Thomas Grant

343

Maureen Withey on 22nd June 2025

HOUSEBREAKING Thomas Grant was charged by Constable Daniel O'Donnell with having, on the 10th instant, feloniously broken into and entered the dwelling house of Mr Mark Brooker, at Franklin Village, and stolen therefrom an opposum-skin rug, a double pair of blankets, a cotton rug, and other articles. Mark Brooker sworn, deposed — I reside at Franklin Village, near Kerry Lodge, and have a small farm and dwelling-house there ; no one resides with me ; yesterday I left my house about half-past 11 o'clock in the forenoon, and secured my door by a padlock ; I returned at about quarter-past 4 in the afternoon and found that the house had been entered during my absence by drawing the staple in the door to which the hasp was fastened ; the padlock was in the staple in the jamb to which the hasp had been sawed: I examined the place inside and missed my opossum-skin rug, a cotton rug, and a pair of blankets, which had been taken off the bed; some articles of food were also carried away ; I searched about and found the track of footsteps leading to wards the road ; I went to a neighbour and told him what had occurred, and was then going towards the Police Station to make a report ; owing to something Mr Fisher said to me I remained with him for a little time, and saw two men coming down the road from the direction of Kerry Lodge towards the Village. The prisoner Thomas Grant was one of them. He was carrying a bundle, which I saw consisted of an opossum skin rug. I asked him to let me look at it. He said, 'Look at it, look at it' and continued to walk on and carry it with him. Mr Fisher and I followed after him and still asked to see the rug. The prisoner's companion then asked the prisoner to put it down, he did so and I opened it and found inside it all the things I had missed from my horse I said these were the things stolen from my house. Mr Fisher said — '' Give him in charge' The prisoner, after he laid his bundle down walked away before I examined it, and the other man with him. We called them back and they came back ; I charged them with stealing the things. The prisoner said he did it and the other man had nothing to do with it. The prisoner then went on towards the Village. Mr Fisher told me to follow him and give him in charge, and he would look after the other man, When he said that, the other man bolted down the road which leads towards the White Hills. I followed the prisoner and met Constable O'Donnell coming towards me ; I gave him the prisoner in my charge. I returned with the constable and prisoner, with whom the bundle was left, and the constable took possession of it. I identify the rugs and blankets produced. They are my property, and of the value of £l 4s. 6d. Constable O'Donnell was examined and the prisoner, who had nothing to say in his defence, was then fully committed for trial. The Cornwall Chronicle, 13 Jun 1866. HOUSEBREAKING. LAUNCESTON SUPREME COURT. CRIMINAL JURISDICTION. Thursday, July 5th. Thomas Grant was convicted on a charge of breaking into the dwelling house of Mark Brooker, on 10th June, and stealing two rugs and two blankets ; a second count charged him with receiving. Friday, July 6th. SENTENCES. Thomas Grant, housebreaking, six years' imprisonment. The Mercury, 9 July 1866.

343

Maureen Withey on 22nd June 2025

https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON16-1-1/CON16-1-1P88 and No 1403. Thomas Grant, 9th Foot, 12 years. Age 30, Ho. Servant. Tried Fort Williams Ct Martial, 13 April 1838, Life. Native place, Correguer, Kilkenny, Ireland. Single, catholic, can read and write, Offence: Striking a Sergeant Fitzgerald, tried 12 times for various offences, had 800 lashes. Ship Gaillardon. Father Richard, laborer at Native place; 6 brothers & 2 sisters at Native place.