James Burke

Level 221

D Wong on 12th March 2019

James Burke was 24 years old on arrival. Native Place: Cork. Crime: Administering Unlawful oaths. Colonial Secretary Papers: BURKE, James. Per "Southworth", 1822; stockkeeper at Cawdor 1824 Jan 24-1825 Dec 31: On returns of men in the Government Stock Department, Cowpastures (Reel 6031; 4/7028C pp.21-435) 19/1/1826 Sydney Gazette: Government Notice. FIFTY POUNDS REWARD COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, JAN. 17,1826. WHEREAS JAMES BURKE, a Convict by the Southworth, and attached to theStock Station at Lowe's Hill, stands charged with the WILFUL MURDER of John Cogan, a Settler in the District of Bringelly ;-The said James Burke, is 28 years of age, 5 feet 6 1/2 inches high, florid complexion, brown hair, and grey eyes. The above Reward will be paid to any Person or Persons, on producing at this Office a Certificate, duly authenticated by a Magistrate, of the said Offender being in safe Custody. By His Excellency's Command, ALEXANDER McLEAY. 11/2/1826 Sydney Gazette: James Burke, who absconded under a charge of the wilful murder of John Cogan, and for whom a reward of £50 has been offered by Government, was apprehended on Monday, in the vicinity of Mulgoa, by a settler of that neighbourhood, and safely lodged in the gaol at Penrith. On Saturday last the charge was investigated before the Penrith Bench, when the unhappy'man was fully committed to stand his trial for the murder. 4/3/1826 Sydney Gazette: Friday, March 3.---James burke and Cornelius Donahue, the former as principal, the latter as accessory after the fact, were indicted for the wilful murder of John Cogan, at Mulgoa, on the 9th. of January last. The evidence not being sufficient to support the indictment against Donahue, the Jury, under the direction of the court, returned a verdict of not guilty. The prisoner Burke was found guilty, and ordered for execution on monday next. Donahue remanded, on the motion of te Attorney General. 8/3/1826 Sydney Gazette: EXECUTIONS. On Monday last, James Burke, for the murder of John Cogan, at Mulgoa, and William Corbett, for a highway robbery on the person of Mr. Fopp, of Sydney, were executed pursuant to their sentence. The unfortunate men manifested the utmost penitence for the crimes which they had been thus doomed to suffer death, and severally acknowledged the justice of the sentence, by which they paid the forfeit of their lives to the outraged laws. Burke particularly expressed the deepest contrition for the heinous crime for which he had been so justly doomed to suffer, but at the same time declared the total absence of premeditation in the commission of the fatal act, which he in his last moments declared was solely the effect of intoxication, and the particular circumstances attending which he did not even then remember. He also utterly disclaimed any criminal intercourse having subsisted, as it was insinuated, between him and the unfortunate wife of the deceased. 6/3/1826: Death date.