“‘The askings,’ said Ellen, ‘were put up at Leeds, and I filled up the three weeks by going to Sheffield and York. At the first-named place I fell in with an old friend of mine, named Charles Peace, who advised me to think twice before I threw myself away as he termed it. I got about £10 or £11 at both places together.’
“After O’Neill’s marriage with Ellen Clarke he was supported almost entirely by his wife’s skill, living, like her father, in a constant state of drunkenness, and only making himself useful now and then by shading off—i.e., screening the operations of his more adroit and acute partner.
“A great extent of country was traversed by this gang on their plundering expeditions, making Manchester the centre of their operations. They organised expeditions to all parts of the kingdom, or, to speak accurately, they started in a spirit of errantry, with no more plan than might be involved in the determination to remain a long time away, and to visit as many places as might hold out a good chance of booty. Now associated, now separated, forming temporary leagues with new comrades, occasionally caught and sentenced to short imprisonments, they roamed the country, ‘working’ the fairs, markets, railway stations, steeple-chases, &c., &c.
“‘About, this time,’ said Richard Clarke, ‘I was fifteen, and my gains were between £9 and £10 a week.
“‘It went in keeping my mother (to whom remittances were made by Post-office orders) and in public-houses.
“‘I was dressed like a gentleman’s son, with a cap, a round jacket, and a turn-down collar.’
“Though young Richard was cautious, ‘I never ran a chance,’ said he, ‘of throwing myself away—i.e., taking more than I wanted, and running unnecessary risks.’
“Sometimes, indeed, he did not look for money because he had enough.
“Ellen Clarke and the youngest boy, Edward, were the boldest and most successful of the family, and the girl as well as the mother was not wanting in a certain kind of family affection.
“We find her starting from Manchester to Gloucester in order, if possible, to obtain a councillor for Richard, who had been put back for trial on the charge of picking pockets.