A THIEVES’ SUPPER.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1837, 12 January 1880, Page 3

A THIEVES’ SUPPER.

About 200 convicted criminals met at the third annual supper provided for them in the Mission Chapel, Little Wild street, one of the narrow dirty streets in St. Giles’. The number invited was 174 j but long before tho time fixed for the feast, a crowd of uninvited-miserable-looking men surrounded the chapel door, begging lor tickets from every newcomer of respectable appearance. About thirty of these evaded the doorkeeper s and got inside. Mr Wheatley began weeding operations by remarking that soma wore present without, tickets, whereupon he was answered, “I’ll give ’im arf ’o mine, sir.” This offer was disregarded ; but the intruders were not sent empty away. The supper began when fashionable people dine. It consisted of tea, plum cake, cheese, and cold meat, and was served obii fly in two class rooms, but partly in one of the galleries of tho chapel. All the guests were men, many of whom had served long terms of imprisonment. The majority had a subdued, even wretched appearance, hut some adopted a jaunty air, while a few had the hardened look of the true Ishmaelite, familiar with many “ jugs.” After supper a meeting was held in the chapel, Sir E. Du Cane, chairman of the Prison Commission, presiding. The Chairman hoped that he should not meet any of his hearers under less pleasant circumstances. £ A laugh.l Pointing out the mistake made by young criminals in supposing that they will not be caught, and remarking that thieves are obliged to yield tho bulk of their profits to receivers, who run less risk than themselves, he enforced the maxim that honesty is the best policy. He also dwelt on the value of religion as a safeguard from crime. Sir R. Carden, who was loudly cheered, raised a laugh by the observation that some present must know him. The sight before him was, however, must touching and satisfactory. After a description of his own work among criminals, he promised to do with the greatest sleasure anything in his power to help his searers. (Cheers ) —An address having been given by the Rev. Lloyd Jones, chaplain of Newgate, four reclaimed convicts related their experiences. All spoke in a religious tone, and one of them with remarkable taste and refined accents. One, though not twentynine, had spent over eleven years in gaol Colonel Colville gave a suitable address, in tho course of which he stated that during the twenty-four years he whs governor of Coldbath fields Prison 250,000 prisoners were under his charge. Among these were many superior men. As for tho treadmill he knew it well, having had 700 men on it daily for twenty years. He bad known legs and arms broken by it, but never any good done ; and he was not sorry some time ago when that in Ooldbath-fields Prison was burned.