Patrick Maguire was 30, and he was tired of life. It was the 6th of January 1832, and he was working in the sun with a young Scot, Matthew Gallagher, getting gravel from the pit to repair the roads. It was humid, it was hot, the sun blazed overhead. The only relief might come inContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – I am tired of this life.”
Category Archives: Courts
Murder at Moreton Bay – The Awful Entries in Spicer’s Diary.
Spicer’s Diary is the name given to the Book of Monthly Returns of Prisoners Maintained at Moreton Bay. Peter Spicer was Superintendent of Convicts from 23 August 1826 – 8 May 1839. The diary records the number of prisoners assigned to every form of work in the Colony, from clerical workers to bullock drivers. ThereContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – The Awful Entries in Spicer’s Diary.”
Mug Shots – Poverty and Illness
The first three of today’s mug shots show what can happen when the law interacts with poverty and alcoholism. There was no capacity in the 19th century court or prison system for social workers, or drug and alcohol counsellors. The gaol instead was filled with mentally ill, poor, or addicted prisoners. In 1876, William Kelly,Continue reading “Mug Shots – Poverty and Illness”
Murder at Moreton Bay – Henry Muggleton
“Be Quick” Sometime between 3 and 4 in the morning of 19 February 1830, in the Prisoners’ Barracks at Moreton Bay, a voice whispered, “be quick”. It was a bright moonlit night, nearing dawn. Some of the prisoners were awake, others oblivious. The Barracks were quite full – almost 100 men – and prisoners bunkedContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – Henry Muggleton”
Murder at Moreton Bay – William Johnson
On 11 December 1827 at about 8 am, a prisoner named John Stones was working at the Moreton Bay settlement making bricks, when a fellow convict William Johnson approached him with the startling announcement “Morris Morgan has threatened to knock my brains out many times, and I hit him with an axe.” Morris Morgan wasContinue reading “Murder at Moreton Bay – William Johnson”
Minor Offences – Defendant to Leave Town
After the horrors of neglected children and Industrial Schools, today’s offering is a quick dose of more characters from Queensland newspapers from the 1840s to 1860s. Defendant Promises to Leave Town CENTRAL POLICE COURT. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31. BEFORE the Police Magistrate: DRUNKENNESS.–James Keane, an old man, who described himself as an attorney, was discharged onContinue reading “Minor Offences – Defendant to Leave Town”
Juvenile Justice
The problems of juvenile justice, offending and punishment dominate current affairs stories today. Kids are out of control, people call for harsher penalties and naming of juvenile offenders. I think those calling for a return to the Good Old Days of discipline would be very surprised if they examined that allegedly golden era a littleContinue reading “Juvenile Justice”
Mug Shots – Problems at Sea
In the 19th century, at least until rail freight came into popular use, shipping was the only way to transport large amounts of goods between towns and cities worldwide. Sometimes, onboard discipline was flouted, making for some exceptionally well-travelled new prisoners at Brisbane Gaol. PETER CLASSEN AND JOHN B BENNETT OF THE E.J. SPENCE, 1876Continue reading “Mug Shots – Problems at Sea”
Minor Offences
There are few historical resources as compelling as old newspapers. The contemporary accounts of the criminal courts are by turns hilarious and thought-provoking. Hilarious in accounts of the drunken, bumbling criminals whose court cases provided entertainment to the public gallery. (I’ve been unable to resist quoting a couple of the dafter ones in this post.)Continue reading “Minor Offences”
The First Criminal in Australia (no, really)
The first ever court case in Australia was R -v- Barsby, on 11 February 1788, barely a fortnight after the Colony was founded. A convict named Samuel Barsby was charged with on 06 February personally abusing Benjamin Cook, Drum Major of the detachment, quarreling together “with high words passing between them”, and striking John West,Continue reading “The First Criminal in Australia (no, really)”
Moreton Bay and More 