Thomas Henderson

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Dianne Jones on 11th September 2021

--00-- POSTSCRIPT: From the West Australian, 4 October 1888, p2: "MR. THOMAS HENDERSON, the well-known tailor in Hay-street, died somewhat suddenly yesterday afternoon. He was taken ill in the morning and Dr. Jameson was at once summoned, but Mr. Henderson died, a few hours afterwards. We understand that the cause of death was heart disease."

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PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED: 1884, 9 December: From the West Australian, p2: "WE, THOMAS HENDERSON and WALTER WILLIAM ABBETT, tailors, of Perth, have this day DISSOLVED, by mutual consent, the PARTNERSHIP hitherto existing between us as Tailors, in Hay Street, Perth. ALL CLAIMS against the business will be paid by THOMAS HENDERSON, who will also collect all monies due to the late firm of HENDERSON and ABBETT. Dated this 2nd day of December, one thousand eight hundred and eighty four THOMAS HENDERSON, WALTER W. ABBETT NOTE -All debts due by the late firm will be liquidated by Mr. Henderson immediately upon presentation." --00-- INTESTATE ESTATE: 1889, 20 March: From the West Australian, p2: "NOTICE TO CREDITORS. IN THE MATTER OF THOMAS HENDERSON, deceased, intestate. WHEREAS on the fifteenth day of February, 1889, an order to Administer the Estate and effects of THOMAS HENDERSON, late of Perth, Tailor, in the Colony of Western Australia, deceased, who died on the third day of October, 1888, was granted by the Supreme Court of the said colony, under the provisions of the Deceased Persons' Estate Act (1883), (47 Victoria, No. 20), to the undersigned, the Curator of Intestate Estates, Perth. NOW NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to the Ordinance, 22nd and 23rd Victoria. No. 35 (adopted by 31st Vict. No. 8) that all CREDITORS and other persons having CLAIMS or DEMANDS against the estate of the said deceased, are hereby required to send particulars of such claims or demands to the undersigned, on or before the eighteenth day of APRIL now next. AND FURTHER, that the undersigned will, immediately after such date, proceed to distribute the assets of the said deceased among the Creditors, and persons entitled thereto, having regard only to those Claims of which be shall then have had notice. And the said Curator will not be liable for the assets, or any part thereof so distributed, or dealt with, to any person of whose claim or demand he shall not then have received notice. Dated at Perth this 18th day of March, 1889. JAMES COWAN, Curator of Intestate Estates."

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Dianne Jones on 11th September 2021

EXAMPLES OF CLASSIFIED ADS PLACED IN THE LOCAL PRESS BY THOMAS HENDERSON: 1882, 24 March: From the West Australian, p2: "THOMAS HENDERSON, Tailor and Habit Maker, HAY STREET, PERTH. HAVING employed the services of the well known master tailor, Mr. Thomas Stanley, as cutter, he has kindly placed at my service all his measures from his late customers, and desires to inform the public that all orders intended for Mr. Stanley, are to be addressed to Thomas Henderson's establishment, Hay Street, where they will be attended to with the utmost punctuality and despatch. March 24th, 1882." --0-- 1882, December: From the West Australian, p1: "UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF His Excellency the Governor, Sir William C. F. Robinson, K. C. M.G.; The Right Hon. Lord Gifford, V.O.; The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer His Honor the Chief Justice; The Postmaster General, The Staff Officer of Volunteers, and the Artillery Corps Captain Smith; and Contractor to the whole of the Police Force; Captain Hillman; and Contractor for years to the Metropolitan Volunteers. THOMAS HENDERSON, Tailor and Habit Maker, HAY STREET, PERTH. Directions for self-measurement forwarded by post to country customers, on application. - April 20." --0--

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Dianne Jones on 11th September 2021

--00-- COURT CASE, PERTH: 1882, 4 January: Thomas Henderson, master tailor, was a witness in the Supreme Court trial of two men accused of receiving stolen goods: "SAMUEL DAWES and JAMES HESTER were jointly charged with having received, feloniously a quantity of cloth, belonging to the Police Department. The defence was that the cloth had been bought from Smith, a sailor. The Attorney General in opening the inquiry said it reminded him, in the audacity of the theft, of a case in which Lord Justice Campbell, when practising at the bar, defending a pickpocket, had his own pocket picked by his own client. Mr. Howell, with whom Mr. Barratt, appeared for the defence. P.C. Gerring, deposed that having heard of the robbery, he visited the house of the prisoner Dawes, at Jarrahdale, and found two suits of clothes made up of police cloth, same as that stolen. From information received witness also visited the premises of a tailor named Agnew, at Fremantle, and was shown the remnants of a piece of cloth, which, to the best of witness's belief, was a portion of the stolen cloth. Agnew said he had bought the cloth from the prisoner Dawes. John Patrick Cunningham, lance-corporal of police, who had charge of the police stores in June last, deposed to missing a roll of cloth out of a bale, and finding a quantity of straw substituted in lieu thereof. Mr. Howell suggested that the Crown Agents might have sent out straw in place of cloth. Corporal McKay confirmed the evidence of P.C. Gerring, as to the discovery of two suits of clothes made out of cloth similar to that missing, on the prisoner Dawes' premises. With regard to the other prisoner, witness was informed by a tailor named Cavanagh that he had purchased some blue cloth from him. ...Thomas Henderson, master tailor, had made police clothing for eight years. Was positive that the cloth produced belonged to the Police Department. The coats, also, were made of police cloth. Similar material could not be bought in the colony at any store. It would be cheap at 14s. per yard. Mary Towser said she knew Dawes, and that he had got money from her to buy some cloth. Saw the cloth and measured it. It was like that produced. This ended the case for the prosecution, and the Court adjourned till Thursday at 10 o'clock." (The West Australian, Fri 6 Jan 1882, p3 at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2986179?) --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th September 2021

FOOTNOTE: There is no reference in his Fremantle jail record to Thomas Henderson's junket on the "Gazelle". But it does indicate that he was back in Perth in 1886, as below: HENDERSON, Thomas, #4168, arrived 7 Sep 1856 per Runnymede Date of Birth: 1831 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Tailor Literacy: Literate Sentence Date: 1855 Sentence Place: London, England Crime: Wounding with intent Sentence Period: Life Ticket Leave Date: 1 Aug 1860 Conditional Pardon Date: 12 Nov 1873 Comments: Self-employed, 1860, became government clothier. At Perth, 1886 (see https://fremantleprison.com.au/).

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Dianne Jones on 10th September 2021

1869, March: When the Fenian convict John Boyle O'Reilly made his bid for freedom from a life sentence in WA, he had an unwelcome companion -- a man O'Reilly called Bowman (Thomas Henderson). Years later, when O'Reilly recounted his escape, his dislike for Bowman/Henderson was obvious. Having waited in hiding for five days for a ship to collect him at sea off the WA coast, O'Reilly was delighted to see his friends return with news of an impeding rendezvous. He would be taken aboard the American whaler "Gazelle" that was about to set sail from Bunbury: "But there was one drawback," O'Reilly wrote."A criminal convict, one of the worst characters in the colony, a ticket-of-leave man named Martin Bowman, or Beaumont, had discovered the means of my escape, and had gone to Maguire [a civilian who played a major role in O'Reilly's escape] and threatened to put the police on the track unless he was taken off too. Maguire could not dissent; so here was the scoundrel cooly looking at us, and saying nothing. That night we slept little, some one always keeping an eye on Bowman. We were up at daybreak, and soon after we were afloat. Old Johnson and his boy stood on the beach and saw us push off. We pulled straight out toward the headland, as Captain Gifford had instructed. By noon, we saw the two whaleships coming along with a fine breeze. Towards evening we heard a hail, and some one on board shouted my name, and cried out, "Come on board!" We were all overjoyed. We pulled alongside, and I was helped out of the boat, by the strong arms of Henry Hathaway, the third mate. Captain Gifford made us welcome, and gave me a place in his cabin. Martin Bowman, the escaped criminal, was sent forward among the crew. [In "The Catalpa Rescue", Peter FitzSimons says Martin Bowman was "expected to work in exchange for the 'Gazelle' tolerating his presence aboard the ship" (p126).] ... Six months afterwards, when the Gazelle touched at Roderique, an English island in the Indian Ocean, the Governor came aboard, searching for 'an escaped convict from Australia — a black-haired man'. I was standing with Mr. Hussey, the mate, when the Governor of the island made the demand. Mr. Hussey said that no such person was on board. The Governor answered that he had information that a man had escaped on the Gazelle. Mr. Hussey feared they might seize the ship, so he said that a man of that description who had come on board off the coast of Australia, might be the person. He called Bowman, whom every one on board detested, and he was put in irons and taken ashore. We knew that he would tell the whole story (the wonder was that he did not do it then; but he wished to make terms for his own release). That night the officers of the Gazelle threw the grindstone, with my hat, overboard, while I lay hid in the captain's cabin. A cry of "man overboard!" was raised, a boat lowered, and the hat picked up. There were on board some English ex-convicts, who had shipped in Australia, and these only waited for a chance to get me re-taken. But one of them, utterly deceived by the officer's strategy, declared that he saw me sink where the hat was picked up. When the Governor of the island came on board next day to demand his prisoner, the flag was at half-mast, and the officers sorrowfully told him that the man he probably wanted had jumped overboard in the night, and was drowned. His policemen went among the crew, and learnt the same news, being particularly impressed by the Englishman's story. Two days later, the Gazelle sailed from Roderique, and I came on deck, much to the amazement of the crew." (see https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/170027882/20261909) --00--

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1856, 7 September: On arrival in WA, Thomas Henderson was listed as 25 years old when convicted, single and eligible for a ticket-of-leave on 22 May 1862. He could read and write imperfectly, and came with a "bad" behaviour rating (see Western Australia Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department Registers (128/38 - 39)). 1860, 1 August: He was granted a Ticket of Leave. 1861, 9 January: He was sentenced at Perth to 3 years' jail for burglary (see Western Australia Convict Records, 1846-1930). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th September 2021

1855, 10 May: He was sent from Newgate to Millbank prison (see UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Newgate Prison; Registers of Prisoners 1862). --0-- 1856, 3 April: He was admitted to Portsmouth Prison - prisoner #3208 - single, able to read and write imperfectly, Protestant, 25 and a tailor. His next of kin was Mrs Bowman of of Fleet Lane, Farrington Street. He received a visitor on 19 May 1856 (presumably from her). His record lists, in detail, his previous terms of imprisonment and other institutional confinement: By this time, he had been to Newgate, Millbank (admitted 17 May 1855), Bethlehem Hospital (admitted 6 September 1855), Millbank Prison again (admitted 30 January 1856) and Portsmouth. A notation says he tried to escape from Millbank on 17 March 1856: "Prisoner 2124 Thomas Henderson attempted to escape by removing a portion of the brick work of his cell, entering the ventilation shaft and getting on the roof of the prison. signed M Gambier, Governor." His previous convictions were listed as: "Before convicted 3 times, 5 days June 1844, 1 year and shipped February 1845, and transported 10 years January 1849. Convicted Clerkenwell 8 years penal servitude February 7 1853." Places and periods of separate confinement: Newgate - 1 month 26 days; Millbank - 3 months 20 days; Millbank 2nd time - 2 months 4 days; Bethlehem Hospital - 4 months 24 days. His character/behaviour in each institution: Newgate - indifferent; Millbank - bad; Millbank 2nd time - bad (with an asterisk referencing his attempted escape). --00-- 1856, 22 May: He was sent from Portsmouth for transportation per Runnymede to Western Australia (see UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners, 1855-1858).

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He was tried and convicted at the Old Bailey on 9 April 1855: Transcript of case #482: THOMAS HENDERSON, feloniously stabbing John Cross in the breast, with intent to murder him.—2nd COUNT, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. MESSRS. BODKIN and LAWRENCE conducted the Prosecution. JOHN CROSS. I am a sub-warder in the House of Correction, Coldbath-fields. On 3rd March, about 5 minutes to 11 o'clock in the morning, I was relieved by another officer, for the purpose of going for the report slate, which was kept hanging over where the prisoner was sitting — I went and took the slate down, and put some prisoners' numbers upon it; not the prisoner's number, but some prisoners' numbers — I then hung it up again — after I had hung it up the prisoner rose from his seat and stabbed me in the left breast with a knife — it inflicted a severe wound below the left nipple, just above the region of the heart — nothing whatever was said at the time he did it — not a word passed between us — I never gave him the least provocation — I have the clothes here that I had on at the time (producing them) — here it a flannel shirt, a shirt, waistcoat, and coat — they were all cut through. DAVID BAGG. I am a sub-warder in the House of Correction, Coldbath-fields. On 3rd March I was engaged in the same room where Cross was — the prisoner was sitting on a form against the wall of the work room — he was engaged in stripping the cuttings of rope or junk, previous to the prisoners picking it into oakum — he was doing that with a knife, similar to this (produced) — I saw the slate there — Cross was by the side of the prisoner — the prisoner was sitting on the right hand side of Cross, who had been standing, with the slate on his arm, writing — he dropped his left arm, and was standing with the slate against the wall, when the prisoner rose suddenly from his seat, and struck Cross with his right hand on the chest — when he drew back his hand I saw the knife in it. HENRY WAKEFIELD. I am a surgeon in the House of Correction, Coldbath-fields. I examined Cross's wound about a quarter of an hour after it occurred — it was about half an inch in length, and about half an inch in depth — it was on the outer side of the left nipple — the blow that caused it must have been given with considerable violence — it struck against the rib, which fortunately prevented it penetrating the chest. Prisoner. The governor told me the other day, when I came here, when I asked him about this case, and applied to the Sheriffs for somebody to speak for me, that my case was already settled; that my certificates from the doctors, about having my head fractured, and being in a lunatic asylum, were already forwarded; and I want to know now what is the result; I have got nothing to say to Dr. Wakefield; I know nothing about the case. Witness. In my opinion, while he was in the gaol, he has understood what he had to do. Prisoner. Some years ago Mr. Wakefield gave me fifteen days in the House of Correction; he knows very well that I have had my head fractured, and that I have been in a lunatic asylum twice. Witness. He was apparently insensible for some two days after this; that is, not insensible, but he was not alive to anything that was going forward — I know no reason physically why, if he chose to attend, he could not do so — I do not know anything about his head being fractured — I remember his making an entrance into my house some years ago — he was taken up on that occasion — he gave great alarm to one of my daughters, who suffered very much from it — he came under pretence of requiring professional assistance, which proved to be false — that was about ten years ago—he has been repeatedly in confinement since, as a prisoner. GUILTY on the 1st Count.— DEATH Recorded. Respited to transportation for life. --0--

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CRIME: Feloniously wounding with intent to kill. --0-- 1855, 15 March: Thomas Henderson alias Martin Bowman, alias Devine, alias Thomas Anderson was admitted to Newgate Prison awaiting trial on a charge of "Feloniously stabbing and wounding John Cross with intent to murder him". He was listed as 25 years old, 5'8" tall with dark brown hair, hazel eyes, fresh complexion and slender. He was a tailor from Holborn and had two previous convictions, for 10 years and 8 years, according to his jail record (see UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Newgate Prison; Registers of Prisoners 1862). --0--