
! Cut by his former intimatos, he sank rap
idly and in year was virtually a 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
! 1891 he rendered great service on the con-
Wet ship by assisting in the quelling Of a
mutiny. This reward was a ticket of leave
as soon as the colony was reached As a
convict prisoner overseer he proved so hon.
est and Jealous that he received II govern
mont grant Of land on the Parapietta riv-
err, the stream where Trickctt and other
/ Australian oarsmen made records years
after he was dead and forgotten. He re-
tanned place rs convict overseer until his
death in ISL
His ticket of leave expired, and he found
himself a rich and free man, but he do
clined to return to England. There he
had been common malefactor. In Aus
tralia he was a potentato iH-a small way,
so he remained potentate to the ond. 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 II understood,
| We left our country for our country good
Even those lines are remembered better
than their author New York Sun.