WASTED FORTUNE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 32, 1 November 1907, Page 8

WASTED FORTUNE.

YOUNG MAN GETS RID OF £22,000 IN . ELEVEN MONTHS.

A remarkable storj; of a wasted life and a squandered fortune lies behind the plain record that John Riley, 34, a steward' was sontenced to fifteen months' hard labour at the (Jlerkenwell sessions, for stealing two watches. ■:■.■■'•,.,:•,- .-.■,.• . • . i One afternoon recently he visited a pawnbroker's shop under-the protenco that he was connected with a club; .and desired to make a presentation. \ AVhilo the assistant turned his back the prisoner snatched' up-tho watches and ran off, but was caught.. > ~ It was proved that the following convictions were recorded against the prisoner:—1898, fraud, bound over; 1899, larceny , , one month; 1899, larceny, two months; 1901, Lowes;as-',' sizes, five months; 1901; Old Bailey, forgory, 18 months. ■ ' ■ '" .

Detective-Sergeant Buxton said on March 19 last the prisoner was also bound over for stealing a coat. The prisoner was well connecced, 'and at the ago of 21 ho inherited a; fortune of £27,000. Ho was robbed! of £11,000 by AVcst-end sharpers and tho rest he squandered. His people made him' a small allowance, just sufficient to keep him going, and he had' recently worked as a' ship's steward. The'witness believed his friends were still, willing to do their uttermost', but the prisoner seemed to'drift again into crime. His father died when he was aged only thirteen. ' ■■,■'■

Leavnng Sandhurst when 21, he commenced a life of enjoyment;-which soon got hinvin tho hands of money-lenders. Cards;and wine were his curso. He confessed that he lost £150 in one night at cards at the old Pelican utib in Denman Street. In n fow weeks he had borrowed £7000 on his expectations, and all.went over tho card table as before.

His creditors began to tighton on him, and lie sold one reversion of £11,830 to pay them. Just after he came of age he lost £3000 in one clay. Ho tried to recover it by playing dice, and lost the last £1000 in tho evening. He woke up the next morning to find his friends gone and himself penniless. With 'a little privation he managed to scrape along until he could sell a reversion" of £9000, which was • duo to him on his mother's death. Then he went racing, and was again tho gilded pigeon to the keen gang of pickers. After ono race meeting he lost £2800 in a night at a West-end fiat. When cards palled, he was induced to buy racehorses. There was a glorious flash or two of success for a time. Then camo tiio inevitable smash, and, in Itiley's own words: — ■ • ■ "1 somehow found myself absolutely stranded —I had squandered and been swindled out of £22,000 in 11 months." Kiley swelled the miserable Embanlcmont night crowds for weeks until he was fortunato onough to get shipped to South Africa. He worked in Johannesburg as a billiard-marker. Then he went out to the States, and tried his host in New York. San Francisco, arid riiiladolphia. Having never boon taught a trade, however, ho found it almost impossible to got a living. His health brolen down, and he worked his way back to England to live as best ho could.