William Burnsides

221

D Wong on 16th January 2020

20/3/1857 Morning Chronicle London, England: DARING BURGLARY.__ On Friday morning, at an early hour, the dwelling-house of Mr. White, a farmer residing at Hamsterley, in the county of Durham, was entered by a a man armed with a "hay spade," who proceeded to ransack the house. Mr. White was not at home and the only inmates were some women. The servant girl, hearing a noise in the house, gave the alarm, when the man at once struck her with a gun, of which he had possessed himself in the house. The blows inflicted were of a sever character, the girl's head being much beaten and cut. The article continues and is quite lenghty...... On Monday morning Mr. Superintendent Robson, of Darlington, accompanied by Serjeant Lynn and Police-constable Young, proceeded along the Auckland-road, and when they reached a retired place about three miles from Darlington the force divided, Sergeant Lynn taking the inside of the fields on the right side of the road, and Police-constable Young the left, the superintendent going along the road in his dogcart. As soon as Lynn had got over the hedge he observed a man lying amoung the bushes, and at once called out 'Hold!" to the other officers. The man then sprang up, deliberately presented the gun and fired at Lynn, luckily without hitting him. The contents of the gun passed between Lynn's arm and his body. The man then attempted to fire the second barrel, and had actually got it half-cocked when Lynn courageously sprang at him and seized him by the throat, both going down together. The other officers went at once to Lynn's assistance, and the man was secured. His name is William Alderson, alias Burnsides, alias Goldsbrough, and he is only 25 years of age. He has been convicted twice before__once for housebreaking. In addition to a double-barrelled gun, he had in his possession a loaded pistol at full cock. He was brought before the bench here to-day (Tuesday) and remanded. 13/11/1857 Durham Chronicle Durham Chronicle Durham, England: William Alderson, alias Burnsides, alias Goldsborough, sentenced to fourteen years’ penal servitude. William Burnsides was listed as 25 years old when tried at Durham in 1857 for 'Shooting with intent'. Fremantle Prison database lists him as being born in 1837. William was single, 5'9" tall, light brown hair, hazel eyes, long face, sallow complexion, middling stout, first and second finger left hand crooked, literate. 14/3/1863: TOL 9/2/1867 The Herald, Fremantle, WA: ON the 7th inst:., Sergeant Regain and Constable Fee proceeded to Woodmans point, where they captured William Burnsides, who had escaped for the second time on the 2nd ult., having previously two years ago been one, of the ten who made there escape from the chain gang. 8/2/1870 The Express, Fremantle, WA: POLICE COURT, FREMANTLE. Before J. G. Slade, Eta., JR.AF. Feb. 7.1870. William Eason alias Kangaroo Jack and William Burnside, charged with feloniously, stealing, taking, and carrying away, on the 1st inst., an iron-bucket, and with receiving the same knowing it to be stolen. Sergeant Began was not prepared with the evidence, and asked for a remand. Remanded accordingly for five days. 19/3/1870: Acquitted of stealing wood. 4/10/1871: CP. Comments: Labourer, cart driver, wood cutter. Reconvicted in Western Australia. 5/1/1872 Perth Gazette, WA: Wm. Burnside, charged with stealing a horse, the property of J. W. Hardey, pleaded Guilty. Sentence—10 years' penal servitude. 27/10/1877: Named as a bushranger along with John Saunders who had been committing robberies under arms. 4/1/1879: Charged with housebreaking at Perth, along with John Saunders - Sentenced to 14 years' penal servitude and Saunders to 5 years'. 19/10/1885 The West Australian, Perth: William 'Alderson" stowed away in a box for eight days on the steamer "South Australian" and when he arrived at Port Adelaide, SA., he was taken to the Port Police Station. 24/11/1885: Was taken back to WA per 'Franklin'. 24/11/1885 The West Australian: The Stowaway's Case. William Burnside, ticket-of-leave man, was charged with breaking the conditions of his ticket, by absconding from the colony. The prisoner is a man apparently about fifty years of age, rather slightly built, and above the average height. He had a haggard and somewhat dejected look. No evidence in the case was taken, the prisoner admitting the offence. In reply to the Magistrate, the prisoner said he was sent out from England on a 14 years' sentence, and though that term expired in 1871, he had not received his certificate of freedom from that sentence. The Magistrate : But you have had other sentences in this colony and the last has not expired. You have been guilty of a very grave offence ; but I do not intend to inflict such a punishment as will deprive you of all hope. If you behave yourself under this sentence, the authorities will take the fact into consideration. I must inflict the punishment upon you that you be imprisoned with hard labour in irons for a term of one year. 20/2/1895: Charged with breaking and entering in the Guildford area of WA. 5/7/1895 Coolgardie Miner, WA: PERTH CRIMINAL SESSIONS. The Criminal Sessions commenced yesterday. An old man named William Burnside was found guilty of the attempted murder of Jacob Hawter, at Chidlow Wells. Judge Stone, who presided, said the prisoner was convicted in '57 of a similar offence, getting fourteen years. He would now give him eight years penal servitude. 1909: William 'Burnside' died at Champion Bay, registered as Subiaco on the WA BDM. 16/3/1917: Western Mail, Perth: Up to within a few years ago, Burnside had a camp among the hills, between Bellevue and Chidlow's Well.

4

helenehanff on 15th January 2020

Durham Goal initially then on 12 Nov 1857 sent to Milbank Prison London, transfered to Portsmouth 23 Jul 1858. Final disposal on "True Briton" sent to Bermuda 20 Sep 1858.