Charles Deroches

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Maureen Withey on 2nd July 2022

To the Editor of the Tasmanian Colonist. Sir, Your last number contains an article headed “Port Arthur”, reflecting upon the management of the Asylum at New Norfolk. The writer, after increasing the number of patients from about 200 to 300, goes on to assert “that the treatment which these unfortunates experience is quite enough of itself to deprive them of reason, without other concurrent causes." Now, Sir, I, an officer of nearly three years standing in the asylum, beg leave to contradict the assertions of this mendacious writer tota coelo and that he has either been grossly misinformed, or that he is a malicious slanderer. So far from harshness, or cruelty, (which the writer insinuates) being exercised in the asylum, its inmates are treated with almost reprehensible kindness and forbearance. All their wants are supplied even to superfluity; they enjoy comforts, of which nine-tenths would have no idea before their arrival here ; no such thing as ill-treatment, on the part of the officers in attendance, towards them is tolerated ; on the contrary, I have seen one of the medical officers receiving a violent blow on the face; other officers and attendants knocked down with mop-sticks and otherwise; my head was cut, a valuable watch snatched out of my pocket and dashed to pieces; I have received kicks without number, but in no case has a blow been struck in retaliation. As a matter of course, the perpetrators of these outrages were promptly secured, and bolted up until their paroxysms subsided. In one of your former numbers this asylum was styled a “bastile” —a close "prison-house," &c., because (I imagine) a mob of half-drunken Hobartonian visitors was refused admittance on a Sabbath. This is another mis-statement. No respectable visitor is refused admittance, and they are daily pouring in from all quarters. The Lieutenant-Governor, the Comptroller-General, and principal medical officers inspect the establishment ex-officio; and I have had the honor of escorting through my division bishops, clergymen of every denomination, magistrates, naval and military officers, merchants, mechanics, &c., without number - and last, but not least, four members of the Legislative Council in one day; nay, even passholders are admitted if their visits are considered likely to relieve the mental sufferings of their friends. In thus vindicating the conductors of the Lunatic Asylum from the systematic and unmerited slanders heaped upon them by an unprincipled scribbler. I cannot be accused of selfishness, as my connection with that establishment has ceased. Just, and long smothered indignation alone has urged me to the graceless task. I claim the favour of the insertion of this letter in your next edition.— . Your very obedient servant, C. Deroche. Hobart Town, 24th Feb.1852.

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Maureen Withey on 2nd July 2022

Letter from Police Officer, Sydney, 26 May 1820. To Colonial Secretary. .. I avail myself of this opportunity to report, for his Excellency’s information, that the persons named in the margin, No. 2, have had their Ticket of Leave withdrawn from them and have been sentenced to be sent to Newcastle by a Bench of Magistrates, for two years, for the reasons specified. No 2. Charles Desroches for “swindling”, in obtaining from Mr Rushton, under false pretences, two casks of beer, and further, on receiving in the name of R. Brooks Esq., without his authority, six pounds ? from a Russian office, and appropriating the same to his own use. -------------------------------------------------- On list of prisoners on establishment at Bathurst with sentences not transmitted , Date of doc: 10 April 1824. Charles Desroches, per Almorah, tried at Lon. D.D. 18 Sept 1816, Life. -------------------------------------------------- Evidence given re dispute between Scott and Parker, dated 25 June 1825. Constable Desroches. I was one of Mr Scott’s party who were going for rations on the morning of the 20th inst. Constable Laffin who was posted at the end of the W. Parker’s farm opposed our passage, when W. Scott insisted that the party should pass. Laffin put out his cutlas, against me to prevent me from going out, one however went on and met Mr Parker near his house who told Mr Scott that the party should not pass on; then said Mr Scott you must have taken leave of your senses to stop people on the King’s Highway, Mr Parker replied, indeed, you must have taken leave of your senses for attempting to pass through my farm. Your farm, said Mr Scott, I consider it Government property and he ordered us to go on. When Mr Parker saw that we were desired to go on, he said, “you shall not” and he came towards me and another man with extended arms and said you must not pass and immediately afterwards Crawham lowered his musket and charged us. The attack then became general; Connerton collared Stone; when W. Scott observed this, he made an offer to strike Connerton at the same time ordering him to let of his constable. Mr Scott was not able to rescue Stone but called on Dardis the soldier, who was about eight paces distant with his arms sloped, to protect his party. Mr Parker hearing this turned round and asked the soldier if he meant to protect Mr Scott and his party. The soldier was rather embarrassed, but at last said, yes, I am here to protect Mr Scott and his party. Mr Parker then said, I will have you tried by a Court Martial, and there was a good deal more scuffling. Mr Scott desired to take particular notice of what passed, when all went on after this and the business ended. (Questioned by Mr Parker) passed on. I saw a fence across the road, it was to prevent carts – I did not see Mr Scott cock his gun. Mr Scott in speaking to Mr Parker removed his gun from his shoulder to his left hand – Mr Scott merely turned to encourage us on – I did not see the soldier use any disrespectful gesture or expression to Mr Parker – Crawham had a musket with him – I did not see Mr Scott cock his piece, but he might have done it. -------------------------------------------------- Sydney Quarter Sessions. Tuesday July 6th. Charles Deroche, indicted for having forged several orders on Mr Russell and Mr Porter of Maitland, guilty, seven years to a penal settlement. Sydney Gazette, 10 July 1841. Conditional Pardons Granted. Charles Deroche, Almorah and Marian Watson. Launceston Examiner, 31 May 1853. Tasmanian Convict Records. Sent to Port Arthur Penal Station per Marian Watson. Place of Origin, Mecklenburg. To NSW per Almorah. Tasmanian Convict Conduct Record. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON35-1-1$init=CON35-1-1P186 Tried London, 18 Sept 1816, Life. Tried Sydney 23 July 1841, 7 years. Clerk, Native place, Stultzgard, Wirtemberg. Convict Indent: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-1$init=CON16-1-1P196 and https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-1$init=CON16-1-1P197 Charles Deroche, height 5ft 9 ¼, age 55, Clerk, Tried Sydney 6 July 1841, 7 years, Native place, Stutgard, Wirtemberg. Marital state. I was married in Europe. My wife died before I left Europe. Offence details… I received an absolute Pardon but did not receive the right Govt ? at Sydney. … Remarks: I was employed as a Supt. in ?? at Sydney. ---------------------------------------------------- Probationers. - A man named Deroche was had before the bench on Friday last on a charge of embezzling money from H.M. Government. Thc manner of the embezzlement charged was this. A master who wishes to discharge his hired convict servant before the expiration of the term for which he has hired him or her, may do so by paying ten days' wages into the Probation Office. A woman named Mary M'Kaig was returned in this way; the money was paid, and the Registrar, through whose hands all the monies pass, stated that he had not received the sum so paid at the Office. The body of the receipt was filled up by the prisoner, and signed by Mr. Haggitt. To account for the embezzlement, such a receipt having been given, Mr. Haggitt stated that he sometimes signed receipts in blank, which were left in a drawer in his room, to be used by Mr. Buckland, a clerk in the Office. The prisoner had access to this room, and might have possessed himself of one of these receipts, hut it also appeared that the prisoner had frequently filled up receipts, taken the money, and handed it over to the clerks, and this was considered a matter of his duty. The receipts and passes were not numbered in the books, so that it was impossible to check them. Mr. Trice dismissed the case, observing that business was conducted very loosely in this Department, as there did not appear to be the slightest check upon any of the transactions which could be used in cases like the present. Mr. Price also observed that persons situated as was the prisoner should not be placed in any situation in which the receipt of moneys was involved. The consequence of these persons being employed at all in the Public Offices is, that the public arc imposed on in many ways. They do not receive salaries, and yet they are expected to appear clean at their posts. In lieu of their salary they are allowed to fill up contracts and perform other little matters connected with their offices, for which they charge what they like, and if they are not satisfied, they annoy the applicants by delays, and not unfrequently with impertinence. There are plenty of young men "about town" who would be glad of a small salary for performing the duties, of these men, and in a monetary point of view, it is probable a considerable saving would bc effected by paying men of good character salaries The Observer, Hobart, Tues 24 Feb 1846.

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Maureen Withey on 2nd July 2022

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 02 July 2022), September 1816, trial of CHARLES DEROCHE (t18160918-27). CHARLES DEROCHE, Theft > theft from a specified place, 18th September 1816. 844. CHARLES DEROCHE was indicted for stealing, on the 18th of August . a bill of exchange for payment of 500l. a bill of exchange for payment of 320l. and a bill of exchange for payment of 100l. the property of Francis Thaddens Reyer and Joseph Schlik , in the dwelling-house of Joseph Edlmann . MR. JOSEPH EDLMANN. I am agent of the house of Reyer and Schlik. I know the gentleman at the bar. I first became acquainted with him on the 1st or 2nd of July; he came to me, and represented himself to be a countryman of mine, and to have served in the Army, and to have got into some embarrassment on the Continent, and for that reason quitted the Continent; he came to England to look for employment, and was actually in great distress; I relieved him. He was in the habit of coming to my house every day twice or three times. I found him serviceable in his own language. On the 18th of August, which was Sunday, he came to breakfast. After breakfast, he went away; he had not taken leave of me to go any where in particular at that time. He went out. In about half an hour after, I went into the Country. I returned about ten or eleven in the evening. Between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning, I missed the bills in question; they had been in an iron safe in the counting-house; the key of that safe was generally in a wooden case by the side of it. The prisoner at the bar knew where the key was kept; he was frequently in the counting-house, and I have used the key while he has been there sometimes. I had seen the bills on the Saturday during the day; the three amounted altogether to nine hundred and twenty pounds. In consequence of missing them, I called my servant maid; I made some enquiries in my house, which led me to go to Bow-street; ultimately I and Bishop went in a post chaise to Caterbury; we got to Canterbury between two and four in the morning. I first saw him in the room in the Inn at Caterbury, when he was brought in by Bishop. I first identified him, and then Bishop seized him; the bills were found on him; I saw Bishop find them in one of his pockets; those bills Mr. Bishop has. DANIEL BISHOP . I went with Mr. Edlmann to Canterbury. I overtook the coach at Canterbury; I found the prisoner just going from the Dover coach into the Guildhall tavern; he was alighting from it where they change horses. I secured him from behind for fear of accidents; he had this loaded pistol in one hand, and a dagger in the other. I found another loaded pistol in the pocket of the stage coach. On searching him, I found the three bills in question on him, and a quantity of powder and twelve bal1s. Mr. Edlmann. Those are my bills. CATHERINE TROTTER . I live servant with Mr. Edlmann. On Saturday, the 18th of August, I remember the prisoner at the bar breakfasting with my master; he went away about half an hour before my master in the morning. After my master had gone out about an hour or better, the prisoner returned, and said, he wanted a book out of the counting-house; he went into the counting-house, and I went about my domestic concerns; he was in the counting-house in which my master's iron safe was. He was about twenty or twenty-five minutes there. I was up stairs on the first floor, and I heard the door open, and I looked out of the window, and saw him go out with a book in his hand. He was gone about an hour; when he came back, he said, he wished to write a note to Mr. Edlmann, to say, he should not breakfast with him the next morning; but he should see him the next day. When he got a bit of paper and began to write, I of course left the counting-house, and when I came to the door in four or five minutes, he came out, and said, I have finished the note Mrs. Totter, give it to your master with my compliments; then he went away. RICHARD PARRY . I live at No. 22, St. Martin's-le-grand, and am a corn-dealer. The prisoner lodged in my house. On Sunday, the 18th of August, he said he should go and fetch a book, and I believe he brought one in; it was similar to that. He said, he had lost the key of it some days, and I was laying on the sofa, and I got up to see if I had a key that would open it, I had not. He said, he should get the key of it the next day. He got up about nine o'clock the next morning, and I believe he was gone before ten; I believe he owed nearly a pound for lodging; he had his trunk away, and he asked my man to get a porter to carry his trunk; he took no final leave. MR. CHARLES CHRISTIAN BAKER , a merchant and agent of considerable eminence in the City, translated to the Court a written Defence of the Prisoners,from the German; wherein were recited all the actions of his life, and which finally accounted for the transaction thus, that the bills were no use to him, that he certainly took them, but with an intention of writing to the prosecutor when he arrived at Brussels, informing him he had them, and he should restore them upon a remittance of one hundred pounds. GUILTY - DEATH , aged 26. London Jury, before Mr. Recorder.

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Maureen Withey on 2nd July 2022

Colonial Secretary Index. DES ROCHES, Charles (Per "Almorah", 1817) see DE ROCHES, Charles DE ROCHES, Charles. Per "Almorah", 1817 1817 Sep 1 Signed testimonial to surgeon on "Almorah" (Reel 6047; 4/1739 pp.237-9) 1820 May 26 Ticket of leave withdrawn for swindling and false pretences (Reel 6050; 4/1747 pp.36-7) 1820 Jun 3 On list of prisoners transported to Newcastle per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6007; 4/3502 p.55) 1822 Jun 29 On list of prisoners assigned (Fiche 3290; 4/4570D p.28) 1822 Jun 29 Assigned to Mr Wood. Re supervision of following his recent improper conduct (Reel 6009; 4/3506 p.8) 1822 Sep 6 Petition for mitigation of sentence (Fiche 3216; 4/1865 p.13) 1824 Apr 10 On list of prisoners on establishment at Bathurst with sentences not transmitted (Reel 6028; 2/8283 p.101) 1824 May 17 On list of prisoners transported to Port Macquarie per "Lady Nelson" (Reel 6019; 4/3864 pp.136, 478-9) 1825 Jul 25 Constable at Rollands Plains. Statement in dispute between Scott and Parker (Reel 6069; 4/1816 pp.353-5) -----------------------------------------------------