John Davies

51

Chris Ison on 21st June 2026

[ The Tasmanian Daily News (Hobart Town, Tas. : 1855 - 1858) Fri 2 Nov 1855 Page 3 ] KINGSTON, BROWN'S RIVER. (From our own Correspondent) NOVEL WAY OF ABSCONDERS REPRESENTING THEMSELVES TO BE FREE. On Saturday night last, about half-past 10 o'clock three of the above class of men visited the Kangaroo Hotel, and represented to the landlord,Mr. Allen, that they were captain, first and second mates of the barque Genoese, then lying in the passage of Bruni Island, and that, about half past eleven o'clock on the previous night, two of his men had left the vessel, taking with them the jolly-boat. The waiter on their first entering, perceiving two of them rather in dishabille [partly or scantily dressed], asked them to step into the tap room, to which they, replied, " We wish to go into the parlour;" and immediately called for a bottle of wine, and wished to see the landlord to take a glass of wine with them. Upon Mr. Allen's entering the room, they requested him to take a seat. and a glass of wine. The captain then commenced his narrative of the loss of his two men and the boat, and said that he would not mind giving a reward of £20 for the apprehension of the men or £30 for the men and boat, dwelling particularly upon the fact that he did not care so much about the boat as he did about the men. After Mr. Allen had taken a description of the absent men and boat, he sent up to the district constable Mr. Beresford to acquaint him, but he was out. This was a very fortunate circumstance for the landlord, as the sequel will tell. During the evening's conversation the captain’s discourse was directed towards his first mate, threatening him with confinement for suffering the men to escape from the vessel during his watch, and both calling him a great scoundrel, and charging him with letting the men drink a puncheon of rum on the passage from Melbourne. The evening wore away with conversation of this description, and the utterance of threats to his first mate, until a late hour. Mr. Allen at length informed them that it was time to depart, when, after drinking two or three bottles of wine, they requested the reckoning, the Captain paying for their supper, beds, and breakfasts in gold. In the morning the district constable, Mr. Beresford, came to know what Mr. Allen wanted with him on the previous night. And instructed him to proceed to Hobart Town with his crew to try and capture the men, &c. Upon Mr. Beresford's leaving the Captain, he went to Mr. Allen, and said, " I think those parties are not all right." and stated that he thought he knew the first mate to be a transported offender. He then walked out and sent a constable in to enquire for his handkerchief, which he pretended he left behind, to see if he could identify any of them, being convinced in his own mind that they were impostors. He then came back with the constable, and told the captain that he must take his first and second mates for being absconders illegally at large, and shortly after returned and captured the captain, suspecting him also. It was subsequently proved that he was right in his conjecture. I think the greatest praise is due to Mr. Beresford for his unceasing efforts in trying to suppress these notorious marauders; few of those, however, can escape his vigilant and acute eye. Their intention, as suited by themselves, was to have got the District Constable and constables . away from the township, and then they would have easily been able to accomplish their intention of plundering the place, and taking a boat, as they had a compass, glass, powder, balls, and percussion caps in a carpet bag, to resist any opposition that might have been offered, and to effect their escape. I herewith give you a brief description of the captain. His name is John Davies, per Pestongee Bomangee (4), he absconded from the service of A. B. Jones, Esq., in March last ; he is a German, having the appearance of a captain, being dressed with a paletot coat, silk velvet vest, with ivory buttons, a cap, kerseymere trowsers, polished boots, gold guard and chain, and carpet bag. with rings in his ears. They now stand remanded, the District Constable considering he can bring some charges of felony against them.