By Press Release
The Isle of Wight Observer of 15th June, 1861 carried the following two stories from Cowes.
In view of all the escaped urchins and others who might break into your home, it was apparently common to sleep with your valuables under your pillow. These days a life preserver is usually something to keep you afloat in water, but at that time it referred to a length of wood with a ball of lead attached to one end and a strong strap at the other to prevent it being snatched from the hand.
COWES.
Escape and capture of another Parkhurst boy. —On Tuesday afternoon one of the “reformed urchins” escaped from the vigilance of his keepers, but was only permitted to have one night’s cruise in the Island ere he was captured. The escape of one or more of these juveniles has become of such ordinary occurrence, that the public have got accustomed to it. The only depredation they commit is to break into some cottager’s premises in search of food and clothing, wherewith they may be enabled to escape from the Island. Considering the heavy expenses incurred for the maintenance of these children of crime, it may be naturally asked, how is it that greater vigilance is not exacted? Surely they ought to be counted out as well as counted in. The prisoner was captured by a man of the name of Groves, in Gurnard Marsh, early the next morning, and conveyed by him to the police.
Robbery.—On Saturday night, or early on Monday morning, some person or persons entered the house of Mr. Dyer, painter, by means of the parlour window, no doubt in search of cash, of which it would appear there has been a great abundance of unemployed capital lately. In this instance it was presumed that Mr. Dyer had a large amount in his desk belonging to one of the Benefit Clubs, but he had taken the precaution to place it, like most people do at night, under his pillow, with a life preserver in the bed. The thieves were consequently disappointed, and after taking away about pound’s worth of gold leaf in books, made their exit by the shop door.