I can't think of a subject.
Jan. 27th, 2013 07:29 pmHere's an incorrigible character. I happened the other day to look at his records, and they seemed somewhat interesting. I come across a lot of such stuff but usually I'm left wondering what the rest of the story is. For this young man, his life story is given in a few documents.
So, one of the articles I included in the posts about Mrs Cox's coaches was this one:
THE BUSHRANGERS.--These men, since our last detail of their movements, seemed to hesitate at an endeavour to pass into the western country by the Lakes, considering the quantity of wet which had fallen, and retraced their steps to the Lake River, where they committed two petty robberies, and subsequently fell in with a party of ten police from Campbell Town, after dusk on the evening of Friday last. After challenging and firing eight shots upon them, the bushrangers retreated into a scrub, followed by the constabulary, who reserved their fire for closer quarters. But again the fortune of war was in favour of the robbers, who escaped their pursuers (again, however, leaving their plunder behind them,) and were next heard of on the main road near Epping Forest, where they stopped Mrs. Cox's coach, and robbed the passengers, on Monday forenoon. In spite of Mr. Samuel Smith's high opinion of the nerve of the thieves, they exhibited great haste and trepidation on this occasion, joined to a squalid and miserable appearance. Mrs. Cox, who occupied a seat in the coach, rebuked them in severe terms for the wickedness and folly of their career. She showed them, also, that they were more alarmed on the occasion than she was, and with perfect truth, for in their fear and confusion they failed to take her gold watch, and another lady's, with various other portable property within their reach. The coach was detained not more than ten minutes, and on its proceeding took active steps to promote the pursuit of the freebooters, who are evidently closely hunted. We doubt if they will outlast the month at large ; and we really hope, for their own sakes, they will be speedily taken, for whatever the Review's philanthropy may suggest as to the worse-than-death-system of Port Arthur, their present sufferings, as abundantly shown by their appearance, must wholly eclipse the endurance of a penal settlement.
Hobart Town Courier, 7 July 1843
One of the participants in that robbery was later for tried to it. The Courier article is long so I won't include it, but the first few lines are interesting:
TRIAL OF LAWRENCE KAVENAGH.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7.
The prisoner at the bar stood charged with having feloniously and violently put in bodily fear James Hewitt, and from his person taken one watch and seven promissory notes of the value of £1 each.
Plea--Not Guilty.
Kavenagh-I beg pardon, your Honor, as this charge effects my life, I should like to have counsel allowed to me.
His Honour-I do not see anything in your case that you should have counsel assigned to you. A report exists at Port Arthur, that all prisoners of the Crown, charged with capital offences, are assigned counsel, but it is not a matter of right. [His Honor here asked Mr. Macdowell as to the fact. Mr. Macdowell stated merely that prisoners were generally allowed the benefit of counsel.]
His Honor--When a case requires counsel, I never refuse: in this case I can see no necessity that the prisoner should have that indulgence.
The Courier 15 September 1843
( Read more... )
So, one of the articles I included in the posts about Mrs Cox's coaches was this one:
THE BUSHRANGERS.--These men, since our last detail of their movements, seemed to hesitate at an endeavour to pass into the western country by the Lakes, considering the quantity of wet which had fallen, and retraced their steps to the Lake River, where they committed two petty robberies, and subsequently fell in with a party of ten police from Campbell Town, after dusk on the evening of Friday last. After challenging and firing eight shots upon them, the bushrangers retreated into a scrub, followed by the constabulary, who reserved their fire for closer quarters. But again the fortune of war was in favour of the robbers, who escaped their pursuers (again, however, leaving their plunder behind them,) and were next heard of on the main road near Epping Forest, where they stopped Mrs. Cox's coach, and robbed the passengers, on Monday forenoon. In spite of Mr. Samuel Smith's high opinion of the nerve of the thieves, they exhibited great haste and trepidation on this occasion, joined to a squalid and miserable appearance. Mrs. Cox, who occupied a seat in the coach, rebuked them in severe terms for the wickedness and folly of their career. She showed them, also, that they were more alarmed on the occasion than she was, and with perfect truth, for in their fear and confusion they failed to take her gold watch, and another lady's, with various other portable property within their reach. The coach was detained not more than ten minutes, and on its proceeding took active steps to promote the pursuit of the freebooters, who are evidently closely hunted. We doubt if they will outlast the month at large ; and we really hope, for their own sakes, they will be speedily taken, for whatever the Review's philanthropy may suggest as to the worse-than-death-system of Port Arthur, their present sufferings, as abundantly shown by their appearance, must wholly eclipse the endurance of a penal settlement.
Hobart Town Courier, 7 July 1843
One of the participants in that robbery was later for tried to it. The Courier article is long so I won't include it, but the first few lines are interesting:
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7.
The prisoner at the bar stood charged with having feloniously and violently put in bodily fear James Hewitt, and from his person taken one watch and seven promissory notes of the value of £1 each.
Plea--Not Guilty.
Kavenagh-I beg pardon, your Honor, as this charge effects my life, I should like to have counsel allowed to me.
His Honour-I do not see anything in your case that you should have counsel assigned to you. A report exists at Port Arthur, that all prisoners of the Crown, charged with capital offences, are assigned counsel, but it is not a matter of right. [His Honor here asked Mr. Macdowell as to the fact. Mr. Macdowell stated merely that prisoners were generally allowed the benefit of counsel.]
His Honor--When a case requires counsel, I never refuse: in this case I can see no necessity that the prisoner should have that indulgence.
The Courier 15 September 1843
( Read more... )
