Morris Conner

343

Maureen Withey on 25th January 2023

The following is the original trial at the Old Bailey for Which Maorris Connor was sentenced to be transported: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 25 January 2023), October 1802, trial of MAURICE CONNOR JOHN KELLY (t18021027-127). MAURICE CONNOR, JOHN KELLY, Theft > burglary, 27th October 1802. 873. MAURICE CONNOR and JOHN KELLY were indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Daniel Croney, about the hour of twelve in the night, of the 3d of October , and burglariously stealing, a coat, value 16s. and a waistcoat, value 4s. the property of Robert Miller ; a waistcoat, value 1s. 6d. the property of Cornelius Sullivan , and a coat, value 3s. the property of Thomas Harrington . DANIEL CRONEY sworn. - I rent a house, No. 10, Little Prescot-street, Goodman's-fields , I slept in the one pair of stairs, Cornelius Sullivan and his wife in the two pair of stairs, and Robert Miller , Thomas Harrington, and four others, in the garret: On the 3d of October, I went to bed, and left my wife up, she is not here, I left the door on the spring-lock; between twelve and one o'clock, I was alarmed by my wife, I got up, struck a light, and found the prisoner, Kelly, at my room door; all the lodgers came down, and Kelly was taken away by the watchmen; we then found Connor under the bed, in Sullivan's room, with his hands up to his face, and he was secured; the next morning, I observed that the bolt of the door was forced. GEORGE WALTON sworn. - I am a watchman; on the 3d of October, about half past twelve o'clock at night, I observed the prosecutor's door a-jar, I put my foot against it, and found some person push on the inside; I then called Leadbetter, another watchman, and we both tried the door, and still found there was somebody pushing against us; we got in, and found the prisoner, Kelly, in the passage; he endeavoured to bolt out at the door, and said, there were thieves in the house; I then shut the door, and bolted it inside; one of the lodgers came down in consequence of the alarm, and he and Leadbetter staid with Kelly, while I went up stairs, into the two pair of stairs room, where I found the prisoner, Connor, sitting on the floor; I asked him what he did there, and he said, he came there to sleep; I took him down stairs, and tied the prisoners together in the passage; I found two coats, and two waistcoats in a bundle; we took the prisoners to the watch-house, and returned back to the house; we found, that that part of the lock, which draws the spring back, was wrenched off, and laid in the inside of the passage.( - Leadbetter, the other watchman, corroborated the evidence of Walton.)(John Closs, the beadle, produced the property, which was identified by Robert Miller , Cornelius Sullivan, and Thomas Harrington.) Connor's defence. I had been drinking that evening, till half past twelve o'clock, at the Fourteen stars; a woman came in, and said, she would shew us 10 a lodging-house, which she kept, and she took us to this house; she put me into a room, and told me to lie down where I liked, and left me, saying, she would find a lodging for the other man; I knew nothing more of it, till I was awaked, by an alarm of thieves. Kelly's defence. I was stupified in liquor, I was brought into this house, and fell asleep in the passage. Connor, GUILTY. Kelly, GUILTY. Of stealing the goods, but not of breaking and entering the dwelling-house . Transported for seven years . Second Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron Thompson. --------------------------------------------------

343

Maureen Withey on 25th January 2023

Colonial secretary Index. CONNOR, Morris. Per "Fortune", 1806. 1813 Sep 6 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3172; 4/1849 p.5) 1815 Jul 31 Petition for a ration from the Stores (Reel 6045; 4/1733 p.168) 1821 Sep 8 Object of Charity. On list of all persons victualled from H.M. Magazines (Reel 6016; 4/5781 p.68) ------------------------------------------------------ The humble petition of Morris Connor humbly sheweth That your petitioner was transported to this territory in the year 1806 and in consequence of good conduct received a Ticket of Leave from your Excellency in the year 1810, for which your petitioner most humbly returns the tribute of his thanks. That your petitioner maintained himself by honest Industry until last Christmas when your Petitioner being afflicted with a complication of disorder was received into the General Hospital where he continued until … Overwritten: The petitioner was an object of Charity for six months. Dated, 7 Aug 1815. 8 Sept 1821. On list of all persons victualled from H.M. Magazines Ration from Stores. Morris Connor, Object of Charity, 1 ration. To Governor Macquarie. The humble petition of Morris Connor respectfully sheweth That your Petitioner has held a Ticket of Leave since your Excellency’s first arrival and mustered last year under the same. That since that period he has unfortunately lost or mislaid said Ticket of Leave, having entrusted it to the care of Bernard Ban of Pitt Street who is ready if required to make affadavit of that circumstance and that it is not otherwise disposed of. Your petitioner came in the Fortune Capt Moore in 1806, was tried at the Old Bailey and is advanced in age and therefore must humbly pray a renewal thereof, ….. Overwritten, The bearer is to have his Ticket of Leave renewed, 6 Sept 1823.

343

Maureen Withey on 25th January 2023

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 25 January 2023), September 1804, trial of MAURICE CONNER (t18040912-5). MAURICE CONNER, Miscellaneous > returning from transportation, 12th September 1804. 434. MAURICE CONNER was indicted for that he, at the delivery of his Majesty's gaol in the county of Middlesex, at Justice Hall, in the Old Bailey, on the 22d of October, in the 42d year of his Majesty's reign, being tried and convicted of felony, was ordered to be transported for seven years, to such parts beyond the seas as his Majesty in privy council should appoint; and that he afterwards, on the 5th of July last, feloniously, and without lawful excuse, was found at large, before the expiration of seven years, for which time he was ordered to be transported . ROBERT BROWN sworn. - (Produces the certificate of conviction.) Q. Where did you get that from? - A. From Mr. Shelton's office. (The certificate read, stating, that Maurice Conner was in due form of law, tried, at JusticeHall, in the Old-Bailey, for that he, on the 22d of October, in the forty-second year of his present Majesty's reign, about the hour of twelve at night, the dwelling-house of Daniel Croney, did burglariously break and enter, and did burglariously steal and carry away one coat, value 16 s. one waistcoat, value 4 s. and one other waistcoat, value 18 d. the property of Cornelius Sullivan , and the Jury upon that behalf, found him, the said Maurice Conner , guilty of stealing and carrying away the said articles mentioned in the indictment, but not guilty of breaking and entering the dwelling-house, for which he was ordered to be transported for the term of seven years, to such parts beyond the seas as his Majesty, with the advice of his Privy Council, should direct and appoint. (Signed) THOMAS SHELTON.) GEORGE READ sworn. - Q. What are you? - A. I am commander on board the hulks: This man was delivered to me on February the 14th, 1803, he left the ship on the 6th of July, 1803; he was taken up somewhere about Shadwell, I was sent for to identify him. Q. Are you sure he is the same man? - A. It is the same man. WILLIAM WEBB sworn. - I apprehended the prisoner, in company with Mr. Brown. Q. When did you apprehend him? - A. On the 5th of July last, in the parish of Aldgate. Prisoner's defence. I am the man; I have been at sea ever since I left the ship. GUILTY , Death , aged 55. First Middlesex Jury, before Mr. Baron Hotham . -------------------------------------------------- Portsmouth Hulk records. HO 9-8_3. Received 20 prisoners from Middlesex, 19 Mar 1805. Morris Conner, age 44, Crime, Felony, Tried at Middlesex, 12 Sep 1804. NSW. 14 years, Sent on board the Fortune 9 Jan 1806.