Too tired to write anything tonight, so I'll use the editorial from the Hobart Town Gazette, 25 June 1824. I found it while I was looking through some old folders on the computer and it predates Trove (i.e. it's typed up from a printout from microfilm, not copied from a web page). I love his optimism that they'll all soon be caught, and James Crawford is a name rather forgotten now.
Hobart Town Gazette
On Friday last, after our Paper has gone to press, intelligence reached town, that fourteen prisoners had escaped in a boat from our penal Settlement at Macquarie Harbour, and had since committed various depredation's on the other side of the Derwent.
Early on Monday morning they burglariously entered the country residence of W. H. Mason, Esq.; and, after beating him severely, stole many valuable articles, belonging to him and to other Gentlemen, visitors, with which they decamped. On the preceding night, they had also robbed a Mr. Brodie, on the highway, of his watch, and the servant of Lieut. Gunn of some fire-arms. Luckily, however, five of them were soon after taken, thro' the intrepidity of Lieut. Gunn, who on hearing of his loss, immediately left town in pursuit of them; and yesterday, as we have reported in the third page of our Gazette, they, with another, who had since surrendered, were tried, found guilty, and sentenced.
Whilst speaking on this subject, we feel compelled to acknowledge the promptness with which Government sent of a party of soldiers and constables, in chase of these wanderers from offended justice.
Besides the military, whom we stated to be in quest of the absentees above mentioned, we are proud and happy to record, as a proof of very creditable public spirit, that a considerable number of Gentlemen have volunteered their services on the occasion. It therefore may be confidently hoped, that their united exertions will prove effectual, and teach the vicious that this Colony is at length too well inhabited for any banditti to long escape apprehension.
By a Public Notice from the Police Office, we learn that £10 will be paid as a reward for apprehending each of the eight runaways yet at large.
We also are enables to state, that James Crawford, the leader of this lawless gang, is a fellow who had long been decidedly infamous before his banishment to Macquarie Harbour, where however he for a short time behave remarkably well, but merely, as now is evident, to obtain that opportunity which at length has been realized so fatally.
Hobart Town Gazette
On Friday last, after our Paper has gone to press, intelligence reached town, that fourteen prisoners had escaped in a boat from our penal Settlement at Macquarie Harbour, and had since committed various depredation's on the other side of the Derwent.
Early on Monday morning they burglariously entered the country residence of W. H. Mason, Esq.; and, after beating him severely, stole many valuable articles, belonging to him and to other Gentlemen, visitors, with which they decamped. On the preceding night, they had also robbed a Mr. Brodie, on the highway, of his watch, and the servant of Lieut. Gunn of some fire-arms. Luckily, however, five of them were soon after taken, thro' the intrepidity of Lieut. Gunn, who on hearing of his loss, immediately left town in pursuit of them; and yesterday, as we have reported in the third page of our Gazette, they, with another, who had since surrendered, were tried, found guilty, and sentenced.
Whilst speaking on this subject, we feel compelled to acknowledge the promptness with which Government sent of a party of soldiers and constables, in chase of these wanderers from offended justice.
Besides the military, whom we stated to be in quest of the absentees above mentioned, we are proud and happy to record, as a proof of very creditable public spirit, that a considerable number of Gentlemen have volunteered their services on the occasion. It therefore may be confidently hoped, that their united exertions will prove effectual, and teach the vicious that this Colony is at length too well inhabited for any banditti to long escape apprehension.
By a Public Notice from the Police Office, we learn that £10 will be paid as a reward for apprehending each of the eight runaways yet at large.
We also are enables to state, that James Crawford, the leader of this lawless gang, is a fellow who had long been decidedly infamous before his banishment to Macquarie Harbour, where however he for a short time behave remarkably well, but merely, as now is evident, to obtain that opportunity which at length has been realized so fatally.
