James Wright, the Horton burglar, was convicted on Tuesday, and
sentenced to penal servitude for life. The peculiarity of his case, upon which we have commented elsewhere, is that Wright, like Peace, was a convict who had made up his mind that for a burglar the chance of getting off by shooting his captors was equal to the chance of being hanged if caught. He, accordingly, when Constable Garner attempted to arrest him, shot him with a revolver. He also shot Constable Snell, though for this be was not tried. He was at last secured, and on Tuesday admitted his guilt in Court, only contending that he had not wished. to kill anybody, but simply to preserve his liberty. He could not endure penal servitude, and as to obtain- iug an honest living, that was prevented by the "cursed supervision" of the constables. If be were sentenced for a long period "he would not endure it,"—a sentence which might point to suicide ; but which the police understand to imply that he will kill a warder and be hanged for it. It is quite possible that Wright's grievance against the warders has a foundation. Be is exactly the kind of resolute ruffian, utterly careless of life, whom prison warders almost inevitably are tempted to oppress. They are only ordi- nary men, and are naturally harsh with those who, as they believe, are threatening their lives.
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