Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Wednesday 6 June 1827, page 2


Police report.

SYDNEY.

The case of Taylor, Dobie, Wilson, Ro-binson, Browne, and Johnson, the prisoners who were concerned with Michael Coogan in the attempted piratical seizure of the schooner Liberty, was disposed of before the Superintendent of Police on Saturday last. Taylor, who, it was understood was to have given evidence against his companions, being brought forward for that purpose, the Acting Attorney General, who appeared to prosecute, observed, that previous to his being sworn, and as some question had been raised with reference to his religious opi-nions, he wished to know whether he be-lieved in the book on which he was about to make oath. Taylor replied, he was not aware of any reason that existed why a doubt should have arisen on the subject, but that he should, notwithstanding, decline taking an oath, or giving any evidence against persons, two of whom he had in-duced to take part in the transaction, and none of whom were more, or perhaps so guilty as himself. He was accordingly placed at the bar with the other prisoners, and the depositions of various witnesses having been read, the Bench, on account of some peculiar circumstances in his case, sen-tenced the prisoner Johnson to a road party for three months, and the other prisoners to the same punishment for the term of six

months.

Samuel Harrison, one of the prisoners on board the Wellington, when she was cap-tured on her passage to Norfolk Island, and who was lately brought up from New Zea-land in the Faith, was brought before the Bench on Saturday last. The depositions of the serjeant and two of the guard, who where on board the Wellington when she was seized, were taken, by which it appeared that the prisoner was lying ill at the time the occurrence took place, and took no part whatever. The witnesses also spoke favour-ably of the prisoner's general conduct during the time he was on board. It appearing also that he was one of those who had been drafted from Port Macquarie, and not sent to Norfolk Island for any new offence, the Acting Attorney General, who was present, expressed his intention to forward the depo-sitions then taken, with a recommendatory letter from himself to His Excellency the

Governor. The prisoner was in the mean time remanded.

John Timbury, assigned servant to Mr. R. Howe, was brought before the Bench to answer to sundry charges preferred against his master. It appeared that the refractory mortal was in the habit lately of beating the horses committed to his charge in a most cruel and barbarous manner, so much so, that he completely lamed one of them. This of course was no way gratifying to his master, who thought fit to reprove the said John for his misdeeds. This did not pro-duce the desired effect, but on the contrary, Jack retorted with a volley of the most awful and blasphemous expressions, threatening at the same time to knock his master down like a bullock, perhaps intending thereby to exhibit his gratitude for £2 which his master gave him a few days before, and for receiving at all times plenty of food, grog, and 5s. weekly. But to let this pass for the present, Mr. Howe ordered one of his female servants, who is about 12 years of age, to tell the aforesaid John to saddle the horse; to this reasonable injunction he re-plied go and ————— This was too much for flesh and blood to put up with, so he was brought before Dr. Dulhunty, who prescribed 3 weeks solitary confinement in a cell, and then the said John, to be returned to

his master.

MONDAY, JUNE 4.— Joseph HEMBLIN was brought forward charged by his master, Mr. G. Marshall, with secreting in his hat, and carrying off the premises, a quantity of meat and bread, after having satisfied the craving of a voracious appetite, until, as a Lancashire yeoman would have expressed himself, he was welly brasten. Joseph could not plead hunger ; it was evidently a taking way he had, and the Bench sentenced him to a week's solitary confinement on bread and water, to make him remember the old saying, "eat enough, but pocket none."

Warren KERR was charged by Mr. Norris,

storekeeper in the Dock-yard, with most outrageously riotous conduct in the street, during Church time on Sunday. The com-plainant stated that this was only one in-stance out of many in which the prisoner had indulged the neighbours with "sere-nades" of this description. Sentenced to be worked in a distant road party.

Ann KERR, the better half of the last named prisoner, was next brought forward on the complaint of the constables,and sun-dry of her neighbours, for being engaged in a riot, of which her visage bore distin-guishing testimony, on the preceding even- ing, and, when " filled with fury," hurling stones at the windows of the adjoining

houses. The constables further deposed, that the defendant kept a notorious disor- derly house, to the annoyance of every peaceable inhabitant in the vicinity. The defendant " wondered how they could say so ; God forgive them ! there was not a more peaceful, quiet, well conducted house in the Colony ; O ! it was a shame for them, so it was." Sentenced to the house of cor-rection for three months.

George HUGHES, a youth, assigned servant to Mr. Tomlins, was brought up charged by his master with insolence and insubordi- nation, and threatening to strike him, on the preceding days. Mr. George Tomlins being sworn, stated, that on the day before (Sunday) the prisoner was directed by his

mistress to take the child out for a walk ; that his manner was extremely insolent, and that, on going out at the door, he seized the child in so rough a manner as to cause it to

scream violently, and on being reprimanded by his mistress, he was so abusive as to induce the complainant to come out from the parlour, when, as he approached, the prisoner put himself in a defensive attitude, and squaring at him, told complainant that

he had better not come near him. The

complainant went in search of a constable, and during his absence, the prisoner ab-sconded from the house, and was afterwards apprehended in the street. The prisoner stated in his defence, that the action for which his mistress had reprimanded him was merely adjusting the child's hat as he

went out ; that she ran to the parlour and informed Mr. Tomlins he had struck the child, in consequence of which, he (Mr. Tomlins) rushed out and dragged him into the kitchen, where, having shut the door, he beat him in a most violent manner. The prisoner further stated, that it was impos-sible he could remain in the service of Mr. Tomlins, whose general treatment of him was of such a nature as he could not bear, and that Mr. Tomlins had previously brought him before Captain Rossi on a similar charge, who, when he heard all the circum-stances, had taken him from his master, and returned him to Government, but that he was afterwards sent back to his master, who remarked that there was a higher power than Captain Rossi's. Dr. Dulhunty enquired of Mr. Tomlins for what cause Captain Rossi had before taken his servant from him, as he was sure that gentleman would not have done so had there not been sufficient reason. Mr. Tomlins replied, that circumstance had nothing to do with the

matter before the Court ; that Captain Rossi had thought proper to return the prisoner into Government employ, but that he made application to the Governor and got him back again. Dr. Dulhunty di-rected the depositions in the former case to be read, by which it appeared that the prisoner was taken from his master for

general ill usage, and want of sufficient maintenance. The prisoner, in continua-tion of his defence, stated that he had to cook, wash, iron, nurse the child, and clean the house, and had nothing whatever, but a bare government ration ; and that he was seldom permitted to go to rest, not to any bed, for he never had one since he had been in the service of Mr Tomlins, before twelve o'clock at night, and that he would suffer any thing rather than go back to him. Under till the circumstances of the case, Dr. Dulhunty thought proper to direct that the prisoner should be returned to Government

employ. An altercation then arose about a certain fur cap that the prisoner then and there had in his hand, and which Mr. Tom- lins had some time before given to him, but which, as part of his own goods and chattels,

he was then resolved to have restored. The

fur cap was at last returned to the place from whence it came, but not so the prisoner's blan-kets, for which Dr. Dulhunty directed a con-

stable to proceed to the residence of Mr. Tom-lins, but which were flatly refused by the lady of the mansion. The manner of Mr. Tomlins, throughout the investigation, was such as to call forth the marked reprehension of the Magistrate.

LIVERPOOL.

MONDAY, MAY 21.—Joseph ASHMORE was charged with stealing fowls from his master's fowl-house. It appears many de-predations had been committed on the hen-roost, and suspicion resting on the prisoner, he was discovered knocking a fowl on the head, and which was afterwards taken out of his pot on the fire, where he had put it to make a nice pot of soup. Sentenced 6 months to an iron-gang.

Charles NAILOR and William CORCORAN, charged with stealing a broad axe and some nails, the property of Government. The articles were found in the place where the prisoners lived; and the prisoner Nailor confesses that he stole the nails from the Government works, where he was employed as carpenter, and that he found the axe. There not appearing any proof against Cor-coran, he is discharged; and Nailor sen-tenced 25 lashes, having hitherto borne a good character.

George HEATH and William LYNCH, pri-soners of the Crown, charged with stealing a box, containing a straw bonnet and other articles, from a cart on the road. Heath voluntarily confesses that he followed the cart, and, having watched an opportunity, seized the box, and ran into the bush with it ; and in consequence of there being only one man with the cart, who could not leave it to follow him, he got off, but being ob-served by some constables running with the box, he was pursued and taken, and the bonnet being sworn to, he was sentenced 12 months to an iron-gang. Lynch was dis-charged.

Robert THROW was brought up, charged

with being found in the town, off his mas-

ter's farm, at unseasonable hours, and was

sentenced to a solitary cell for 24 hours.

TUESDAY, MAY 22.— Wilfred BARNETT again brought up, charged by the Superin-tendent of Liverpool Barracks with being absent two days after the time allowed him with a pass ; sentenced one month close in Barracks--no indulgence.

John MADDEN was charged with drunken-

ness, and disobedience of orders ; which being clearly proved against him, he was

sentenced to receive 25 lashes.

William COLLINS, Government servant to G. T. Palmer, Esq. charged with being

drunk and riotous on the road near Liver-

pool. The prisoner was in charge of his master's dray, in company with his overseer (who by the bye was more drunk of the two) and created such a disturbance that a gentle-man passing along the road was obliged to stop to prevent bloodshed, and gave the pri-soner in charge. Sentenced 25 lashes.

William M'CAN, Government servant to Mr. Dickson of Cooke, charged with riot-ous conduct on the farm, in consequence of a fellow servant having been ordered to work with a favorite pair of bullocks, which the prisoner considered no one had any right to work but himself, as he had always

worked them. 25 lashes.

John NEWLAND charged, by his overseer with leaving his master's farm, and a herd of pigs to stray in the bush unprotected. The prisoner appears not to like work ; he shammed illness for a while to be exempted from work, and as keeping a few pigs was no difficult task, he was set to keep them, but he liked better wandering about the country, and visiting Liverpool, than doing any sort of work. Sentenced fifty lashes and re-

turned.

SATURDAY, MAY 26.— John MAGNARD, Government servant to Mr. William Hutch-inson, Bringelly, who was just on the point of receiving a ticket of leave, charged with stealing turnips from his master's garden. It appears the garden had frequently been robbed of vegetables, and the overseer having seen the prisoner go into the garden late at night, when he was watching, and caught him with the turnips in his possession. What a pity it is after the prisoner had served ten years in this colony for his ticket, for the sake of a few turnips, he should forfeit an indulgence, particularly as he would not be denied vegetables at any time if he only asked for them. Sentenced one month in double irons, and his master's declining his future services, resigned entirely to Govern-

ment.

Michael FINNIGAN, Government servant to William Ikin, brought up on the com-plaint of his master, for overloading his horse with a passenger and his luggage, when the cart was heavily loaded before. This is the second time the prisoner has been guilty of this misconduct, but it appears his master overtook him on the road, and his passion getting the better of him, he dismounted and horse-whipped poor Michael most un-mercifully, and also the passenger on the cart.—In consequence of which beating the prisoner was discharged.

Margaret BENTLY, appeared by summons to answer a complaint preferred against her, for making use of grossly abusive and in-decent language, too shocking to report. She was therefore bound over to keep the peace for six months, to all his Majesty's liege subjects.

Nathaniel FOWLER also appeared by sum-mons, and was bound over for 6 months to keep the peace for throwing (in a fit of passion) his teapot full of hot tea at the head of Mary Niver, his fellow servant, and is besides continually abusing her for being an Irish-

woman.

TUESDAY, MAY 28. — John GOODCHILD, charged with drunken and riotous conduct, was ordered to solitary confinement on bread and water for 6 days.

Daniel SMITH, attached to M'Blane's road party, absent from his gang without leave, in consequence of his being in confine-ment since Saturday, is admonished and dis-charged.

WINDSOR.

SATURDAY, MAY 5.— John SCOTT, of the ship Indian, a prisoner for life, and who has been near 17 years in the Colony, charged that he had absconded from Parramatta sta- tion. This man is to be pitied ; he served some six or eight years with his last master ; how, in the name of reason, can a man be so stupid, as to run from his employment ? His calculations must be founded on a weak

mind; he must now recommence his servi- tude. [A hint to all concerned.] The pri- soner had little to say, he acknowledged his offence, and bore a sorrowful countenance. Ordered to be returned to Parramatta.

Mary Anne KAY v. George KAT. — The complainant and defendant are brother and sister, and the children of the "old Sargeant Kay," a name very deservedly respected: they had had one of those triflng quarrels which every brother experiences during his life, or he is happier than most ; but George had struck her; for shame George ! and she found it necessary to secure her person by an affidavit of the breach of the peace. Ordered to find sureties ; and the treaty was signed.

Daniel GROGAN, had been apprehended when drunk, and had made a hole in the wall of the watch-house to effect his escape. The prisoner was sorry for what happened, and would defray the expense of repairing the watch-house.—Discharged.

Timothy DOYLE was charged with having been drunk and disorderly at Wilberforce.---Fined 5 shillings for the use of the poor.

TUESDAY, MAY 8. — John MEDLICOTT was charged with haviug overstaid a pass, an in- dulgence of holiday, for the term of 7 days. The prisoner expressed contrition, and prayed that the error might be overlooked, " this time." This man is commonly called " Jack the Countryman ;" but to hear him talk, in his cuss, you would imagine he came from near that part of the country, called "Sad-gate-hill." Repentance is sweet in soli-tude—7 days solitary confinement.

George HOBBS was charged with insolence and insubordination ; when quickly spoken to concerning negtect of duty, he replied, "I do not care a d-—n ; I'd work my hours and no longer."—It must be very irksome to a troublesome man to be made care, and must tantalize his spirit; however, such things are necessary. --- Sentenced 50 lashes.

William WHITE was charged on suspicion

of being concerned in stealing his master's pig. This man had made himself officious in

his suggestions, as to which direction the pig might have gone, and subsequently endea- vouring to prepare for another, and well nigh became entangled himself. Take care White lest your name be in the Black Book.

Admonished and cautioned against base in-sinuations; the countenance of the man pro- claimed a lucky discharge.

James DAVIS was charged, that he had

positively refused to go of an errand; a job

in New South Wales done with ease and the

jacket on, but in England in the shirt sleeves, and called "RUN of that errand." An in- centive to sprightliness.—Sentenced 25 lashes, and walk home.

James GREEN was charged that he had been apprehended in a pubic-house disorderly, and having a pack of cards in his possession ; his presence in court reminded him of what

he had seen the day before when "dealing the cards," viz. — the Jack of spades, assisted by the Jack of clubs, brought into the pre- sence of the king of hearts ; what's next ?—the ace of heats—that's lucky—" a good heart." Then came " four tens"—"that's confu-

sion." While the examination was going on, his countenance denoted a game at " crib-

bage." The prisoner was discharged, but the cards were torn.

SATURDAY, MAY 12.—Daniel HANEY, had this day returned from an iron gang, whither he had been sent for the sake of improvement by experience, but so far from reformation,

he was no sooner ordered to go to work, than he immediately declared he wished he was sent away again, and absolutely refused to perform the orders given him. The prisoner says he would rather be in an iron gang. Sentence, 50 lashes, and returned to Govern-ment. It is very probable Mr. Hely can manage him, although a very bad subject.

Thomas BRAY, was charged with insolence and neglect of duty. He had a light job, but would prefer a straight back to stooping for corn stalks. Some of these lazy fellows are in constant agitation about the dripping pan—they would give as much for a sop in

the pan as would Nebuchadnezzar in his day.

The prisoner made a lame excuse, about sore

legs. Sentence, 25 lashes.

Terence BYRNE, was charged that he had

stolen some corn from a neighbour. Byrne had always borne the character of an indus-

trious careful man, and no suspicion fell upon him, but some black fellows traced men from the field to Byrne's house. The "statement" of the black man would not do. Discharged

for want of proof.