John Childs

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 28th July 2023

Indent No; 9269. Age; 19 years. Trial; 23 February 1842. [born abt. 1823] Place of origin: Bloomsbury, Middlesex Offence; Stealing a Hare value 3/6 from a shop at Oakingham. Previous conviction; 2 months for cheese 1842 - 14 March. received on the Hulk; Warrior moored at Chatham & Woolwich. Convicted at Reading Ironed on the Hulk for quarrelling. 1844 - December. Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas. : 1828 - 1857) Sat 7 Dec 1844. Page 2 SUPREME COURT.—CRIMINAL John Childs, a probation lad, was convicted of striking another probation lad, named Timothy Troy, on the head with a stone hammer, with an intent to kill, &c. There was no particular feature in the case. Troy called Childs a dog, and Childs knocked him on the head for it, Launceston Advertiser (Tas. : 1829 - 1846) Fri 3 Jan 1845. Page 3 LAUNCESTON: FRIDAY EVENING, Execution.— The two unhappy male factors, Hugh M'Lean and John Childs, two mere lads, who were sentenced to death at our last Criminal Sessions, were executed this morning at the usual place of execution, in the Gaol-yard. It will be recollected, perhaps, that M'Lean was tried and convicted for a murderous assault upon William Young, his overseer, at Port Arthur, on which occasion, having aimed at his head, he fortunately missed his 'blow, 'but' nearly cut 'Young's foot off. Child's was convicted of an attempt to murder Timothy Troy, a lad in the same gang; and the learned Chief Justice, in passing sentence, held out no hopes of mercy to either, in this world. Soon after eight o'clock, M'Lean, preceded by the Rev. Mr. Hall, Roman Catholic Vicar-General, ascended the scaffold, and was placed under the fatal noose ; he was almost immediately followed by Childs, attended by the Rev. Dr. Bedford. Both looked pale, but, apparently, penitent and resigned : there was no exibition of levity or bravado,— the miserable men meeting their inevitable fate with all possible propriety : the scene was soon concluded, and both were simultaneously launched into eternity, within a very few minutes of their appearance on the scaffold. The crowd was not very great, consisting principally of workmen, going to their breakfast : we did not observe one female among the spectators. The method adopted by the Police of lining the road, so as to prevent the interruption of the crowd, or of casual passers-by, was very excellent and effective, and was consequent upon the new drill system, carried out by Sergeant Watson,— a finer or, indeed, a smarter body of Police, we never saw even in Ensland.— Colonial Times, January I.

68

Leonie Dolley on 30th March 2013

John was transported for stealing a hare. He was executed at Hobart Town 31\12\1844 for wounding with intent.