Thomas Black

218

Dianne Jones on 18th February 2022

FOOTNOTE -- BEFORE HIS TRANSPORTATION: Saturday 3 May, 1856: From the Paisley Herald and Renfrewshire Advertiser, p3: DARING ATTEMPT OF CONVICTED CRIMINALS TO ESCAPE FROM THE SOUTH PRISON, GLASGOW. A disturbance, which was fortunately checked in time to prevent any serious casualty taking place, occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the South Prison, Glasgow. It appears that, at about half-past three o’clock, Nicol McIntyre, who has been a turnkey for upwards of seventeen years was proceeding to lock up a convicted prisoner, along with a number of others sentenced at Tuesday’s Court, and had just opened the cell door, when the prisoners, to the number seven or eight, rushed out, and overpowering him dragged him into the cell, and locked the door. They then rushed into the southern court or square, and meeting in their progress another of the turnkeys, named Samuel McLauchlan, they surrounded him, wrenched a large from his hand, and would, undoubtedly, have beaten his skull, had he not, by a desperate effort, succeeded in getting hold of the key. Meantime, one of the female turnkeys, attracted by the noise, at once gave the alarm at once gave the alarm. Seeing that they wore discovered, prisoners made for the northern court or square, but finding no way of escape, they armed themselves. One of them, a determined little scoundrel, named McMillan about nineteen years of age, got hold of a poker, and brandishing it round his head, threatened to murder the first man that dared to lay hands upon him. Another armed himself with an iron gas bracket, another with the staff of a broom, the remainder with coals, pieces of bricks, etc. Getting behind an iron gate at the end of a close, which communicated with the northern and southern courts or squares, they swore they would hold it like true Britons against the attack of all the Russians (meaning the police) in the city. A brigade of police was gradually collected; while a portion of them were standing in the close above referred to, waiting impatiently on a superior officer to take the lead, the prisoners threw at them pieces of brick, coal, and every available stone they could lay hands upon. After a delay of a few minutes, the gate was thrown open by one of those who were armed, all of whom struck out and inflicted some severe bruises on the constables. The leaders in this daring revolt were James McMillan, a returned convict, sentenced to 21 years’ transportation, before Lord Deas; Charles Edwards, also returned convict, and who was only seventeen days home when he robbed an old man, named Millar, of a silver watch, for doing which he was, before Lord Cowan on Tuesday, sentenced to 21 years’ transportation; THOMAS BLACK [my emphasis], also a returned convict, and John Duncan, both of whom were sentenced to transportation, the former to 21 and the latter to 15 years, for breaking into a tobacconist’s shop in Canon Street. It is only just to some of the convicted to say that they refused to take part in the disturbance. McLauchlan, the turnkey, had his head cut severely in several places, but his wounds are not of a serious nature, neither are any of the wounds inflicted on the police. As for the other turnkey, McIntyre, we have been informed that, previous to dragging him into the cell they knocked him down, jumped upon, and, besides kicking and otherwise maltreating him, broke one of his fingers. Had the attempted escape not been observed in time, to prevent the opening the cell doors to the other prisoners, which they would have done had they gained possession of McLauchlan the turnkey’s key, a wholesale escape would have been would have been attempted. Even if they had not succeeded in making their escape from the square, had they got possession of weapons of any kind they would most assuredly have murdered any one that came within their reach. In future, and till the prison has been in some way repaired, it would be well for two turnkeys to go together when the prisoners are being locked up. Had this been the case on Tuesday, the criminals would scarcely have dared attempt to escape…” (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/)

218

Dianne Jones on 30th November 2021

From his Fremantle jail record: BLACK, Thomas; #4581, arrived 1 Jan 1858 per Nile Date of Birth: 1832 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Striker Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Glasgow, Lanark, England Crime: House breaking Sentence Period: 21 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket of Leave Date: 29 Jan 1861 Conditional Pardon Date: 12 Jun 1865 --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 30th November 2021

OCCUPATION: Listed in court documents as a hammerman -- which refers to a Smith or Forgeman (a person who hammers metal), according to the Dictionary of Old Occupations (https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/).

218

Dianne Jones on 30th November 2021

CRIME: 1856: National Records of Scotland -- Reference AD14/56/92 Precognition against Thomas Black, John Duncan for the crime of theft by housebreaking and previous conviction Accused Thomas Black, alias McIlwraith, Age: 22, hammerman, Address: Gibson Street, Glasgow, Origin: Native of Glasgow. Accused: John Duncan, alias Black, Age: 22, joiner, Address: High Street, Glasgow, Origin: Native of Glasgow. --0-- 29 April, 1856: National Records of Scotland -- Reference JC26/1856/150 Trial papers relating to Thomas Black, John Duncan for the crime of theft by housebreaking and previous conviction. Tried at High Court, Glasgow Accused: Thomas Black, alias McIlwraith, Verdict: Guilty, Verdict Comments: Guilty in terms of own confession, Sentence: Transportation - 21 years Previous convictions: theft. Accused: John Duncan, alias Black, Verdict: Guilty, Verdict Comments: Guilty in terms of own confession, Sentence: Transportation - 15 years Previous convictions: theft. Note: Pannel pleaded guilty as libelled, with the exception of the previous convictions dated 1 April 1850 and 22 April 1851, which he claimed did not apply to him. The jury found the conviction dated 22 April 1851 not proven.