The Dark Side of Convict Life – part 26

by Barrie Jones

Chapter XXIII. In this the final chapter, Henry concludes that despite once again falling into a life of crime following his release from Parkhurst Prison, he is determined to reform. Sadly, that was not the case. Records show that his criminal career continued well into the following decades.  

The Dark Side of Convict Life (Being the Account of the Career of Harry Williams, a Merthyr Man). Merthyr Express, 2^nd July 1910, page 11.

Chapter XXIII

This being my last chapter I shall not weary my readers with any further experiences of convict life. Suffice it to say that the entire prison system is very much the same as in the days of long ago. Of course, it will not help us much to discuss theories of punishments. Whether such is retributive, or remedial, whether it is to avenge or whether its end is to curse, but one thing I do know, criminals will be treated in very much the same way. Suffer they must, but the suffering that destroys the self-respect, that weakens the mind and body, and sends the poor wretches out into the world again the wrecks of what they were, is not only needless, but harmful. Criminals should have sufficient food and sleep. They should be treated fairly, and protected against the tyranny of warders and magistrates who are too apt to believe all the official tell them.

Some of my readers who know me personally, know very well how hard I have struggled to live down my past life. I was engaged in honest employment at the Cwm Pit Colliery, and had no thought whatever of drifting again to the bad. I married a good woman, who did her best to make me happy, and I was getting on comfortable until the month of February, 1908, when I was lead away by a person, who asked me to go and work with him on the coal. I thought I should get more wages, so I went, although it was very much against the wish of my wife, who entreated me not to go. I wish I had listened to her, for it is simply marvellous how some women can foretell what is going to happen. I was not long in my new place before I was thrown out of employment, and lured further into trouble, which finally landed me again in prison for 18 months, which caused great grief to the only one that I ever truly loved – and that is my wife, who stuck by my side, and who was true to me from the day of my trial to the day of my release.

On account of this I have sworn that this last shall be the turning point of my life, and I can truly say that I am now a reformed man. After 15 long years of prison life and my reformation is due only to the love and affection of a faithful wife, who was the daughter of the late Mr. Thos. Morris, manager of the Pontycapel. I hope readers will excuse the blundering way in which I have written my narrative, as I have done so that even the illiterate may understand. It can truly be seen and said that the way of the transgressor is hard, for the rising generation. I think that the history of my past life may prove a great help, especially to those who are about to take their first step into crime, and who are ignorant as to the consequences. Sin always brings in its train poverty, ruin, the loss of character, lunacy, and lastly death with the soul unredeemed. If readers are tempted to do anything wrong, I implore them to hesitate, and think twice before they drop their right foot on the wrong path of evil, which is certain, in the end, to bring them to destruction, for once the character is gone there is no reclaiming it, although one may try hard afterwards to live it down. I will now conclude by saying, “When you are tempted to sin, stop and think of the past life of Harry Williams, and that which will surely follow will be the dark side of convict life if you continue in sin.”