Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1888-09-29 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SQUANDERING A FORTUNE.  Edward Strickland, a young man of gentlemanly appearance, who gave an address at the Adelphi Hotel, Strand, was placed in the dock at Wandsworth Police Court last Saturday charged with wilfully breaking a plate-glass window at the shop of Mr Arthur F. Lawrence, a chemist, of 125, St. John's-hill, Battersea.—Police-constable Richards deposed that on Friday evening be saw the prisoner go up to the prosecutor's premises and smash the window with his walking stick. Witness asked him for tin explanation, when he said he wished to l-e locked op.—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. He was penniless, and had the prospect of having to walk about the whole night. —Air Curtis-Bennett: Teat 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 ducks and drakes," as the 'raying is, with my money, and I am now without means.—Mr Robert Strickland, prisoner's brother, came forward and said the prisoner had been very reckless and extravagant. He received f.. 3,000 at the death of his aunt, but he squandered the whole oi this amount within a period of three years. His (needs afterwards took him in hand and , sent him to college, where he failed to pass his examinations. Hs became possessed of another legacy amounting to £1,600. which he succeeded in spending in three months. His friends had assisted him in every possible way, but without avail.—Mr Curtis-Bennett said there cause a I time when families could not assist any longer, I and this he could not help thinking was a hope. less case. To many young men £1,600 alone would mean -a brilliant future, hot the prisoner had squandered his money sway in a useless inanner.—The prisoner admitted having behaved foolishly, 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 prison, as it would destioy his last chance of retrieving his position, but Mr Bennett said he was not quite sure of that —By direction of the magistrate the prisoner was put back to enable him to consider bow to deal with the case. Later in the day the prisoner was brought back into Court, when Mr Curtis-Bennett said he was not quite sure whether it would not be the best thing for the prisoner if he sent him to prison without the option of a flue. The breaking of windows to satisfy one's own amusement could not be tolerated for a moment. Sympathy could be felt for a man who was poverty-stricken through faulhi beyond his control, but the prisoner was deserving of no consideration. There was provided in this country accommodation for those who were destitute, and the workhouse was the proper place for the prisoner if he had no means. de ordered him to pay a fine of £5 in addition to :he damage, or in default to be imprisoned for one mouth.—The prisoner was removed to the cells, and as he threatened to commit suicide if the money was not raid, he was clo.--ely watched by the gaoler.  English towns hesitate—and while they hesitate the Algerians at Orleaneville have a central statlon for the public arid private electric light mg of the town.  ATTEMPTED MURDER AT SHEFiTYLD.— At Sheffield on 1 riday week.a scale cutter named Walter Taylor attempted to murder his fatherin-!aw, Charles Dewick. Be stabbed him three times on the head with a la7ite clasp knife, inflicting three serious wounds, from one of which pieces of broken bone have been taken. fa}lor, who was formerly in the army. is a violent fellow, and has frequently ill-treated his wile. A few days ago she left him, and he went 10 Dowick to ascertain her whereabouts. The old an refused to tell him, upon which he made this siurdezous attack noon him.