William Blackmore

341

Maureen Withey on 21st March 2022

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/163502845?searchTerm=Chapman William Blackmore Link to case of alleged perjury, involving Chapman and Umphelby, for which William Blackmore was dismissed from the police.

341

Maureen Withey on 21st March 2022

Conduct Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-3$init=CON31-1-3p96 2447. William Blackmore. Tried Somerset Ass, 8 Aug 1835, Life. Stated this offence, Housebreaking & stealing £2 in money, prosecutor Josh. Green, once 1 month for cutting a window, once a similar offence, 12 months Single. Surgeon’s Report, Uniformly Good, highly satisfactory. Lots recorded on his record. ----------------------------------------------------- William Blackmore, formerly a constable but dismissed from the police for alleged perjury in the case of Chapman and Umphelby, and since charged with stealing a purse containing money, the property of Mr. D. C. John Thomas, has been fully committed for trial. Colonial Times, 12 Sept 1848. William Blackmore was charged with stealing, on the 23rd August, two promissory notes of the value of £5 each of the Commercial Bank, the property of John Henry Thomas. Mr Knight appeared for the prisoner. The particulars of this case have already appeared in this journal. The prosecutor is a district constable of some considerable standing, and the prisoner, at the time of the alleged robbery was a petty constable in the Hobart Town police. He (the prisoner) it appeared picked up in the public office a purse containing the notes in question, which was afterwards wrapped up in a handkerchief, and concealed in the roof of a shilling at Blackmore's residence in Goulburn street, where it was discovered by the prosecutor Thomas and others, after a careful search. These facts were proved, and it is but due to state, that Mr Knight used every exertion on behalf of the prisoner, by which the trial was very considerably prolonged, technicalities hating been picked up with the utmost facility by the learned counsel. The case for the prosecution being closed, Mr Knight submitted there was no case to go to the jury in as much as the prisoner when he picked up the purse, did not mean either to conceal or retain it. The learned counsel referred to Hawkins's Pleas of the Crown, there this point was clearly laid down, and rested his ease upon this opinion, as the property was not taken feloniously. Mr. Knight also quoted Roscoe on Evidence, bearing out the same opinion, with several other cases in reference to the same point, contending that no finder of the property, unless he knows the owner, is guilty of felony ; but if he knows the owner, then, as we understood the learned gentleman, he is so guilty. If this case was tried at the Old Bailey, it would no doubt have been referred to the opinion of the twelve Judges, and here where the case was so nicely balanced, he hoped that the Bench would not send it to the jury. Mr. Gregson briefly replied, and fully proved that the prisoner, upon the evidence of Mr. D.C. Thorpe, must have known that Mr. Thomas was the owner of the money. The learned gentleman then referred to some cases in "the books" bearing on the subject, and constituting the finding of property under certain circumstances, a perfect felony. The learned Chairman decided that the case should go to the jury, and grounded that decision upon the facts elucidated in reference to the relative position of the parties respectively concerned. Mr. Knight then addressed the jury for the prisoner, and contended at some length that Blackmore was justified in picking up the purse, but not in spending it, which be had not done. The learned Chairman summed up to the jury in his customary careful and minute manner, and reverted to the evidence adduced, remarking on the principal points. One circumstance his Honor placed before the jury in a most prominent light, namely, that no quarrel or disagreement had ever taken place between the police and the prisoner. On the contrary, a very good feeling was proved to have existed and that there was nothing to show that there was any intention to sacrifice the prisoner in any manner by the witnesses examined His Honor begged the jury to take the case into their most serious consideration, and to adjudicate accordingly, leaving the Court to deal With the character of the prisoner, should he be found guilty. Should any doubt exist, of course the prisoner would receive the benefit of that doubt. The jury then retired, and after an absence of a quarter of an hour, returned into Court with a verdict of Guilty. Colonial Times, 6 Oct 1848. ----------------------------------------------------- Marriage Permissions. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON52-1-2p146 2447. Willm. Blackmore, T.L. Elphinstone, and 620, Martha Martin, 3d Cl. Tasmanian. Date sent to Secretary, 3 Oct 1846, approved. Marriage: District of Clarence Plains, 1846. Nov 2 1846, St Matthews Church, Clarence Plains,, William Blackmore, age 27, Constable, and Martha Martin, passholder, age 19, were married by R. B. Grange. Both signed their names. Witnesses were John Segr, and Elizabeth Rice, who both signed X, their mark. ------------------------------------------------------ https://stors.tas.gov.au/POL220-1-3$init=POL220-1-3P333 Departure from Launceston to Melbourne, per the Black Swan, 23 August, 1854. Wm Blackmore, Steerage, per Elphinstone to Colony, Conditional Pardon. -------------------------------------------------- Conditional Pardons again! Five prisoners, severally named Samuel Kay, James Boyle, Richard Callagan, William Blackmore, and Thomas Donohew, were brought up before the Mayor and Mr. Sturt, at the City Police Court, on Friday, the 25th inst., charged by Detective Sergeant Eason with being prisoners of the Crown illegally at large from Van Diemens Land. The men came over to this colony by the Black Swan. The Mayor thus addressed them “You are all prisoners of the Crown illegally at large in this colony. You have produced certificates of conditional pardons from the Government of Van Diemens Land, but you and others know, or must be made to know, that conditional pardons in Victoria are not valid; and that for coming here you are liable to be sent to the roads of the colony for three years. The bench believe that all persons in Van Diemens Land who hold conditional pardons, must be aware of this circumstance. The bench here have only to discharge their duty to their country, by administering the law as they find it; but, on this occasion, we will not sentence you to the full period, but to a term of two years each.” One of the men said he came to this country with the express purpose of sheep-shearing, The Mayor rejoined, if he considered himself aggrieved, his only course was to apply to the Governor of the colony. The Banner (Melbourne) 29 Aug 1854.

341

Maureen Withey on 21st March 2022

Somerset Assizes. William Blackmore, (aged l6) Francis Cox, (aged 19) and Patrick Nugent, (aged 16), were indicted for breaking and entering the house of Joseph Green, at Bedminster, on the 20 July, and stealing therefrom several shirts and other articles, his property; the indictment also charged them with having been previously convicted. On Monday morning, the 20th July, the prosecutor discovered that his house had been broken open, and great many articles taken away; a crow bar was left in the kitchen. Tuesday morning at 7 o’clock the prisoners, who had been before convicted of a joint robbery and only discharged from Bristol Gaol three weeks, were seen going on the Bridgwater road towards that town, and which was in the direction the prosecutor's house. About three hours afterwards they were observed returning with a bundle, and upon being asked what they had there, they said did not know, they they had been to Bridgwater miles off. This bundle contained the articles which had been stolen. For the prisoner Cox, his father and another person were called, who swore that he had slept in his father's house on the night of the robbery. The Jury acquitted Cox, and found the other two prisoners guilty, and they were sentenced transported for life. Bath Chronicle, 13 August 1835. -------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Appropriation Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON27-1-2$init=CON27-1-2P93 2447, William Blackmore, 5ft 1, age 18, Labouring Boy, Tried Somerset, Life, Native place, Bristol, Assigned: To be worked on the Roads.