Michael Lawless

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Maureen Withey on 27th January 2025

... are ordered for execution this morning ; and John Lahy, Richard Herring, and Michael Lawless, for similar offences, will suffer the extreme penalty of the law on Thursday next. Sydney Herald, 2 Jun 1834.

341

Maureen Withey on 27th January 2025

A BUSHRANGER SHOT. A Coroner's Inquest was held on Saturday last, at the Princess Charlotte, public house, York-street, on the body of Henry Smith. It will be remembered that last week four men of the names of Henry Smith, Richard Herring, John Lawless and John Leahey, four hulk prisoners effected their escape, from the escort, when sent to cut wood at Lane Cove. After committing divers depredations, on Saturday afternoon they proceeded to the Veterans swamp on the Botany road; they saw a man servant of Mr. Loudon's, cutting wood, and they pressed him to show them his master's house. This he did, and their approach surprized the inmates of the dwelling; after posting one on the look-out, Smith went up, and the others came to the door and asked Mr. Loudon for some tobacco? Loudon said he had none, as his man was just gone to Sydney for some.  Smith then placed his gun across the door, and said, "we are bushrangers; you have fire arms, and we want them." They then forced themselves into the house, and took possession of two stand of arms and four bullets, but no powder, as they had previously supplied themselves with some rock powder at Mr. Busby's. They took a powder horn, a quantity of flour, and other articles of food, &c. After obtaining what they wanted, Smith, who was leader of the gang, compelled Mr. Loudon to go with them to his neighbour, Mr. Chadburn, formerly resident in George-street, and there they demanded more arms, and obtained one stand. Smith opened the various drawers, boxes, &c. in the house, and took out the contents; and then stripped Mr. Chadburn of his coat, (a blue one) his black waistcoat and black trowsers his watch, three pounds in notes, and some silver. On Chadburn complaining, that the watch was a relict, and he did not like to lose it, Smith gave it him back again, and also three one-pound notes. After they had stripped the house of almost every thing, Loudon said; "you will allow me to go now;" Smith replied "not yet." He then divided the spoils into equal shares, and allotted to each his portion. Smith then insisted that Loudon should show them the way to the Parramatta road, which he did, but after consideration Smith observed, "we will go back to your house again;" accordingly they returned, and ordered the kettle to be boiled and the tea prepared by the time they had shaved and dressed. Smith (previously ordering Mrs. Loudon and her daughter to leave the room) then stripped, and showing his back to Loudon, said, " you have been a soldier ; look at my back (which bore marks of a recent flogging); I have a wife and children; its hard usage which brought me to this." They then took their tea ; Smith ordered Loudon to get him a pair of braces, and he procured him some webbing which answered the purpose. In the mean time Chadburn's man came up to borrow a blanket; as they had taken away the bedding, and Smith detained him, saying "you shall show us the Parramatta road." Signal was then given that all should be ready, and they went away, Smith observing on departure, that they would pay Loudon a visit after the races, but he did not think that he should live to see him (Loudon.) He then gave back one of the stand of arms; instead of-taking them to the Parramatta road, the man took them by William's mill near the new race course, and then left them. On his return to Loudon's, they went together to Chadburn's and despatched a man by the name of Jones to Sydney, to give information of the circumstances to the Police Office. When leaving London's house; Smith observed, that after the races, every article should be returned; he had been, he said, in the Army in India and was very sorry to be obliged to do what he had done. On receiving information, constables Christy, Cunningham, Lawless, and Jones, went in pursuit and between nine and ten o'clock, they came up with four men armed, answering the description of the persons they were in pursuit of. Lawless challenged them, saying, "Who goes there? stand." Smith then challenged them, and putting his piece to his shoulder, presented it close to Christy's head, and snapped it, but fortunately it fired at Smith, who springing nearly three feet from the ground, fell on his back, and died in five minutes. In the meantime the others succeeded in securing Herring and Leahey. Lawless, who has a stump arm, contrived to rest his piece and endeavoured to discharge it at Jones, but it would not go off. Jones immediately returned the fire, but not effectually, as Lawless contrived to make his escape, and is yet at large. Dr. Wallace, on examining the body, found the ball had struck against the button of Smith's coat, on the right side, which turned it off in an oblique direction. He extracted it at the left shoulder. The deceased was of a powerful frame, and there was something about his features superior to what is generally met with in our banditti. Previously to going on board the Hulks. he held a situation as clerk in Mr. Hely's Office. The Jury returned a verdict of justifiable homicide, at the same time observing, that the conduct of the constables on the occasion had been highly becoming their character as public officers. Sydney Monitor, 30 Apr 1834.

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Maureen Withey on 27th January 2025

Irish Convict Database, by Peter Mayberry. Michael Lawless, age on arrival, 23, per Java, 1833. tired at Kilkenny, 1833, Life for House breaking. DOB, 1810, native place, Kilkenny. Catholic. Single, Trade, Cooper. Died 1834, at Sydney. Executed, hanged for robbery, cripple in the arm.