A REMARKABLE CONVICT.

Southland Times, Issue 1330, 1 November 1870, Page 2

A REMARKABLE CONVICT.

.' ■ ♦ ■ TEe Sherborne Journal give 3an account of the life of the convict Roupell, formerly M.P. for Lambeth, who has been at Portland during the past six years: —•" Roupell seems to have looked skywards whenever he had the chauce, and proved himself so different to the majority of prisoners that he was trusted with the position of hospital nurse. Here he was very attentive to the poor wretches who came in. One young convict was very ill, and there was every likelihood of his dying, the doctors having very little hopes. To this young fellow Roupell, as he did to others, gave every instruction, and directed him how to prepare for the great change- But the ex-M.P. was practical in matters of this life, and sat up with him night after night, bestowing such attention upon his fellow-prisoner that eventually the latter recovered. On the sth inst. an inquest was held at the prison on a convict who had died of cancer of the lung, and Roupell was called to give evidence, which he did in such a decorous and manner as "quite won^ the compassion of the coroner and the jury. After the witnesses had retired, and the verdict had been returned, a conversation took place between the governor, the coroner, and the jury. Mr Clifton said that Roupell was worth a thousand of i the others in his position as nurse/ The governor alao went on to tell of the attention bestowed by him on the sick convicts, of his efforts for their temporal and spiritual welfare, and said that his letters to his friends were so full of true religious feeling that they were well worthy of being published. The governor said that if ever a.criminal had. been reformed, it was Roupell; .but, unless a special reprieve were granted he could not be liberated until he had served 21 years at least. The jury also compassionated Roupell. In the opinion of the coroner it would be a credit to any Q-ovemmeht to be merciful in this case, and allow Rioupell to go free; for the convict was really penitent, and had shown himself anxious to do all the good he could, and that not only during his hours of duty, but night after night, as well as day, doing all that one man could do for another. The Governor and the officers, while agreeing that Roupell was a most useful person in the prison, said that he was in delicate health, and this strongly increased the wishes for his release."