John Mcdonald

343

Maureen Withey on 12th November 2023

John McDonald or Badenoch. charged with sheep-stealing—having driven away from the hill Lillie Dunieor Downie, near Crieff, 27 sheep, the property of Alexander Murray, there, the 24th Nov. last and on the ? Dec. sheep from the adjacent farms of Buchanty, Ardoch and Rechney in the Fowlis Wester, the property of Alexander Cowan, farmer of Buchanty. The panel, a strong good looking young man, being requested to plead, appeared agitated, and answered in a strong but faltering voice - “Lord have merry upon me.” … the libel arbitrary punishment. A farmer whose service the panel had been for sometime engaged, was examined on oath his Character, declared him to have been a very faithful and honest servant. Lord Mackenzie said hie could not pronounce a sentence under that of transportation for life.  Perthshire Courier, 12 April 1827. ------------------------------------------------------------ Escape from Prison.—A very extraordinary attempt at general escape from Perth Gaol, in Scotland, was made by the inmates of the felons’ prison, on Tuesday se’night, which, to a certain extent, proved  successful. The period of the day, too, being about noon, at which the stratagem was put in execution, adds to the daring character of the attempt. About 17 prisoners were airing in the iron or open court, several others were in the day-room, and one, Macdonald, a Sheep-Stealer, confined is his solitary cell, and in fetters, being a powerful man, and incarcerated under charge of aggravated nature. About the time alluded to, Perrier, a turnkey, was about to Conduct some of the prisoners to their respective apartments  and opened the door to Macdonald's cell to put in a young lad, who had for some time been a fellow occupant. At this moment, Macdonald, who had previously found means to cut his fetters, sprung upon Perrier, seized the key of the door which gives egress from the day room to the iron court, dragged him down stairs, and gave him in custody to some one in the day-room, who, pulling him down, drew his coat over his head and twisted the skirts about his neck and mouth to prevent his calling out. He was held in this situation for several minutes, while Macdonald and the others opened the door and escaped to the open court. It appears all this had been preconcerted, and everything was in preparation for easy escape over the palisades of the iron court & to the top of the outer prison wall. Two forms, which are used in the day-room, had been lashed together by blankets, cut in narrow pieces, the one extending so far beyond the other as reach the necessary distance. The prisoners proceeded along these one after another, to the wall, from thence letting themselves down to the street. The turnkey being locked in, and much exhausted, was not able to give the alarm, and the first discovery was made by some of the jailor’s family from one of their own windows. By the time the jailor got to the street, four prisoners  had come down, and the other two were on the wall; one was immediately arrested, and Macdonald, above-mentioned, was seized by the jailer, but got off knocking him down. The other two, Buchanan, confined for robbery, and Macmillan, who was indicted along with Clark for stouthrief, committed near Stanley, and for which the latter forfeited his life in 1817, also escaped. About ten days before the trial, Macmillan effected a similar escape from gaol, and was apprehended a few months ago in England, and brought to Perth after having been at large ten years. Macdonald was soon after secured. A patrol of dragoons and several police-officers were dispatched in about hall hour after, but returned without discovering any trace of the two fugitives. Bell’s Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 15 April 1827.

343

Maureen Withey on 12th November 2023

National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/11/32. 1 individual petition (the prisoner) and 1 collective petition (25 people) on behalf of John Macdonald, herdsman, convicted in April 1827 at the Circuit Court in Perth of sheep stealing. The petitioner seeks permission to be accompanied by wife and child. Grounds for clemency: the prisoner would be able to support his family and stole from want. Initial sentence: transportation for life to New South Wales. Annotated: 'Transport to NSW without his family'. AN 4. [Scot] Date: 1827 May 21. --------------------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Records. Convict Conduct Record. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-9$init=CON31-1-9P157 No 448. John McDonald, alias Badensock, per Asia 2. Tried 12 April 1827, Life. Transported for Sheep stealing. Gaolers Report, attempted to escape from Gaol, otherwise orderly; at Hulks, Orderly. Confessed See record for full details. Was a constable. Conditional Pardon 6 Jan 1841. Description Record. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON23-1-1$init=CON23-1-1-P113 John McDonald, alias Bodensock, age 44, trade, shepherd, tried Perth, 12 April 1827, Life. Native place, Strathrale, Perthshire. Indent. https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-50$init=CON14-1-50P30 and https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-50$init=CON14-1-50P31 448. John McDonald, alias Badenock, Sick. Tried Perth Ct of Justy. 12 Apr 1827, Life. No other details entered on second page. (because he was sick)