George Devereaux

341

Maureen Withey on 1st May 2021

Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. George Devereaux, age on arrival, 31, Prince Regent I (2) 1824, Tried 1823 at Dublin City, 7 years, DOB, 1793, native of Limerick. Ship owner. Colonial sentence, Moreton Bay 1830. --------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. DEVEREAUX, George. Per "Prince Regent", 1824. 1824 Jul 21 On list of convicts landed from the "Prince Regent" and forwarded to Bathurst for distribution (Reel 6013; 4/3512 p.2) 1824 Aug 27 On list of prisoners lately received at Bathurst (Reel 6028; 2/8283 p.108) -------------------------------------------------- Mr. Terry Hughes, of Pitt-street, charged one George Devereaux, a Frenchman, and the holder of a ticket of leave, with robbing Mr. S. Terry, by whom Devereaux had been employed as confidential store-keeper, of a quantity of Brazil tobacco, amounting to 13 baskets, besides slops, sheep shears, and other matters, which being carried to Mr. Lyon's, Auctioneer, of George-street, were left in Mr. L.'s possession, to be sold by Public Auction. But suspecting the goods not to be honestly come by, and with a characteristic promptitude and penetration happening to observe the bearer of the articles shortly after in conversation with Mr. Terry Hughes, Mr. Lyons enquired of that gentleman who the man was, and told him of the goods which had been brought to him for sale by Auction. This produced an examination of effects in Mr. Terry's store, when the articles already enumerated were found wanting, and on this the complainant brought his charge. Defendant was remanded for further evidence. The Australian, 20 Nov 1829. -------------------------------------------------- Supreme Court. MONDAY, FEB. 15. (BEFORE THE CHIEF JUSTICE.) George Devereaux was indicted for stealing a quantity of slop clothing and other property, in the stores of Mr. Samuel Terry of Pitt-street, Sydney. Mr. W. H. Moore conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Therry. It appeared in evidence, that the prisoner had been in the service of Mr. Terry, as clerk, for about two years, and that during some part of the time he had the entire charge of the stores wherein his employer kept large quantities of slop clothing and other articles for the use of his various up country establishments. A short time since, Mr. Terry had occasion to proceed to Bathurst, and one day during his absence, the prisoner, who still retained charge of the stores, was seen, by Mr. Samuel Lyons, the auctioneer, speaking to Mr. Terry Hughes in the street. After the prisoner went away, Mr. Lyons went up to Mr. Hughes, and asked him who the prisoner was, stating, at the same time, that a quantity of slop clothing, consisting of duck frocks, and duck and cloth trowsers, together with a number of sheep shears, had been left by him at his (Mr. L's.) auction rooms for sale, and that the prisoner stated his name to be George Davis. An enquiry took place in consequence, and upon inspecting the property left with Mr. Lyons, Mr. Hughes was satisfied, from its resemblance, in every respect, to articles of the same description in Mr. Terry's stores, that it had been stolen thereout, and the prisoner was immediately apprehended. After he was in custody, Mr. Hughes asked the prisoner how he came to take the property, and at what time he conveyed it away, when he replied that "the devil had induced him to steal it, and that he carried it out at nights and in the morning." It also appeared in evidence that previous to the discovery made by Mr. Lyons, several other articles of various kinds had been sold, for the prisoner, under the name of George Davis, by Mr. Spicer, the auctioneer. These facts having been given in evidence, and the property identified by Mr. Terry, as precisely similar to a quantity of the same description in his stores, the counsel for the Crown closed his case. Mr. Therry, on behalf of the prisoner, submitted that no value had been put upon the property exhibited to the Court by any of the witnesses. The learned Judge held that the distinction between grand and petty larceny having been abolished by a recent statute, the point raised by the learned Counsel was not substantiated. The jury were competent to put a value on the property exhibited before them; and if it was worth any thing, it was sufficient to become the subject of larceny. His Honor then summed up the evidence, and the jury, almost immediately returned a verdict of Guilty- Remanded. Sydney Gazette, 16 Feb 1830. --------------------------------------------------- Moreton Bay Convict Register. George was one of 18 male prisoners who arrived at Moreton Bay 2nd May 1830 per Isabella. Geo Deveraux, per P. Regent 3, tried at Dublin City, 18 Oct 1823, 7 years, Labourer. Colonial Sentence: Tried by Crim. Court. Sydney, 20 Feb 1830, for Stealing in a dwelling house. Sentence, 7 years. Returned to Sydney, 12 Nov 1836. Description: Geo. Devereaux, native of Limerick, age 45, 5 ft 10 in; fair comp, grey hair, hazel eyes. Catholic. -------------------------------------------------- Convict Index, 1791-1873. George Devereaux, per Prince Regent, 1824, Ticket of Leave, 28/181. District, Bathurst/Nepean. Dublin City 1823. George Devereaux, per Prince Regent, 1824, Certificate of Freedom, 18 Oct 1837, 37/0863.