Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1888-09-29 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

SQUANDERING A FORTUNE.  -- Edward Strickland, a young man of gentlemanly appearance, who gave an address at the Adelphi Rotel, Strand, was placed in the dock at Wadsworth Police-court on Saturday, charged with wilfully breaking a plate-glass window at the shop of Mr. Arthur F. Lawrence, a chemist, of 125, St. John'shill, Battersea.—Police-constable Richards deposed that on Friday evening he saw the prisoner go up lathe prosecutor's promises, and smash the window with his walking stick. Witness asked him for an aplenation, when he sell Lie wished to be looked up—Mr. Lawrence, in answer to the magistrate, said he had no previous knowledge of the prisoner, who, in reply to the charge, stated that he felt !desperate. lie was penniless, and had the prospect of having a walk about the whole night—Mr. Curtis. Bennett : That was no reason why you should break people's windows.—The Prisoner: Seeing the constable at the corner, I was seized with a sudden impulse, and broke the window in order to get a lodging for the night. I have played "docks and drakes," as the saying is, with my money, and I am now without means.—Mr. Robert Strickland, the brother, came forward, and said the prisoner , had been very reckless and extravagant. He received £3,1100 at the death of his aunt, but he 1 squanaered the whole of this amount within a periodof three years. His friends afterwards took him in hand and sent him to college, where he failed to! pees his examination. He became possessed of 1 another legacy amounting to £1,600 which he I succeeded in spending in three months. His 1 frieuda had ablated him in every noesible way, but! without avail.—Mr. Curtis-Bennett said there came a tiros when families could not assist any longer. and this, he could not help thinking, was a hopeless caee. To many young men £1,600 alone would mean a brilliant future, but the prisoner had squandered hie money away in a useless manner.— The pilaw admitted having behaved foslishly, and Mr. Curtis-Bennett pointed out to him that he was liable to be imprisoned for three months.—The prisoner asked the magistrate not to send him to pri.on, as it would destroy his last chance of retrieving his position, but Mr. Bennett mead he was not quite sure ef that—By direction of the magistrate the prisoner was put bark to enable him to consider bow to deal with the case. Later in the day the prisoner was brought back to court, when Mr. Curtis-Bennett said he was not quite re whether it would not be the best thing for the prisoner if he Bent him to prison without the option of a fine. The breaking of windows to satisfy one's own amusement amid not be tolerated for a moment. Sympathy could be felt for a man who was poverty-stricken through faults beyond his control, but the prisoner was deserving of 1201 consideration. There wee provided in this country , accommodation for those who were destitute, and the workhouse was the proper plane for the prisoner if he had no means. He ordered him to pay a One of £5, ill addition to the damage, or in default to be imprisoned for one month.—The prisoner was removed to the cello, and, as he threatened to oommit suicide if the money was not paid, he was closely watched by the gaoler.