A MOVING TALE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2830, 20 April 1882, Page 2

A MOVING TALE.

Fato is often cruel. Some terrible scoundrels get off lightly, and better men suffer excessively. The following story is of a prisoner discharged from the Pentridge Stockade who had spent half his life inside the walls of this institution. Over twenty years ago he was charged with murder. The crime, to which he pleaded guilty, occurred in the heat of passion. He stated that ho wont home one evening to the house occupied by himself and his wife, and found a man with whom ho was slightly acquainted, inside. The man was abusing his wife. He was told repeatedly to go out, but refused, and wound up by calling the woman an obscene name. A gun was standing in the corner of the room, and the husband enraged past bearing, seized the weapon and discharged i tat the other. The charge entered his chest killing him instantly. The murderer was arrested immediately afterwards on d charge of wilful murder, tried, convicted, sentenced to bo hanged. On account of tho circumstances of the case this sentence was commuted to im-

prisonmont for life. Twenty years ago the unfortunate, then a young man, was taken inside the walls of the prison, never to leave them again as he thought. However, on account of his good conduct and usefulness whilst in gaol, his case received the attention of tho authorities and ho was discharged. He is now quite gray, but of a healthy appearance and quiet demeanor. He states that when he got into Melbourne again after his long absence he fancied he was in a strange city, and could only with great difficulty find his way to tho Chief Commissioner’s office at tho Treasury to obtain his full disci arge. His feelings may be better imagined than described. His wife had still retained the house and land which he owned formerly, and which has been considerably increased in value, so that he has still a home to go to. During tho whole term of his imprisonment he never had one mark against his name and tho gaol authorities characterise him as the best conducted prisoner they have had there.