HEROIC BURGLAR.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9362, 3 February 1909, Page 7

HEROIC BURGLAR.

GALLANT MAN TAKES GRIME. ' A pathetic illustration of the good and'bad in a man was furnished at the Old Bailey, where in the dock stood George William Owens, a selfconfessed burglar, to receive sentence of 12 months’ hard labour. He was described as a Walthamstow labourer* of 31, and the two burglaries he pleaded guilty to represented fcliefts of jewellery worth £37u. The evidence, however, furnished ■ a wonderful tribute to the man’s great personal courage and selfsacrifice on many occasions. All the same, the taint of dishonesty was in him from a very early age. As a hoy.he was detected in petty theft, and sent to the well-known reformatory ship tho Oornwall. Here Owens distinguished himself by bis good conduct and anxiety to please. He rose to the rank of band sergeant, and one day when another lad fell overboard he saved him at the risk of his own life. The officers of the ship gave a dinner in Owen’s honour, and General Buller was one of the guests on the occasion. When 31 he assisted to save life in the memorable Albion disaster, thereby earning the Royal Humane Society’s ‘medal. The battleship was launched at Blackwell on June 31 st, 1898, by the Duke of York, now' Prince of Wales. Just as the launch took place a mighty backwash of water swept some 200 people off a ; gangway. Thirty-seven deaths were the result, but there were many brave rescues. Owens alone, rescued three people, one a young girl, who, in the true style of romance, afterwards became his wife, 1 - The police evidence showed that >Owens had from the time of leaving Oornwiadlcbeenvunfortunate in retaining constant .employment'. When all else failed he played , the cornet in the. streets. He did not take to dishonest‘ways till the end of last year. r iSe : had quickly, however, become a -most expert burglar, and the police had reason to think he had made* much; money in the nefarious trade. t The Recorder said, while bearing i| had been stated in the prisoner’s favour, having regard : ;tol thb: oifehcos that he had committed, ha must go to prison for a long term. ' ■ ,;, "• ;