Peter Hand

341

Maureen Withey on 4th December 2024

Absconded. Hand Peter, James Pattison, 30-176, 21, Westmeath county, errand boy, 4 feet 6½ inches, ruddy and freckled comp., brown hair, light grey eyes, scar right side of forehead, from W. Lawson, Mudgee, since January 26. Sydney Gazette, 10 Feb 1836.

341

Maureen Withey on 3rd December 2024

Peter and Mary Hand. Stabbing GOWER. With a knife. Judgment of Death first Saturday in January, Respited. Westmeath Journal, 20 Aug 1829.

341

Maureen Withey on 1st February 2021

Irish Convict Database by Peter Mayberry. Peter Hand, age on arrival, 15, per James Pattison (1) 1830, Tried 1829, Westmeath, Life, for Stabbing. DOB 1815, native of Westmeath. Single, brother of Mary Hand per Forth II (1830) Errand boy. Died at Bathurst. -------------------------------------------------- Peter's sister, Mary Hand, was also sentenced for stabbing and was transported on Forth II in 1830. It is likely they committed the crime together. -------------------------------------------------- Convict Death Register. Peter Hand, per James Pattison. Date, 16/5/1836, Bathurst. N. Lawson. ---------------------------------------------------- Peter Hand appears to have been the victim of Murder in a case recorded in the Sydney Monitor, 18 May 1836. “It appeared from the evidence that the deceased was a runaway from from the assigned service of Mr. Lawson, at the time he was maltreated by the prisoner who was a stockkeeper, or shepherd in the service of the Rev, Mr. Vincent; John Dacey or Dacy, was indicted for his murder at Peacock’s Point, Cassilis, on the 13th February, and was found guilty and sentenced to death. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32151351?searchTerm=Peter Hand However, a respite was ordered when fresh evidence was given about the circumstances. THE CASSILIS MURDER. AT the Supreme Court, on Saturday last, John Dacey, a prisoner of the Crown, was placed at the Bar charged with the wilful murder of Peter Hans, at Vincent's Station, County of Cassilis, on the 13th of February last. From the evidence of a Stock-keeper on a neighbouring station, the Jury were satisfied that the deceased came by his death from the brutal treatment alleged to have been inflicted by the prisoner at the bar; a verdict of guilty was accordingly returned, and sentence of death passed on the prisoner, who was ordered for execution on Monday morning. Since the trial however, through the humane exertions of William Bowman, Esq., of Richmond, who happened to be in Sydney at the time of the trial, and knowing the real circumstances of the case caused a subsequent enquiry to be entered into, and the result was a respite granted to the prisoner until further orders. It now appears, that Dacey, who had not been long in the colony, but who has been found by his master to be a very trustworthy man, had charge of the station, and was entrusted by his master with-a gun for the protection of the property. The deceased Hans, (who was then a bushranger, although the prisoner was not aware of the fact) came to his hut and informed him that there were then in the neighbourhood some bushrangers who intended to rob the premises. and asked him if he would assist him in capturing them; Dacey agreed, and taking his gun, was about w, set out, when Hans advised him to plant his box, which he said was supposed to contain some valuable property, lest the bushrangers should visit the hut in their absence: with this advice Dacey complied, and gave the gun to Hans to hold while he carried the box to a place where he could leave it in safety; he had not however gone many yards from the hut when Hans, presenting the gun, ordered him to lay down the box and be off; Dacey saw, when too late, how he had been duped, but as there was now no remedy, he was obliged to submit. Happening to go to a neighbouring station about a fortnight afterwards, he found Hans enjoying himself with the stockkeeper, and recognising him as his late visitant, he endeavoured to secure him, a struggle ensued, which ended in Dacey's capturing the bushranger and tying his hands behind his back. The stock keeper, in whose hut Hans was found, endeavoured, without effect, to convince Dacey that he was mistaken, for the recollection of the trick Hans had played -him was too fresh on his memory to allow him to be easily deceived. He conducted his prisoner to his hut, intending to deliver him up at the nearest Court on the following day. The stock-keeper from the neighbouring hut had followed them up and to his care Dacey committed the prisoner while he endeavoured to get a little sleep, previous to starting on his journey. He was awoke after he had slept a little while by a noise, which he found had been caused by Hans, who along with the stock-keeper was making his escape; he instantly jumped up, and seizing his tomahawk, made after the fugitives, he overtook the deceased a few yards from the hut and gave him a blow with the tomahawk which knocked him down, he did not however wait to see the effect of his blow but gave chase to the other, who he considered was in league with the bushranger. The stock-keeper managed to effect his escape, and on returning towards his hut he found that Hans had disappeared also. Hans died from the effects of the blow after he had walked 18 miles from the place. Information having been to the Bench by the stock-keeper who had witnessed the occurrence, a warrant was immediately issued for the apprehension of Dacey, who, fearful of the consequences, resolved to make for his master's residence to state the circumstances and obtain his protection; he was however captured by the way, and the stock-keeper appeared as the principal witness against him. His Honour, Judge Dowling, is said to have told the Jury when summing up the evidence, that a prisoner of the Crown is not authorized by law to capture a runaway; as we were not in Court, we have no means of ascertaining whether he did so, but it certainly seems to us very difficult to reconcile such a doctrine with the fact that His Excellency the Governor is weekly offering conditional pardons to prisoners who may capture notorious bushrangers. The Colonist, 19 May 1836.