Thomas Dick

Murdered between 9 and 10 Jun 1805, Inquest held 16 Jun 1805 Sydney, NSW

Convicted 22 September 1792

24/9/1792 Caledonian Mercury Midlothian, Scotland: Court then proceeded to the trial of John Douglas, alias John Currie, shoemaker, Catherine Dawson, his spouse, and Thomas Dick, were accused of stealing a number of articles of wearing apparel from and ale-house where they had been drinking, and being habit and repute common thieves. Catherine Dawson proferred a petition, submitting to manishment from Scotland ; and Douglas, her husband, confessed his guilt : He was sentenced to be whipt, and they were banished for five years. The Court went to trial upon Thomas Dick, who, upon the proof of habit and repute, turned out to be a notorious offender, and to have undergone several punishments here as well as Edinburgh, of which he was a native. He was condemned to be whipt and transported for fourteen years, (looks like, hard to read) under the certification of death in life of return in that period. DICK, Thomas: 12 Jun 1805 Sydney. Convict Surprize 1794. Sydney Gazette: 16 Jun 1805: Inquest held on 11 Jun, murder. Lived near Burial Ground. Died between 9 & 10 Jun 1805

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842) Sun 16 Jun 1805 Page 4 EXAMINATIONS BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES.A person (whose name upon so serious an occasion it might at present be considered imprudent to make public) from some circumstances rather interesting, apprehended in consequence of the Murder of THOMAS DICK, whose melancholy fate is made mention of in the second page of this paper, was liberated upon the condition of his reappearing when called upon. Much to the credit of the persons who sat upon the Coroner’s Inquest, they have generally and individually exerted themselves in aid of the Police, to bring to light the circumstances attending this horrible transaction, which, though they at present appear to be enveloped in mystery will, it is sincerely hoped, be ultimately unravelled to the confusion and ignorance of the perfidious offenders. Horror increases on the reflection, that the unhappy object of their barbarity was old, feeble, and defenceless; a useful member of society because he was industrious, harmless, and inoffensive. A hat, not supposed to belong to the deceased, was found between his residence and the place where the body lay, but no owner to it has yet been traced; he was possessed of a pocket watch, which he usually wore, as it was useful to his occupation; and this was taken from him, with every other article even of the most trifling value. The body was interred the following day at the expence of a few of his friends in a decent manner; and humble although his circumstances during the latter part of his life had been, yet report declares him to have been of very reputable parentage, his friends residing in the City of Edinburgh, of which he was himself a native