Thomas Bevans

341

Maureen Withey on 17th September 2020

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Thomas Bevans, alias Bevan, age 26, Prince Regent I (2) 1824, Tried at Tipperary, 1823, 7 years, DOB 1798, Native place Tipperary, Carpenter. Remarks: Shot at Parramatta by a constable. --------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. BEVANS, Thomas. Per "Prince Regent", 1824. 1824 Jul 21 - On list of convicts landed from the "Prince Regent" and forwarded to Liverpool for distribution (Reel 6013; 4/3512 p.1) -------------------------------------------------- Thomas Bevan was killed by Constable Welsh, 25 January 1829. Another newspaper report states that he "had been sentenced to an iron-gang for 12 months, and has been a runaway for nearly 8 months." The Inquest report was published and resulted in some correspondence on the subject, following a letter to the paper from a Juror, part of which is below. ( More can be found on Trove.) -------------------------------------------------- An inquest was held on Thursday at Parramatta before John Dulhunty, Esq. on the body of Thomas Bevan, who had died in the hospital of a wound received on the Western-road, on Sunday the 25th January. After a minute examination, the Jury retired, and were closeted until eight o'clock, when the Foreman stated it was impossible for the Jury to agree in their verdict; the gentlemen were discharged, and the following morning a fresh Jury was summoned, before whom an examination was entered into, who also retired for some time, when the Foreman informed the Coroner he was confident the Jury would not return a unanimous verdict, upon which the Coroner wrote to his Majesty's Attorney General, to know how he was to act ; the Jury remaining locked up until an answer arrived, when it was asked, " If all the Jury were agreed that the deceased man had been shot by some person." - The Jury agreed as to seven - that the deceased man came by his death by justifiable homicide ; and the other five, that constable Walsh was highly culpable for being too precipitate in shooting the man Bevan, in discharge of his duty a verdict of homicide. The Australian 17 Feb 1829. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36864067?searchTerm=Thomas Bevan Now, Mr. Editor, ere I conclude, I will briefly state the proceedings, of the party who left Parra matta to take the deceased upon information received. There are two Parramatta constables who receive information that there is a man, the name of Bevan, a prisoner illegally at large, in the house of John Dean, jun. on the Western-road, about two miles from Parramatta. The said constables proceed onwards to Dean's, well armed. On their way they call at the government dairy, and request the keeper of the dairy, one Daly, a private soldier, to accompany them. As they were only going a short distance, not accustomed to such visits and requests, Daly arms himself with two pistols. Previous to their approaching Dean's house, it was agreed that constable Welsh should go to the back of the house, and Daly and the other, constable, McManus, should keep the front. As Welsh came up to the house, the deceased was crossing the back yard, making towards the Western-road, and just as Daly was stationed under the verandah, looking out after the person of their search. The deceased Bevan past, within the space of twenty yards, when he, Daly, heard a shout, and using his own words, (in an instant a shot was fired — and stating further, that when he arrived at the spot where the deceased was, that he remarked to Welsh, I am sorry you have shot him, as I could have taken him.) Under such evidence as this, who would justify a life being taken, and no verdict given. Now, Sir, with all these doubts on my mind relative to the death of the unfortunate Bevan, I conclude, trusting that a further enquiry will be made by his Majesty's Attorney General, and that he will cause justice to be meeted out, agreeable to the laws of England, for the satisfaction of the public in general. I am, Mr. Editor, your obedient servant, A JUROR. I beg to submit a few questions, according to what transpired. Should you, Sir, consider them of any service, still I think answers to them very necessary: — Was it not in the knowledge of the constables that the deceased was a hard working, industrious man, and had been to work for gentlemen of high respectability in the Colony, since he had been absent from government ? Was it not the duty of constable Welsh to call upon his assistants previous to his drawing his trigger and taking life? Did not the poor man loose his life through the reward of two pounds offered for taking runaways? Is it legal for a second Jury to be impannelled before the first return their verdict? Does it coincide with English law, for Magistrates and Doctors to sit in banco with the Coroner, and assist him in asking questions? Will it stand justifiable in a case of homicide to bury the corpse until the Jury have returned their verdict? The Australian, 20 Feb 1829.