Charged with stealing one shirt

Four consecutive entries from the "magistrate's book". I found the connection amusing but I am easily amused. Also I found them interesting because of the bits they show about the Hobart Prisoner Barracks (where men slept and ate, and in the case of shoemakers and the like, worked) while bringing up more questions. Of course.

5 May 1843

Richard Herring
"David Clarke"
Under sentence to Maria Island


Charged on the complaint of Constable Westbury? with stealing one striped cotton shirt of the value of two shillings the property of our Sovereign Lady the Queen.

Plea "Not Guilty"

James M'Kay being duly sworn states Yesterday I was called upon to search the Ward where the prisoner belongs to in consequence of the Store adjoining under the Prisoners Ward being robbed I examined the Prisoners berth & found a bag there with the shirt now produced he own the bag but knew nothing of the shirt - There had been a board removed by which he? had gained access to the Store - The Prisoner at first would not own the bag until the Wardsman came & identified it & then he acknowledged to it - The Shirt is a new one & worth 2/-

Charles Williams being duly sworn states I am Storekeeper at the P.B. There are some prisoners confined in a room over the Shirt Store & on going into the Store yesterday morning I found that a Jacket had been removed from its place & on examining further I saw that a board had been removed over head by which the men could get below - I saw some dirt near the place which convinced me that somebody had been there - I have plenty of Shirts of the description of the one now produced I have no doubt that this is one of them A length? of Cloth Linen? had been opened & removed from its place - It was not the Issuing Store where the shirts were taken from - Had the shirt now produced been regularly issued it would have been marked.

Remanded

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