Robert Brown

343

Maureen Withey on 24th May 2021

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Robert Brown, age on arrival, 50, Sir Godfrey Webster (2) 1826. Tried Roscommon, 1825, Life, DOB 1776. ---------------------------------------------------- Athlone Dec. 10. - This day, an inquest was held, in this town, before Richard Handcock Esq., Sovereign and a most respectable Jury, on the body of a young man, named John Connor, who was returning from the market, on last Saturday night, when he was stabbed in the street, by one of the watchmen, of which he died yesterday evening. The Jury, after a diligent examination of several witnesses, returned the following verdict: We find, that the said John Connor came by his death, by a wound inflicted by a sharp pointed flat instrument, which entered the left breast and the lungs on the same side, and that the same was committed by Robert Brown, William Lackey, Patrick O Neill, William Galvin and Thomas Goold. Freemans Journal 14 December 1824. ---------------------------------------------------- Peeling Murder in Athlone. We learn from the Athlone Herald, that a young man, named John Connor, was murdered, in that town, on Thursday night, by party of the Corporation Peace Preservers. A Coroner's jury, described as having been “most respectable,” found a verdict against Robert Browne, William Lackey, Patrick O'Neill, William Galvin, and Thomas Goold; but it is not noticed that any of them has been committed to prison. We should suppose that a notification to that effect has been considered superfluous, it is to be presumed, that persons under charge of murder would not be suffered to go at large, after a verdict of a Coroner’s inquest but it it quite certain that a man of the gang was not in custody before the verdict, and that there was no active stir, relative to the business, amongst the natural protectors, until a rumour got into circulation, that a communication was to be sent off to the Catholic Association. We have the most unquestionable authority for stating, that more than at least than one of the alleged murderers is an Orangeman. The suspicion is that all are of the brotherhood. Dublin Morning Register, 14 Dec 1824. --------------------------------------------------- On Wednesday, a trial came before Baron Smith, which excited a very general interest. It was a charge of murder and during the seven hours that the trial lasted, the Court was crowded extremely. The prisoners were the watchmen of Athlone. Browne was the commander of the party. The person killed was John Connor a person of very good character. The Baron’s summing up was listened to with profound attention and a pin might be heard to fall. Some parts seemed to produce a strong sensation. The Jury found O Neil guilty of the murder, and the other four of manslaughter, expressing their opinion that it was an aggravated case. O Neill was immediately called up for judgment and received sentence of death. The Baron then announced to the other four that the rule which he made was, that they should be transported for their lives. Freemans Journal 15 March 1825 ---------------------------------------------------- 1828 Census Index. Robert Brown, Sir G. Webster, Carters Barracks, Sydney. -------------------------------------------------- Convict Index, 1791-1873. Robert Brown, Sir Godfrey Webster, 1826, Recommended Conditional Pardon, 3 Sep 1829. Robert Brown, Sir Godfrey Webster, 1826, Conditional Pardon, 3 Sep 1829. Entry No. 23.