STARTING ANEW

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1930, Page 3

STARTING ANEW

HELPED BY MAN HE SHOT

SYDNEY, February 6

Released after.having spent sixteen years in Parramatta, Gaol on a life sentence, “Praying Dick”—bis real identity lost in the past—set out lor bis native land by a London-bound mail boat this week. On the wharf, waving good-bye to him .stood the man whom he bad shot in 1913 and for whose wounding lie had been sent to gaol.

“Praying Dick’s” departure marked the climax of an unusual series of in eidents which have lasted for five years. Ihi ring that time the victim of “Praying Dick” has been untiring in his efforts to secure for his attacker, who shot him down and left him to die in 1 PIM, release from the hands of the law.

Petty theft—a lady’s handbag—was -esponsible for the sensational shoot ino- -iffray that sent “Proving Dick” t ■ gaol. He had been sleeping in tlm Gvdnoy Domain and was walking to wards the city when be was passed bv a man and two .ladies. Tempted sudden !v be snatched a handbag from one of the girls and was making liis escape w'nm tlm men. tlveir companions, closed mi him. Dick according to the .story he told at the trial, drew his revolver. w'd-Jt bp insisted he had bought for protection while sleeping-out in the Domnin, and fired several shots, one of which struck the other man on the body.

•' e his victim fell unconscious, Dick darted away, but the shots had h°en hoard and a passer-by was close on his hopl«. Thev came.to grips and in desnpvation Dick fired again, also woundin" the second man. The police were hv this time in the vicinity and Dick was trapped.in a lane from which he had no escane. He surrended cuiietl” and " few weeks later was sentenced to life imprisonment. a'h'O man who was «hot, first hovered hotween life and death for three werdv-s before he took a turn for the better, and recovered. His evidence a"ainst. Dick at the trial was the trump card of the Crown case. Dick was sentenced to Parramatta gaol and ho. has been there for sixteen years. ■When lie entered the caol he was oPrhfpen years of age. To-day he is thirty-five, although lie looks nearer fifty.

The reformation of “Praying Dick” ,l: d not come immediately. For a time his soul was embittered, but little by little he became resigned to the monotonous routine of prison life. It was that he yielded to the efforts of prison reformers whose kindlv interest and sympathy soon won Dick over to . a Christian outlook on life. Now he has gone off to England to make a new start. His family have bought a thriving business in a country town and there Dick will work opt his salyation, only made possible '■v t’w> efforts of the very man whom .he tad shot down sixteen years ago, and for the wounding of whom he went to gaol.