George Jones

218

Dianne Jones on 2nd November 2023

NOTE: Year of Birth is taken from UK records but not the day and month. The latter dates have been entered as 01/01 because the site does not allow those fields to be left empty. --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 2nd November 2023

FREMANTLE JAIL RECORD: JONES, George; #9780, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1844 [or 1838?] Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer, shoe maker Literacy: Semiliterate Crime: Pickpocket Sentence Period: 10 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket of Leave Date: 8 Jul 1871 Comments: Conditional Release 4 Mar 1874, Perth. Boot closer, labourer, general servant, cook (https://fremantleprison.com.au/history-heritage/research/convict-database/) --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 2nd November 2023

IN WA: On arrival, GEORGE JONES was listed as convict #9780, 22 years old, with a notation that his Penal Record says 28; single, no children; semi-literate; labourer [note change]; Roman Catholic; family – brother John, Kingsland road; 5’5¼” tall, brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion; behaviour in jail in England “indifferent” (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; General Register for Nos 9599-10128 cont. (R16). --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 2nd November 2023

EMBARKATION: 1867, 5 October: Inmate #959, George Jones was sent from Portsmouth to board the Hougoumont for transportation to WA. “The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up, by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary's, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn [only two were on the Hougoumont – Thomas Berwick and Lionel Holdsworth, each sentenced to 20 years for fraud], and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank, for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty [not the senior Fenian, Captain Moriarty; rather, this was Bartholomew Moriarty, aged 17]. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty's ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land.” (Sydney Morning Herald, 19 Dec 1867, p4, at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271). --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 2nd November 2023

1867, 28 May: George Jones was sent from Millbank to Portsmouth prison, Hampshire. Portsmouth, Portland, Chatham and Spike Island in Ireland were listed public works stations and the second stage in the penal process. After separate confinement, prisoners were “placed on work parties at various locations, most commonly naval stations, where maintenance of facilities was vital for the effective protection of Britain’s far flung commercial and military influences around the world. While there, attitude and behaviour were monitored closely. In theory, only after consistently positive reports was a prisoner moved on to the third stage of his incarceration—transportation.” (Edgar, p40) --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 2nd November 2023

“After a sentence of transportation [or penal servitude] was handed down, the prisoner entered into a separate stage where he was placed into an individual cell, isolated from others, apart from brief periods of exercise and attendance at chapel. However, no communication of any kind with other prisoners was permitted at any time. The philosophy behind this penal methodology had its provenances in the religious, monastic traditions; i.e., that in the isolation of his cell the malefactor would be able to contemplate the errors of his way, unadulterated by the negative influences of former contemporaries, and be reformed.” (Edgar, 2018, pp39-40) When first put into practice, the mandated period of separate confinement was 18 months. By the late 1840s, authorities had conceded that such conditions of imprisonment were “injurious to many prisoners’ mental health” and the stint was reduced to 12 months. Periods of separate confinement were reduced further “as a prisoner displayed good behaviour tendencies” (Edgar, 2018, p40). Millbank, Pentonville, Wakefield and Mountjoy in Ireland were the “Probation” or “Separate” prisons, as were some local jails. --0--

218

Dianne Jones on 2nd November 2023

1866, 10 September: Both men were transferred to Millbank prison, Westminster. George Jones was listed as inmate #2347, 28 years old, Roman Catholic, shoemaker, single; semiliterate; five times previously convicted, three times summarily; behaviour "good"; family -- Eliza Aspin, 7 Henrietta Street, Hackney Road; visited by two sisters 15.5.67 (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners, 1866-1867). --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 2nd November 2023

JAILS: 1866, 30 July: George Jones and Henry Smith were admitted to Newgate jail pending their trial at the Old Bailey. George was listed as 28 years old, shoemaker, semiliterate (UK, After-Trial Calendar of Prisoners, 1855-1931 for George Jones, 1866). --00-- On another Newgate jail record, George Jones is listed as 22 years old, a shoemaker from Liverpool; 5'5" tall (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951; Newgate Prison; Registers of Prisoners, 1863). --00--

218

Dianne Jones on 2nd November 2023

TRIAL: 1866, 13 August: Old Bailey (CCC), London -- transcript: 711. WILLIAM HENRY SMITH (23) and GEORGE JONES (28) were indicted for stealing a purse and fourpence in money from the person of Caroline Daniels. MR. PLATT conducted the Prosecution, MR. DALY defended Smith, and MR. STRAIGHT Jones. WILLIAM GREEN (City Policeman 280). About eleven o'clock on the night of the 22nd July I was on duty, with another officer, named Whitney, at the corner of Prince's Street—several persons were waiting for omnibuses, and amongst them was the prosecutrix—I saw Jones place himself on her right-hand side, his left hand was covered with the corner of an overcoat—he put his hand into her pocket—he then said something to Smith, and they both got on to an omnibus—in consequence of what Whitney said to me, I got on to the omnibus—I said to Jones, "I am an officer, and you must come down; I want you"—I then saw him pass something to Smith—there was not room for them on the bus—Jones got down, and I handed him over to Whitney—I then returned to take Smith—he was sitting at the back of the driver—I saw him put his left hand down by the driver—I put my hand down and picked up this purse—I told him I should take him into custody for being concerned with another in stealing a lady's purse—he said, "You—swine, you don't take me," and kicked me violently in the stomach, which caused me to fall over the side rail of the bus—I had hold of the prisoner by the collar—we had a struggle for about three minutes. Cross-examined by MR. DALY Q. Are you a constable or detective? A. I am a plain-clothes man, and have been in the City Police over five years—I believe I stated before the magistrate that the prisoners spoke to each other—Jones said to Smith, "Bill"—I think that is what he said—it was a signal—I did not know he had been convicted before, but I know it now—I did not seize Smith by the neck, but by the collar—I took him gently by the collar—he went quietly to the station. Cross-examined by MR. STRAIGHT. Q. Did you say before the magistrate that you saw Jones put his hand into the lady's pocket? A. Yes—I cannot account for that not being in the depositions. GEORGE WHITNEY (City Policeman 98). I was with Green on this night—I saw Jones by himself first—he was standing on the right-hand side of the prosecutrix—he put his hand into her pocket—he then joined Smith in the middle of the road—I asked the prosecutrix if she had lost anything, and in consequence of what she said I spoke to Green—they were then on an omnibus. Cross-examined. Q. Did not Smith give you a correct address? A. Yes. CAROLINE DANIELS . I am a servant at the Chapter Coffee-house, Paternoster Row—about eleven o'clock on the night of the 22nd I was with my sister at the corner of Prince's Street waiting for an omnibus—Whitney said something to me, and I then missed my purse—there was either 3d. or 4d. in it, and some was washing bills—this is it (produced.) Cross-examined by MR. STRAIGHT. Q. Were there not a good many people about? A. Yes. SMITH GUILTY .**JONES GUILTY .** Both prisoners PLEADED GUILTY to a former conviction.— Ten Years' Penal Servitude each. (https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/) --00--