"ALMOST A MIRACLE"

Shannon News, 12 January 1926, Page 4

"ALMOST A MIRACLE"

TBIBUTJhJ TO J^IS:-CONVICH , . A MAN WHO MADE GOOD. SPLENDID WAR RECORD. "I am not going to mar the career of a man who has accomplished what you have, for it is almost a miracle." So said the Recorder of London when he had before him, at the Old Bailey recently, an ex-convict who, after serving throughout the war with every credit, had made a determined and successful effort to live an honest life. Waiter Meredith, aged 46, who is known at Hoxton," as "The King o\ the Costers" was in the dock on a charge of bigamy. The Recorder described the case as a technical offence and Meredith told that he was free to go, x left the dock deeply moved, and with tears streaming down his face. In passing a formal sentence of two days' imprisonment, the Recorder said the case was a strange one. "You served in France with an excellent record," he said to Meredith, "and, out of the money you earned while in the tobacco trade and your pension, you started a reputable career. I have before me the creditable and laudible spectacle of a man who, having been in all sorts of trouble in his earlier years picked up the pieces of his life and became trusted by people and worthy of their credit. I am perfectly convinced that you were a good husband to this woman." , It was stated during the hearing of the case that years ago Meredith was an inveterate 'thief, and paid for his crimes in long terms of imprisonment including three or four periods of penal servitude. When war broke out he had just left prison, but he at once joined the army and served with credit throughout : the hostilities. He received a pension, and from the time he left the army kept his resolution to go straight; at all costs. Obtaining work with a firm of tobacco manufacturers, he was paid good wages, and saved his money to such good purpose that when discharged owing to bad trade he' was able to set up in business, as well as buy a house. ' Meredith married his real wife in 1900, while living a life of crime and the following l day was sentenced to four; years' penal servitude. On his release he discovered that his wife had gone to Gateshead, where she is said to be still living with another man. From 1896 to 1913 he only remained out of gaol for three years. Then the war came, and when on leave in 1918, Meredith met Charlotte Jane Steadman, then a girl of 18, and after a few daya' acquaintance married her. The union, however, turned out very unhappily for him, and soon after he returned to civilian life he obtained a separation order. Meredith, who had a stall in Hox- \ ton at the time, sought the aid of the i police to find hia real wife. After a j good deal of difficulty they traced her at Gateshead; but they also discovered that Meredith had been guilty of bigamy. Meredith now called witnesses to prove that the woman Steadman knew that he was married at the time shs went through the ceremony with him but this she emphatically denied. He attributed his trouble with her to the fact that he supplied her with so much money that she began to associate with Undesirable characters and drank to excess.