CONNUBIAL FELICITY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 164, 3 July 1876, Page 4

CONNUBIAL FELICITY.

'SEhe-iPall Mali Gazette of April 21 cays *} — If the motives which have induced the inmates of our gaols to commit the acts for which they have forfeited their liberty were truthfully stated, it would /perhaps, be found thai in 'many cases imprisonment has been courted as a means of escape from annoyance,. on the principle, " anything fof-a quiet life." An instance of this is afforded by the case of a laborer named Sands, who was indicted at the Birmingham Quarter Sessions laßt week for stealing one boot, the property of Henry Robinson. I here was no doubt as to the prisoner's guilt, for he was Been to take the boot from the shop door by a shopman in the employ of the prosecutor. As Sands had his full complement of legs and feet, bis object in abstracting one boot iustead of a pair was at first sight shrouded in mystery, but on being taken into custody he explained his conduct with manly candour. He took tbe boot, he said, not with any intention of wearing il, but simply -" to get away from his wife for a month or two k " The jury, although doubtless tbey were touched by tbis confession, felt that the prisoner could not be allowed to escape punishment for tb.9. offence he had committed, and accordingly fouud the unfortunate mah^ not guilty," Sands therefore returns to bis domestic circle, ahd the saverity with which he has been treated will, it is to be hoped, be a lesson to him and others that the prison door will be slammed without pity in the face of any husband who attempts to enter it with no worthier motive than of wanting "to get away from his wife for a month or two."