News extracts: Aug. 8, 1828: Patrick O'Neil's son, travelled from Belfast to London
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Telegraph newspaper, by permission of The British Library:
London Police.
Town Hall, Aug. 8.--Wilkinson, the watch-house keeper of St.
Saviour's, brought in a fine intelligent little fellow, twelve years
of age, whom he said he found stretched at a length upon a bulk in St.
Saviour's church-yard, between twelve and one last night. On
questioning him, he said he came from Coventry, where he had an uncle
living, but, suspecting, from his confusion, he was not telling the
truth, he searched him, and found in his pockets two notes of the
Belfast Bank, one for 20s., the other for 30s., a fire-box and
candles, a new Catholic prayer-book, and 4s. 6d. in silver. He then
confessed having run away from his parents, who lived in Barrack-
street, Belfast, where his father was a master [t]anner, named Patrick
O'Neil, and that previous to leaving he helped himself to the notes
found, besides another for 20s. which he changed on arriving at
Liverpool by the Britannia steam packet, to pay 2s. 6d. for his
passage, and support himself on his journey to London, which he
performed on foot. The prayer-book he also bought with part of the
money, and the 4s. 6d. was the residue.
"And what induced you to do all this?" said the Magistrate. "Had
your parents treated you unkindly?"
"Oh, no! indeed no!" answered the boy, sobbing, "they loved me
dearly."
Magistrate--"Then why were you so wicked as to leave them?" The
Boy--"I heard so many fine things said of London, I couldn't help
coming to see it."
The Magistrate sent him to the Borough Compter, to be kept in the
Governor's house till his father could be made acquainted with his
situation, to whom the clerk was directed to write immediately.
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