Miles Careless

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D Wong on 30th April 2020

Oxford Journal Oxfordshire, England 24 Jul 1830: Miles Careless, charged with stealing a silver watch, the property of William Doncaster, of Shutford, of the value of 15s.__Fourteen years' transportation. Miles Careless was listed as 16 years old on arrival. Miles was 5'6½" tall, dark complexion, dark brown hair, brown eyes. 1832 Muster: Assigned to Mr. G. Blyth 1833 Muster: Public Works 1835 Muster: Transported to Port Arthur. 15/2/1839: Was a constable, and had a TOL. 9/6/1842: CP. 8/6/1844: Miles Careless was murdered on the high road near York Park. Listed as emancipated, and a Hawker. Death registered at Evandale, Tas. 7/8/1844 Launceston Examiner, Tas: JOHN STRATTON..-This culprit has been committed to the gaol at Launceston, to take his trial for the wilful murder of Miles Careless. He expresses himself as feeling in danger of his life, admits that circumstances tend strongly to establish his guilt, but protests that he is entirely innocent. Whilst in confinement at Morven gaol he was permitted to walk about the yard, and attempted to escape by knockin~g down the door keeper. 7/9/1844 Launceston Examiner, Tas: JOHN STRATTON.- This man, committed upon suspicion of having murdered the unfortunate Miles Careless; has been discharged from gaol, the attorney-general considering there is not sufficient evidence to put him on his trial. 28/10/1848 The Courier, Hobart: THE NILE GANG.-We were not, until recently, aware of the full extent of the confessions of Powell, the blacksmith, who died at Avoca. All that has been hitherto published is, that he was privy to the murder of poor Miles Careless. He likewise confessed to having been concerned in the murder of the blacksmith at the Nile, the perpetrators of which were never brought to justice. To these crimes he added that of arson, having confessed to setting on fire the stacks of Mr R. C. Forster, of Avoca, by which he lost upwards of three hundred pounds' worth of property. The circumstances were these :-Mr. Forster lost two bars of iron, and suspecting Powell proceeded to his place, and there found the bars cut up; he had no doubt of their being the same, but could not undertake to swear to them. He consequently withdrew his custom from Powell. To revenge this act Powell set fire to his stacks, and admitted that he paid three visits to Mr. Forster's before he succeeded in his diabolical purpose. The last days of this wretched man convey an awful lesson. He was affected with cancer on the lip, which gradually extended down the neck and breast. Upon one occasion he went to Campbell Town to procure medicine, but could not raise money enough to pay the chemist. The man who for gain had embrued his hands in the blood of two men, committed robberies innumerable in connection with the Nile gang, been guilty of arson, and probably nearly every offence contemplated by the law, was wandering about Campbell Town in search of a few shillings to prolong his life. Powell was brought to town to have an operation performed, and on his way passed the spot where Careless was murdered. He moaned and wept, and acted in the most frantic manner, and urged the driver to proceed ; but the driver only wondered what was the matter, and it was not until the death-bed confession that the true cause became known. An operation was performed at the colonial hospital, but ineffectually. Powell resumed to Avoca and was gradually eaten up by the disease.

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Bob Minchin on 2nd September 2012

Murdered by the blacksmith George Powell on or about 17 June 1844 at Barton Run in the Nile area.