THE GAOL-BIRD'S LAMENT

NZ Truth, Issue 1190, 20 September 1928, Page 9

THE GAOL-BIRD'S LAMENT

Crocodile Tears Come Readily To Buckley

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Soutfc Now that he Is once again safely Buckley apparently sees, the error of hi ing shops and breaking safes, he has no TF his expressed intention is genuine, he has decided to break from his old paths of dishonesty and to break new ground along the "straight and narrow," for John Leslie has found that the way of the transgressor is hard; that the criminal can't win; that, m short, the "professional" has Buckley's chance. "I am' heartily sick and tired of.dishonesty," he told Judge Blair m a letter, when he came up at Hamilton, recently, on charges of breaking and entering at Taumarunui, adding that he had resolved, during the period of his .incarceration, to make himself "a more worthy-principled being." During his few weeks of stolen . - freedom f Buckley broke into prerri- .••* ises at Taumarunui and. stole various articles to the value of over £18. -■ ■ ' He : entered the dock at Hamilton wearing a quiet grey suit and pincenez. In pleading guilty to two charges, he handed down a written statement for presentation to the judge. This was couched m the following terms: "To the presiding judge—l have- no excuse to offer for having 1 committed these crimes. I am guilty and realize that I have to be punished. "I have told a series of lies m connection "with these charges, and, until a few days back, intended telling more, but I am glad to be able to say that I thought better of so doing, and, instead, made a clean breast of the whole thing. * "I now only wish to receive my sentence as quickly as possible and so get

'a- Auckland Representative.) m the grip of the law John Leslie is Ways. After breaking gaol, break' ?n> broken out m a fresh place. } the whole affair -off my mind. I am heartily sick and tired of dishonesty. ' "I have several years • of Imprisonment before me and I have resolved that during those years I shall make of myself a more better and more worthy- principled being. "A lady member of the Howard League of Penal Reform has kindly offered to help me In this. I am only sorry that such help was not offered: me a few months back. "I am sincerely sorry for having committed all those crimes which resulted from my escape from: prison, and now await sentence from your honor, knowing full well that I am deserving of no favorable consideration, t beg to remain, "Yours obediently, John Leslie Buckley." Asked, by his honor if he had anything more to say, Buckley remarked that he was sorry to have put the Government to some expense. His honor said there was an obvious case against accused and the country had been put to the expense of holding the case m Hamilton. . It was difficult to know what to do with prisoner, as ■he had a long sentence to serve. The offences, said his honor, were serious, but he proposed to treat him leniently. Sentences of twelve months' imprisonment on each of the two charges were, imposed, the sentences to be concurrent and to commence on the conclusion of the sentences he is at present serving. '