Michael Barry

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 16th May 2025

To VDL per Govenor Phillip Proper Name; Barry Height; 5 ft 5 inches, trade; stone cutter aged 40 years old Colonial Trial; Bathurst. Sentence; 15 years. R.C. Offence; Robbery being armed - Ryan on board the same 1856 - Tried at Hobart Town - 8 November 1856. Offence; the murder of Edwards Adams on 18 July 1854. Sentence; to be Hanged and dissected Executed at Hobart Town November 1856. The Courier. Tue 25 Nov 1856. Page 3. EXECUTIONS. EXECUTIONS. CONFESSION OF BARRY. THE two men, Michael Barry alias Maloney, and William Woolford, were duly executed, according to their sentence, within the precincts of the gaol, this morning. The body of Barry was removed imme- diately after the execution for dissection to St. Mary's Hospital. We append the confession of Barry made last night as to the Pontville murder. THE Statement of Michael Bau y now lying under - Sentence of Death in the Gaol, Hobart Town. - I, Michael Barry, about to appear before th Judgment Seat of Almighty God, do declare that I alone, and without thoeknowledge of any other human being, did murder Edward Adams. That the deed was committed between 11 and 12 at noon, 10th July. That Alexander Cowie was subpoenaed by me to prove that Hibbert was not correct in stating that Cowie was in my company on the evening of that day ; that is between daylight and dark. That Cowie had no knowledge, either directly or indirectly, of the death of Edward Adams ; and that upon the word of a man who in a few hours will have to appear before the judgment of God, I have no knowledge where Cowie is; and that he has in nowise been injured by me, even to the plucking one hair from his head. The manner the crime was perpetrated was as follows; -Believing he had some money, the Devil instigated me with the desire of possessing it. Edward Adams came to his work on Monday morning, about nine o'clock, 10th July, and was asked by me as he passed by to come into my hut and have some of the grog, which had been procured by me, at his desire, the previous Saturday, which he did. We both drank freely, and were both affected with the liquor, but he more than me. He lay down on some bags, and was then struck by me with a very heavy stick, and soon died. I then covered him over with the bags until night. My landlord, Mr. Worthy, passed my hut about (as near as I can tell) two o'clock the same afternoon, and must have seen me raking the fires together, but we did not speak. The fires had been burning about a week before, but not for the purpose of destroying the body of Adams, but for the purpose of making ashes for manure. About 4 o'clock Cowie came from his work and passed by me on his way home ; he also saw me putting the fires together, observing " You are making up your fires." "Yes." He then said "James" (meaning Hibbert) " is fetching the last load to day with the bullocks, and I'm going home to cut wood. ' I did not ask him into my hut, nor did he go in. A little before dark I carried out the body and placed it on one of the fires. Before doing so I took from his pocket two sovereigns, one one pound note, and a five shilling piece, which were in one little bag. I took nothing else from bim. The body was not entirely consumed until the evening of the next day. The axe, liltle teakettle, some tea and sugar, tied up in a cotton handkercheif, had been left by Adams outside my door, and the same night were taken by me and put in the place they were found some months after. I call upon Almighty God to bear testimony to the truth of the above, and crave His mercy for the sake of His adorable Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross for sinners. Poverty, arising from drink, and a neglect of my duty to God, caused me to commit this dreadful deed. May my terrible fate be a warning to others. his MICHAEL -}- BARRY. mark Hobart Town Gaol, Monday Evening, the Night before my Execution, Nov. 24,1856. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2506864?searchTerm=Michael%20Barry

342

Maureen Withey on 27th August 2024

Waterford assizes. . —Michael Barry, sheep stealing; Thomas Hanbury, pig stealing; Thomas Fitzgerald, sheep stealing; and James Coghlan, sheep stealing—7 years’ transportation ; ... Waterford Mail, 21 March, 1829.

342

Maureen Withey on 27th August 2024

Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. Michael Barry, age on arrival, 20, per Larkins (2) 1829, Tried at Waterford, 1829, 7 years, for Stealing sheep. DOB, 1809, native place, Waterford. Single. Protestant. Trade, Herdsman.