A VETERAN CRIMINAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1261, 4 November 1884, Page 3

A VETERAN CRIMINAL.

Richard Hughes, an old man aged 77, who appeared at the Melbourne City Police Court the other day (states the World) on a charge of larceny, has a long criminal record. He admits that out of the 57 years he has bean in the colonies he has been 54 years in prison. He was originally sent out in the year 1837 from England to Port Arthur, under sentence of transportation for seven years for picking a woman's pocket in the County of Westmoreland. He had previously, when only 19 years of age, committed a similar offence in Hampshire, for which he served twelve months in Lancaster. He came over to this colony from “ Van Dieman’a Land,” attracted hither doubtless by the gold discoveries, and soon resumed his old courses, dishonesty having become, as it were, second nature. Sergeant Mawhinny informed the Bench that he had known the fellow for 20 years, and during that time he had only been about 12 months out of gaol. The charge now preferred against him was of stealing a chest of tea belonging to Huddart and Co., from off the steamer Alert. The old rogue pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.