William Law

343

Maureen Withey on 29th May 2020

Burglary at Worksop. William Law. 23, and Thomas Smith, 21, were charged with burglariously entering the dwelling house of John Roberts, at Worksop, and stealing variety of apparel.—Mr. Hildyard called Ann Roberts, wife of the prosecutor, who said that on Sunday night, the 9th of November, they went to bed soon after nine o'clock, witness fastened the doors and shutters, and was called in the morning by Mrs. Welfoot; lighted the fire, and then missed three hats, a coat, pair of boots, pair of shoes, four gowns, a gown-piece, fur tippet, cloak, some child’s clothes, table linen, an umbrella, silk handkerchiefs and some silver spoons, marked A. K., (the initials of her maiden name) and variety of other property. ——The witness was then examined at great length, to prove that the doors were properly secured. Saw the property at Sheffield, the following Friday.—Elizabeth Welfoot. a neighbour, saw the flower pots underneath the window, taken out of the window, the shutters unfastened, the sash thrown up. It was not light, but could distinguish the face any person —William Bland, constable, proved finding the prisoners at the house of Mrs. Flanagban, Sheffield, on Monday afternoon, and apprehended them: produced the property found on the premises, and also other property found at a pawnbroker’s, and Mrs. Webber's. Worksop eighteen miles from Sheffield.—John Royle saw Smith come to Mrs. Flanaghan’s, about half-past seven o'clock on the Monday morning, and Law came soon after; Smith had a bundle, an umbrella, and a green coat on; Law had a bag, containing something; went for some tobacco. —Judy Flanaghan keeps a house in Waterlane, Sheffield, and found the prisoners there when she got up, trying a coat on a man; received some goods from Smith to pawn; went to Atherton’s; while there, the constable Bland came; also sold some others to Mrs. Webber’s; gave the money to Smith : saw Law take some cravats from Smith’s bundle. —John Bland, son of the other constable, found two handkerchiefs concealed about Law.—Mrs. Roberts, recalled, identified most of the property.—The Court observed that the charge of the burglary was not directly proved, but as the property was found at a distance of eighteen miles at seven o'clock the morning, in November, it would be for the jury to consider whether the robbery had not been effected in the night time so as to constitute a burglary.—Guilty of burglary.—Judgment of death recorded. Nottingham Review, 20 March 1835.

343

Maureen Withey on 29th May 2020

William Lowe was again convicted in 1845 and recieved a Sentence of transportation for 15 years to a penal settlement for a House robbery. He was sent to VDL per Wanderer, arriving there 8 Dec 1845. -------------------------------------------------- https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-3$init=CON16-1-3p202 Tasmanian Indents. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON16-1-3$init=CON16-1-3p203 William Lowe , Tried at Maitland C. Court, 12 Sept 1845, 15 years. 5ft 3 ¼. Age 33, protestant, can neither read nor write, single. Offence- House robbery, I was armed, pro. John Kerrigan, money and spirits were taken, it was a public house at St Patricks Plains, I held a T. L. at that time. To NSW per Strathfielday 1836, Tried Notts, Life for Housebreaking. States his orig. Sent. was only 10 years. Trade- Blacksmith; Native of Warwick. F(father) Wm; M- Hannah; B – Rd, Thos; S- Anne, Betsey, at N.P. -------------------------------------------------- William Low, ticket-of-leave, was indicted for having, at Drayton, near Singleton, on the 28th April, 1844, stolen a quantity of silver money, a fowling-piece, &c., the property of John Kerrigan, publican, at Drayton, seven miles from Singleton. It appeared from the evidence of Mr. Kerrigan and his wife, that on the 28th of April, 1844, between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, when they had retired to rest, a knock was heard at the door, and Mr. Kerrigan procured a light from the servant girl, who was still up, and opened the door, when the prisoner presented a carbine at him, compelled him to give up his trousers, the pockets of which he emptied, and then proceeded to the bedroom, ordering Mr. K. to go outside; but he, seeing his wife turned out of the bedroom by the prisoner, was returning towards her, when the prisoner compelled him to go out by the back door, where there was another man, with a musket, as sentry. The prisoner then ransacked the house, and Mr. K. did not return inside till he and the other man went away. It was found they had taken with them: 2 or £3 in silver, a fowling-piece, a day-book, a coat, a quantity of spirits, ale, porter, &c., besides spilling a great deal. Mr. Kerrigan did not see prisoner again until the 7th May, 1845, when he had a booth, as a publican, at Patrick's Plains races; he then saw the prisoner in front of his booth, and recognising him as the man who had committed the robbery in question, he entered into conversation with him about a dog-fight, in order that he might make sure of his identity. He did not cause him to be apprehended, however, until the 10th, and assigned as a reason for the delay, that he was afraid of the affair injuring him in his business during the races, and he had ascertained where the prisoner was employed, so that he had no fear of not being able to pitch upon him another time. Accordingly, on the 10th, the prisoner was apprehended, by constable M'Guire, at the instance of Mr. K., at Mr. Scott's, at Glendon, where he was employed. Mr. Broadhurst appeared for the prisoner, and addressed the jury in his behalf, contending that although there was no doubt of the robbery having been committed by some one, it was not clear that Kerrigan's avowal of certainty in the identity of the prisoner was to be believed. He also laid great stress upon the fact of the prisoner's not having attempted to keep out of the way, although he must have known that the man he had robbed was likely to have an eye upon him after being in conversation with him. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to 15 years transportation. Morning Chronicle, 20 Sept 1845.

94

Dennis Nightingale on 29th May 2015

161588 Law (Low) William - Strathfieldsaye 1836 June 1836 AO NSW Convict Indent Fiche No. 722. Age 24. Blacksmith from Northamptonshire. Tried at Nottinghamshire Assizes March 1835 and sentenced to transportation for life for housebreaking. 16837 Law (Low) William - Strathfieldsaye 1836. 1845 17 May Scone MM. Obtained Ticket of Leave.