Isaac Isaacs

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Dianne Jones on 12th March 2021

IN VDL: 1834, 23 October: Isaac was sent to Port Arthur for "gross and indecent conduct towards his master's female child and exposing his person". He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with hard labour. 1841, 5 January: He was granted a Ticket of Leave, but forfeited it following a conviction for larceny. 1843, 6 January: A second ToL was granted. 1844, 7 May: He had a charge of felonious conduct dismissed. 1845, 26 August: Isaac was recommended for a Conditional Pardon (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON34-1-3$init=CON34-1-3P469). 1845, 13 October: An Isaac Isaacs (40, labourer) married Ann McLoughlin (29, spinster, per Mary Anne) at St George's Church in Hobart (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/RGD37-1-4p161j2k). 1846, 4 August: His Conditional Pardon was approved (see https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON34-1-3$init=CON34-1-3P469).

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Dianne Jones on 12th March 2021

IMPRISONMENT: 1831, 20 September: While awaiting trial on the charge of stealing, Isaac was imprisoned at Newgate. He had been committed for trial by RE Broughton Esq and was described as a dealer, born in 1804 (see London, England, Newgate Calendar of Prisoners, 1785-1853; Piece 38: 1831). 1831, 12 November: He was sent aboard the Justitia hulk, moored at Woolwich (see UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849; Justitia Register 1803-1836).

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Dianne Jones on 12th March 2021

TRIED: On 20 October 1831, he was convicted at the Old Bailey. The transcript of his trial follows: "Before Lord Chief Justice Tenterden. #2105. ISAAC ISAACS was indicted for stealing on the 19th of September, 1 note of the Bank of Amsterdam, for 300 guilders, and one other note, for 200 guilders, value 41l. 12s. 5d., the property of Michael Hart, from his person. MICHAEL HART (through an interpreter): I am a native of Amsterdam; I came to England nine or ten weeks ago, and lodge in Cox-square, with Norah Levy - I became acquainted with the prisoner, slightly, about a fortnight after I came to this country; I was courting his sister, and do so now. On a Monday morning, about eight o'clock, I met the prisoner in the neighbourhood, and went with him up the street to Whitechapel; we went into a public-house, and there had two quarterns of gin together- we then went back to the prisoner's lodging: before we got there he asked me if I had my notes about me, and asked why I did not change them, as I could get English money for them; I said that at present I was not in need of money, and thought of saving them a little longer - I had them in my pocket at the time; they were two Amsterdam notes, for three hundred and two hundred guilders- he asked me to come home, and I went to his lodgings in Gulston-street, Whitechapel - when we got up stairs he asked me to let him look at the notes; I took them out of my pocket, intending to show them to him - I held them in my own hand; the prisoner took them out of my hand with one hand, and gave me a blow with his other hand - he went down stairs; I did not follow him immediately -Cohen, his wife, and the prisoner's wife and sister were in the room; I saw the prisoner again at two o'clock - he was brought home by two strange men, drunk, and incapable of coming up stairs - I assisted him up; I went away for about two hours, then returned, and found him laying on the bed - there was nobody else but his wife in the room; he was not quite so bad, but still drunk - I afterwards asked him for my money; he said he did not know, for he was ill-treated - that was the reply he made; I ran about, and asked the advice of some persons - I went that evening to the Police-station, and told the inspector, who sent a Policeman with me, and he took the prisoner; I had a man with me, who interpreted for me - I have not seen or heard of my notes since - a guilder is worth 20d. Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS: Was not the prisoner against your marrying his sister? MICHAEL HART: I do not know - I have three names in Holland, but since I have been in England I have only been called Michael Hart, and here is my hawker's licence in that name; I was so stunned with fright I could not follow the prisoner down stairs - I am sure I did not give him the notes to change - he took them out of my hand. COURT: What did he say when you asked him about the notes? MICHAEL HART: I asked him for my money - he said nothing, but that he had been badly handled. HART COHEN: I was in the prisoner's room when he and the prosecutor came in, between eight and half-past eight o'clock in the morning - they spoke in Hebrew, which I understood, but did not notice what they were talking about; I saw Hart open his pocket-book, and take out some papers - the prisoner snatched them out of his hand, gave him a push, and ran down stairs; I could not see what the papers were, but Hart called out in Hebrew,"I have lost five hundred guilders;" I had seen him in possession of a three hundred and two hundred guilders Amsterdam notes; I have not seen them since. Cross-examined: Who was in the room? HART COHEN: My wife, the prisoner's wife, his sister, and children: he being an intended brother-in-law, I did not like to interfere - I did not call Stop thief! my wife was alarmed - the prosecutor was standing up; he could have followed him down stairs if he chose - I had merely called there because the children were ill with the measles; I saw two men carrying the prisoner home, drunk, about two o'clock; the prosecutor went to Brighton, and my son went with him as an interpreter, and I wrote to him, directing my letters "Lewis Cohen," which was my son's name - the prisoner was to inquire at the post-office for a letter in that name; my wife is too ill to be here. JAMES WALTON: I am a Policeman. I took the prisoner in charge; I found a shilling, a sixpence, and a few halfpence on him - he appeared to have been drinking; I searched all his pockets - there was no hole in either of them - I swear that. THOMAS BICKNELL: I am an inspector of the Police. I was at the station-house on Monday, the 19th, when the prisoner was brought there by Walton - he appeared to have been drinking, but was capable of knowing what he was doing and saying; the prosecutor brought an interpreter, and as they were all Jews I asked the prisoner if he understood what the interpreter was saying; he said Yes, he understood every thing, but knew nothing about it, nor had he ever seen the notes; I am positive of that; I was before the Justice next morning - what he said was taken down by the Magistrate. Prisoner: I have witnesses to call. MARY ISAAC: I was at the prisoner's house, between eight and nine o'clock, when this gentleman came up stairs, and he gave Mr. Isaacs the notes - I live there as servant to the prisoner; I am not related to him; Mr. and Mrs. Cohen. Mr. and Mrs. Isaacs, and I were in the room, nobody else - I cannot speak Hebrew; I saw the prosecutor give the prisoner the notes; he put them into his pocket, had his breakfast, shaved himself, and went down - before he went down the prosecutor took out his pocket-book, and wrote down on a piece of paper, how many guilders there were, and how much they would come to - I did not read the paper; he wrote it in numbers - I understand numbers; the prisoner then went down - Mr. Cohen went down directly after. COURT: Do you know whether there was any quarrel between the prosecutor and prisoner about his sister? MARY ISAAC: No, there was none - his sister was not there at all; the prisoner was afterwards brought home drunk - the prosecutor helped him up stairs. BARNARD BARNARD: I called at the prisoner's house, between eleven and twelve o'clock, on the day this happened - I saw the prosecutor and a young woman there. MICHAEL HART: I did not see the witness in the room at the time the prisoner took the notes - I saw her after I came up the second time. HART COHEN: I did not notice Isaac there, and do not suppose that she was - it is a middling sized room, and has a bed in it. GUILTY. Aged 27. Transported for Life." (source: Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org), October 1831, trial of ISAAC ISAACS (t18311020-149).