Convict Poet.- [Creech (Leslie, Dorset poet, convicted of burglary in the USA, of Loders Vicarage in Bridport, Dorchester, London & elsewhere, b. 1886, d. c. 1950)] "John Carter." Collection of poems, including: Hard Labour, New York Night, The Eternal Ray (3 versions), Despair in London, Sunset at Dover, London in November, A Fool's Reply, Ballad of the Long Vigil, The Editor's Ode, Myself a Monograph - Oliver Ole O'Brien etc., some signed "John Carter" or initialled J.C., ?autograph manuscripts (in at least two hands, mostly in one hand and almost certainly autograph), most in ink, a few in pencil, numerous crossings out and corrections, together c. 66pp. in 27 poems and one monograph, folds, browned, some manuscript and photocopied notes by James Stevens Cox, most sm. 4to (252 x 196mm.), & some smaller, n.d., [c. 1910s -20s] (2 files).

⁂ An obscure Dorset poet. "For a poet, I am a remarkably interesting individual." - Creech.

Leslie Creech was born in 1886, probably in Wimborne, the son of Herbert Creech, a bank clerk. In 1884, Herbert married Mary Kate Marshallsay and they had two sons, Herbert Ivor (1884-1959) and William Leslie. Later, Herbert suffered from mental health problems and was confined first to Camberwell House Asylum and later, to Herrison Hospital in Charlton Down, Dorset. Leslie was educated at Weymouth College. In 1905 he emigrated to Canada where he did a series of menial jobs in Winnipeg before crossing into the United States and robbing a train station in Minnesota. He was sentenced to ten years in prison and took up writing poetry. After five years, his sentence was commuted by Judge Willis, the same man who had condemned him to imprisonment. He freely admitted that his real name was not John Carter, but refused to say what it really was, almost certainly because of his father's health issues, in which he lied, had died when he was three years old. It is clear from the notes included in this lot that Creech returned to England, where he received a letter from Austin Harrison, editor of The English Review, regretting that John Galsworthy could find no work for him but agreeing to publish his poem Hard Labour. Thomas Hardy was interested and admired his poetry and it is possible he could have made his way as a poet, though as W.H. Davies found, it was extremely hard to earn a living. As well as a gifted poet it is recorded that he was an accomplished piano player. Once back in England Creech seems to have sunk back into obscurity, and the notes, compiled by James Stevens Cox, records that his sister-in-law, Marian Sophy Creech stated that he died in hospital in Kidderminster.

Provenance: James Stevens Cox.