James Hall

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 9th July 2024

1835 - New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters. Tasmania No; 1303 Assigned; Public Works DIED; 13 July 1838

341

Maureen Withey on 20th March 2023

DEVON LENT ASSIZES. James Hall, pleaded guilty a charge of burglary, in the house Mary Kersleck at Whitchurch, on the 2lst of August last, and stealing therefrom promissory notes, and sundry coins the value of ? and upwards, and sentence of Death was ordered recorded against him. Sherborne Mercury, 28 March 1831.

341

Maureen Withey on 20th March 2023

Tasmanian Conduct Record. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-20$init=CON31-1-20P128 No 1303. James Hall, per Strathfieldsay. Tried Devon 17 March 1831, Life. Transported for Housebreaking. See record for details. Tasmanian Conduct Record https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON32-1-1$init=CON32-1-1P214 No 1303. James Hall. See record for details. Shot by a soldier at Port Arthur. Vide memo of the Commandant, 14 July 1838. -------------------------------------------------- Hobart Town Police Report. Tuesday August 7. Robert Bellas, a private of the 51st, at Port Arthur, was examined on a charge of shooting at and killing a prisoner at Port Arthur, named James Hall. The unhappy fellow who was shot was one of the most desperate men of that settlement, and was under the escort of the accused from the coal mines at Sloping Main to the settlement at Port Arthur, to be examined before the Commandant, there being no magistrate at the mines. Bellas was quite a new hand at the settlement, and Hall persuaded him to go by an old road, apparently it would seem, contemplating his escape; when they had advanced about half way on the old road, Hall requested Bellas to walk before him, which he very properly refused. Hall then ran into the bush a short distance, and said he would not go to Port Arthur. Bellas followed him, and desired him to return, and told him if he did not he would fire at him. Hall made no answer, but soon turned round facing Bellas, took the bundle he had on his back off, and making towards Bellas, he fancied Hall was about rushing him, and taking his musket fired at him. He fell and Bellas finding he had seriously wounded him, placed him in the bush, and put a blanket over him, and immediately proceeded to Port Arthur, and reported the circumstances to the authorities; concealed nothing, but as he said, although very unfortunate, considered he had done nothing more than his duty. - Remanded. Hobart Town Courier, 10 Aug 1838. TRIAL OF ROBERT BELLAS A SOLDIER OF THE 5lst REGIMENT FOR SHOOTING JAMES HALL AT PORT ARTHUR. This trial which had excited much interest on account of the various exaggerated reports that were in circulation relating to the circumstances, came on last Saturday, before Mr Justice Montagu. It appeared that Hall was a runaway from one of the stations at Port Arthur, that the soldier Bellas had been sent in pursuit of him, and apprehended him, and lodged him the first night, in a cell at the Coal Mines, next day he was ordered to take him before Capt. Booth, at the settlement. On the way Hall who was both leg-ironed and handcuffed, complained of fatigue, and they rested several times,, at last Hall refused to proceed any farther, he said he would never go to Port Arthur, it was then dark, and they were going through a scrub, Hall suddenly went off the road, Bellas called to him several times, but got no answer, he saw Hall turn to face him, he was close to him, and thought Hall was going to take his musket from him, he fired and Hall fell, he went up to him and spoke but received no answer, he then made a fire, covered the body with a blanket, and hastened to the Settlement to report what he had done. He returned, to the spot about 2 miles from the Settlement accompanied by the Surgeon and some constables, he found the body. Quite dead, with a wound through both wrists and through the neck, which appeared to be inflicted with one bullet, the deceased holding up both hands before him at the moment. This clearly shewed that the deceased had been fronting him; and from the appearance of the place where the ball entered the cuff of the jacket, must have been close to him. We once saw a prisoner raise both hands and nearly kill a constable who had him in charge with a stroke from the handcuff; on the temple. The Judge expressed his regret that the soldier had not been indicted for murder, as it was due both to the public and to the soldier himself, that the case should he most fully inquired into. His Honor took the greatest possible pains in the examination of the, surgeon, and every other witness as to the minutest circumstance that could show whether there was any thing from whence it could be inferred that the act was wantonly committed. And he took great pains in laying down the law shewing the circumstances which would make the killing murder, manslaughter, or justifiable homicide, telling the Jury that if they thought it was murder they must acquit the prisoner on the present information which they must also do if they found it Justifiable homicide. The Jury after a short deliberation acquitted the prisoner saying that they found it Justifiable Homicide. His Honor said he perfectly concurred in the verdict, and told the soldier that he left the bar without the slightest imputation on his character. He added that he should represent to the Governor the impropriety of sending soldiers singly to escort prisoners without a constable or other civil authority, with them. True Colonist, Hobart, 17 Aug 1838.