NED WRIGHT, " THE CONVERTED BURGLAR."

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 657, 5 April 1870, Page 4

NED WRIGHT, " THE CONVERTED BURGLAR."

[EUROPEAN MAIL.] The other day about 220 guests of Ned Wright, " the converted burglar," were treated to soup in the New Out, Lambeth, which was ere while a "penny gaff,'' and which now under the regenerate name of Gcspel H;ill, is used as a sort of chapel and school-room in one, The company assembled was a somewhat remarkable one, as will be understood when it is said that "none but male thieves who had been convicted" were allowed to enter. Invitations to the number of 195 had been issned ; and in addition to these, as at the late Lady Palmerston's parties, there was a rush of unbkJden gueßts who were allowed to remain. In the result the guests of the evening were roughly analysed thus : — There were 188 men and boys who had altogether served in prison 142 years, four months, and two weeks ; and there weie seven men who had between them served 67 years and four months ; or a total of 195 guests who had undergone nearly 210 years of imprisonment. One of them had been convicted no less. than 1G times, and had served seven years ; against another 13 convictions, and 10 years' imprisonment were on record ; and the degree of criminality gradually dwindled down from these extreme cases until at the other end of the scale stood a boy of tender years who had been sent to prison for 14 days for stealing four turnips when he was hungry. It was painful to see such a juvenile already enrolled in the ranks of professional criminals. There was plenty of noise and horseplay in the hall before the visitors entered, bat none, or very little, afterwards. Ned Wright received a round of cheers, mingled with some good-humored chaff, which he put a stop to by telling them, "You're going to have a clinking clump of bread each, and if you make your jaws ache now, they will be no use when you get the tommy (bread)." The bread, on being passed round, was snatched and devoured with the avidity of extreme hunger, but the recepients obeyed orders, and sat patiently in their seats till they were served in their regular turn. Tho hot soup was probably a still greater 'temptation; "• ''The waiters were few, and the basins circulated too slowly for the eager appetites of the guests, but, as a rule, they put" a curb on their impatience, and abstained from making a rush. One burly fellow, who was inclined to be demonstrative, looked thoroughly ashamed whenMrWright,pointing to him, cried, " If or friend in tl.e white jacket were to do that in Wandsworth, they'd know what to do with him eh ?" To which appeal came a general cry of "Three days' bread and water, sir." The supper over, Ned Wright walked on to the platform, and made a forcible address, tending to reformation. After the extraordinary gathering there was the usual gospel meeting, to which many — perhaps half— of the guests were induced to remain, by an intimation that certain benevolent plans for starting men on an honest way of life would be subsequently discussed. Those plans, as explained to us by Mr Wright, were as promising as any that could be devised. A proprietor of barrows, such as are used by costermongers, has 30 of those vehicles which are disengaged. The project of Mr Wright is to find 30 men for those 30 barrows, and to give them each a shilling to begin business. Many a thriving salesman has risen from as small a capital to independence. The speaker certainly carried with him the attention of the audience. Faces that were careless and mocking at first gradually deepened into seriousness, and any attempt at ridicule or noise was immediately suppressed.