John Kirkwood

341

Maureen Withey on 6th January 2022

Francis King, Patrick Lalor, James Kelly, John Kirkwood, and Bernard Connor, were indicted for highway robbery, and stealing from the person of Andrew Reid, on the 3th of February, bank notes value £3 10s. From the evidence of the prosecutor Reid, who was examined by Mr. Schoales, it appeared that he had been in Coleraine market the of February, selling pork, and that when a short distance from town, on the No Limavady road, between the hours of two and three o’clock, he was walking a piece behind his horse and cart, and observed five men on on the roadside, one of whom was sitting with a board on his knee, on which were three thimbles. One of the men asked him to try his fortune, which he refused, when three of them took hold of him, and the fourth put his hand into his pocket and took out his money. The three continued some time to hold him till the other two made their escape. Did not know the prisoners that time, but from the observation which he took of them he was able to identify four of them out of seven men who were shewn him in Coleraine bridewell on the 28th of February. Betty Kane was examined, and stated that she was on the road Reid was robbed, and saw the men holding him taking the money, from him; identified Bernard Connor ; was sure that he was one of the men she saw holding Reid. Sub constable Edward Lee, examined by Oliver Sprowle, Esq.- Arrested three of the prisoners in Moire, the county of Down, other two ran off. Thomas McElroy, examined by Cileries Malnnn, Esq.—Pursued after and took two other prisoners into custody ; ; this was on the February 7, prisoners, when brought into, asked what they were arrested for, when their names and the crime charged against them were read out the Hue and Cry, which they first denied, but afterwards said that they had won the money fairly. Joseph Power, who said was journeyman tailor, and on tramp at the time near Coleraine, was examined Mr. Doherty, and swore that he was present when the prosecutor Reid lost three notes betting with the thimble-man. Reid was here called and re-examined, and declared that he never any bet in his life. A woman who was deformed, having but the stumps of her arms and hands, gave similar testimony to that of Power, as to Reid losing the money gambling with the thimble-man. The jury, without a minute’s deliberation, returned verdict of guilty, to transported for 15 years Londonderry Sentinel, 19 March 1842.

341

Maureen Withey on 3rd January 2022

Kinnear Indent: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-17$init=CON14-1-17P36 and https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-17$init=CON14-1-17P37 6755. John Kirkwood, tried at Londonderry, 17 March 1842, 15 years, age 24, height 5ft 4 ¾, protestant, can read, married, no children. Offence: Ditto as above. Once for drunk assaulting a girl, 6 weeks –& (assault a girl – crossed out) Surgeon’s report: Good. Trade, Weaver & Labourer, Plo’man. Native place, Derry. Remarks: W, Ellen; M, Ann; B, Thos; 3S, Betty, Marg, Ann. Conduct Record https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-28$init=CON33-1-28p97 John Kirkwood. --------------------------------------------------- Francis King, Patrick Lawler, James Kelly, 2nd, and John Kirkwood, stealing £3 16.0 from Andrew Read. In Francis King’s entry on the Indent, he stated “I won the money at thimble rigging, he then said he had been robbed.” All the others subsequently were marked Ditto. James Kelly stated on the section marked Trade, that his trade was a labourer, but that he “lived 4 or 5 years by thimble rigging.” On Bernard Connor’s Conduct Record, it records that he was a “thimble rigger.” Thimble rigging was a form of gambling, where the operator rapidly moved about three inverted thimbles, one of which concealed a token, and the other player bets on which thimble the token is under.