ROMANCE OF TRANSPORTATION.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 475, 2 May 1867, Page 3

ROMANCE OF TRANSPORTATION.

The Liverpool Courier is answerable for the following:—“ Many stones are told of ‘ the strange eventful histories’ of trausported convicts; the following, amongst the number, may not, perhaps, be without interest as a tale, at least, of a transported boy, and what became of him. Mr. D Carroll, of 68, Gtordon-street, Evevton, is our authority, and he says he will satisfy any serious inquirer on the subject. Some years ago Mr Carroll was a police-oiileer of this town, and one night, while on duty at Vauxhall-road, be detected two youths breaking into a shop at the corner of Cock spur-street. One was a boy named William Atkinson, whose age was about fifteen at the time, and this lad, on examination, proved to have been the son of parents (then dead) of respectable character, but humble in social position. They had died when the boy was very young, and lefi him to the care of an aunt, who was a drunken woman, and consequently the poor boy was neglected, fell into bad company, and step by step descended into the depths of juvenile crime, until arrested a? above stated. Mr Carroll, who is a mar of feeling and discrimination, on examining the boy, was told a tale that not only excited his curiosity but enlisted his sympathies, and finding the lad to bo naturally shrewd and intelligent, he felt an inteivs! about the poor forlorn outcast. The boy was sent for trial before the late Recorder of Liverpool (Mr Henderson), and from (he story told that kind-heareted gentleman by the boy, he likewise took aa interest ir the fate of the unfortunate youth. HiHonor directed Mr Carroll to make inquiry and report to him about the prisoner who. it may be remarked, had pleaded guilty t. the charge of burglary, and now only awaited sentence for the offence. Mr Carroll reported that he had found everythin!! the boy told him to be literally correct, and added that he believed the lad capable n f doing something better, if in proper hands. When called up for sentence before the Recorder the prisoner made n feeling appeal to the Court, begging to bsent out of the country, as ho could do no good here, in consequence of bad company, and the loss of his character. Port of Australia at that timo was a penal settlement, and at the urgent solicitation of the boy, the Recorder sentenced him to seven years’ transportation, at the same time transmitting to the colony with him (not then an unusual circumstance) a brief bis tory of his career. This arrived safely in Australia, where the convicted boy must bo left for some time. His deportation was effected just when the gold discovery was made in Australia, and the lad having served his seven years’ transportation, received a good character and discharge from the individual whom he had so served, and with a very small sum of money ho set off for the ‘diggings.’ What his success there was will be found below. Mr Carroll having left the police force, and set up in trade for himself, in which ho has fortunately been successful, was one day lately walking on the great landing-stage, when a tall, well-dressed, and gentlemanlylooking young man accosted him by his name, and asked if ho knew him. Mr Carroll replied in the negative, when the stranger begged earnestly that ho would | accompany him to a neighbouring hotel, as he had something of considerable importance to communicate to him. They went to the hotel, and then the stranger asked Mr Carroll if he could at al! remember or recognise him. This was repeated sevetal times with the same answer, ‘ No,’ and at last the stranger asked, in a very pointed manner, ‘ Do you remember ever taking up two boys for a burglary in a barber’s shop at the corner of Cook-pur-street and Yauxhall road ? ” Mr Carroll was naturally enough startled, but his newly-found and gentlemanly friend begged that he would not be frightened, as he was one of the boys, and his name was William Atkinson, as has been already slated, and he added that Mr Carroll was more than a father to him. Here he drew from his pocket a well-filled purse, containing se- \ veral hundred sovereigns, saving, “This is I not half what I am worth ; I made it al; j honestly, but I may thank you for it.” He then told his friend that, having got I into a place where there were no bad companions, and having obtained a position, that afforded him food and raiment, hr acted honestly, and served his seven years faithfully, and, on being discharged, went to the goldfields, where he succeeded in making some £2,500, and he had just returned to England to see what it was like. Some days after this interview he called on Mr Carroll, and told him he could do no good here, even with his money ; for already he had been beset by former companions in crime, and in a few days after this Mr Carroll saw him away . on board an Australian emigrant ship, a first-class passenger.”