[Editor: These news items are extracts from the “Local” (general news) section published in the Hobart Town Advertiser (Hobart Town, Tas.), 1 March 1853.]
Local.
Dalton & Kelty. — These men have been fully committed to take their trial at the next Launceston Sittings for the murder of Constable Buckmaster.
An unwilling prosecutor. — A man of the name of James Shannon is in custody for assaulting, with intent to rob, a returned gold-digger, (a shoemaker by trade) of the name of James Jordan, a few nights ago.
Yesterday the accused, a free man, was brought before the police magistrate, when the evidence of the prosecutor, was given to the effect that on the night in question he was in Melville-street, when the prisoner came up to him suddenly, asked if he was a constable, to which he replied in the negative, and at the same moment said, “I must have your money,” giving him a violent blow under the ear.
Prosecutor said he must be a better man than him to get his money, and he returned the blow, calling for constables, who immediately came up. At the time he had £11 in money in his pocket.
Mr. Wynne, who appeared for the accused, put a few questions, with the view to show that he was excited about his wife, for whom he was enquiring, but elicited nothing to that effect.
Prosecutor told the magistrate he did not wish to prosecute in the case, as was going from the colony in a few days. Mr. Wilmot said the public interests must be studied; here was a serious offence, and if it turned out that there was a prima facie case, he must send it to a jury. Jordan still pressed his request that Mr. Wilmot would be kind enough to discharge him, as it was doubtful whether the prisoner meant to rob him. This, his worship refused at present, and remanded him till to-morrow (this day,) for the production of further evidence.
A dangerous character. — On Saturday night, a passholder named Barton, in the service of Mr. Reeves, at the tannery, Cascades-road, made his way from the premises, after they had been locked up for the night, and was discovered prowling about in the locality, as late as half-past twelve the next evening.
On the constable attempting to take him, he resisted violently, knocked in his hat, and tore his police coat to the damage of 8s. Being eventually secured by the Constable (Perrin) the prisoner was brought before the police magistrate on Monday, and received sentence of six months’ hard labour, after which, to be hired away from town as a dangerous character, Mr. Reeves by no means wishing him back in his service.
The bushrangers still at large. — The men Hickson and Poulston have again been heard of, but we regret to say, are still at large, notwithstanding the ingenious exertions of the various members of the Detective Police, assisted by Chief District Constable Brown, and District Simpson, Serjeant Vickers, and others; and although as yet, no reward has been offered for their capture. Hickson is said to be a daring fellow, and up to every move, and nothing but the utmost vigilance, combined with discretion, will ensure his apprehension.
House rent. — The lease of Mrs. Poynter’s house, in Macquarie-street (unexpired term 13½ years) at £45 per annum, was yesterday sold by Messrs. Hay and Ivey, and realised £450.
Man killed. —Yesterday morning one of Mrs. Mill’s grooms was accidentally killed by the New Norfolk coach running over him near the “Harvest Home,” New Town, while he was in the act of putting one of the traces to rights. An inquest will be held on the body.
Miraculous escape, and intrepid conduct of a seaman. — On Saturday morning a little boy who was engaged in fishing at one of the jetties at the New Wharf, fell into deep water, and would have inevitably met a watery grave, had not a seaman belonging to the “Southern Cross,” lying in the vicinity, instantly jumped overboard and rescued him from the water. Parents are cautioned against allowing their children to fish at all at such a dangerous place.
Source:
Hobart Town Advertiser (Hobart Town, Tas.), 1 March 1853, p. 2
Editor’s notes:
For the purposes of distinguishing the news items from each other, line breaks have been inserted, and the item headings have been made bold.
passholder = (in the context of convicts in early Australia) a convict granted a limited amount of freedom by the authorities, by being issued a pass; a convict with a pass enabling him or her to be hired for work by an employer (having such a document gave convicts limited freedom of movement); the holder of a pass
See: 1) Helen Menard (editor), “Probation System”, Female Convicts Research Centre
2) “Glossary”, Female Convicts Research Centre [see entries: “Class System”, “Probation System”, “Probation Pass-holder”]
3) Deborah Oxley (and others), “VDL Convict Labour Contracts 1848-1857”, Digital Panopticon
prima facie = Latin for “at first face”, referring to something that it is obvious “at first sight”, or to facts that bear out an argument “on the face of it” (in legal terms, it denotes evidence that would be sufficient to prove a particular proposition or accusation, unless rebutted)
realised = an amount of money obtained, or a price reached, when selling something; to make a certain amount of money; to convert goods, property, assets, or items into cash or money (e.g. the sale of his property realised one million dollars)
s. = a reference to a shilling, or shillings; the “s” was an abbreviation of “solidi”, e.g. as used in “L.S.D.” or “£sd” (pounds, shillings, and pence), which refers to coins used by the Romans, as per the Latin words “librae” (or “libra”), “solidi” (singular “solidus”), and “denarii” (singular “denarius”)
Serjeant = an archaic spelling of “sergeant” (plural: serjeants, i.e. sergeants)
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
Leave a Reply