Jeremiah Buckley

343

Maureen Withey on 26th October 2022

EXECUTION.—On Monday last Jeremiah Buckley, sentenced to death for a burglary, under circumstances of extreme aggravation, underwent the awful sentence of the law, at the usual place of execution. The unhappy man, from the period of receiving sentence, was sedulously attended by the Reverend Mr. Therry, Roman Catholic clergyman. He seemed to meet his destiny with much fortitude. Upon the eve of the fatal platform dropping the poor criminal into eternity, the Reverend Gentleman addressed the Sheriff, and those around, in the following words ;— "The unfortunate man desires me to say, he acknowledges the justice of his sentence. He was not only concerned in the robbery, but was the leader of it ; and Neil, the other man who was tried with him, is comparatively innocent. He denies offering any violence to the wife of the man who was robbed ; but actually was the person who prevented that violence, and snapped a pistol at the person who attempted it; that person has since suffered for another crime. He again acknowledges the justice of his sentence, and hopes for mercy through the merits of his Redeemer." Sydney Gazette, 7 April 1825.

343

Maureen Withey on 26th October 2022

Colonial Secretary Index. BUCKLEY, Jeremiah. Per "Daphne", 1819 1821 Sep 8 Shell Gang. On list of all persons victualled from H.M. Magazines (Reel 6016; 4/5781 p.81) 1822 Feb 7; 1824 Jul 2 On list of prisoners assigned (Fiche 3290; 4/4570D pp.5, 14) 1824 Jul 3 On return of convicts discharged from the Establishment, Emu Plains; to James [John] Buckley, Prospect (Reel 6028; 2/8283 p.197) 1825 Jan 12-May 28 Convicted of burglary. On return of prisoners convicted and sentenced by the Supreme Court (Fiche 3298; X730 p.5) 1825 Mar 25 Sentenced to death. On return of prisoners tried before the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Fiche 3298; X727 p.7) -------------------------------------------------- Supreme Criminal Court. FRIDAY, MARCH 25 Thomas Madden, Richard Ivory, Jeremiah Buckley and John Neale were indicted for feloniously and burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of James Greenwood, of Canterbury, in March 1824. Matthew Tompkins was indicted as an accessory after the fact. James Greenwood deposed, that his house was violently entered about eleven at night, on a Sunday. Two men one of whom he believed to have been the prisoner Buckley, came to his bed-side, and demanded his money. They took about £18 in cash, besides beating him severely with a pistol and a spade. The others kept guard in an out house, in which his son and a government servant slept. He was dragged towards the fire, and threatened to be placed upon it, if he failed in producing a 50 dollar bill. He did not see the countenance of either of the robbers, though Buckley, from his height and his voice, he recognised immediately he saw and heard him speak at the police office. He also was robbed of a quantity of wearing apparel. Ann Greenwood, wife of the last witness, corroborated her husband's testimony. She swore to the prisoner Buckley and one of the men who ill used her husband, and also identified the various articles produced in Court. Buckley also attempted a violation of her person, which, however, was prevented by one of his associates from without, who on hearing her cries, came to her assistance. John Greenwood (the son), and John Wright, (crown servant) deposed, that they were confined in a hut about 50 yards distant, and that they distinctly heard the cries of James Greenwood. John Dunn, a constable, deposed, that he found the articles sworn to by Mrs Greenwood, in the dwelling of the prisoner Neale, at Liverpool, who once effected his escape from custody, but was afterwards retaken by him. Edward Brown, an approver, was here submitted to the Court as an efficient evidence ; but, in consequence of some objection raised by the prisoner's Counsel to his testimony, which were held valid by the Court, his evidence was not allowed. The prisoners being put on their defence, Buckley called the Superintendent of the Prisoners' Barracks at Parramatta and others, to prove that he was in Barracks on the night of the robbery, but the attempt failed. As there was no evidence that affected either Madden or Tompkins, they were removed from the bar prior to His Honor's summing-up—but Madden was detained on other charges. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty against Buckley and Neale—Remanded. Richard Ivory— Not Guilty. Sydney Gazette, 31 March 1825.

221

D Wong on 30th June 2016

25/3/1825: Convicted of burglary at the home of J Greenwood at Canterbury. Sentenced to death. 4/4/1825: Jeremiah was hanged in Sydney.