| Name: | Eliza Morris |
| Aliases: | none |
| Gender: | f |
| Date of Birth: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Date of Death: | - |
| Age: | - |
Life Span
Female median life span was 60 years*
* Median life span based on contributions
Sentence Severity
Sentenced to 14 years
| Crime: | Pocket picking |
| Convicted at: | Middlesex Gaol Delivery |
| Sentence term: | 14 years |
| Ship: | Harmony |
| Departure date: | 9th September, 1828 |
| Arrival date: | 14th January, 1829 |
| Place of arrival | Van Diemen's Land |
| Passenger manifest | Travelled with 100 other convicts |
| Primary source: | Australian Joint Copying Project. Microfilm Roll 89, Class and Piece Number HO11/6, Page Number 492 |
| Source description: | This record is one of the entries in the British convict transportation registers 1787-1867 database compiled by State Library of Queensland from British Home Office (HO) records which are available on microfilm as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project. |
Ron Garbutt on 20th March, 2020 wrote:
Old Bailey Proceedings Online (http://www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 20 March 2020), February 1828, trial of ELIZA MORRIS JAMES COOPER JOHN HARDING (t18280221-137).
ELIZA MORRIS, JAMES COOPER, JOHN HARDING, Theft > pocketpicking, 21st February 1828.
618. ELIZA MORRIS , JAMES COOPER , and JOHN HARDING were indicted for stealing, on the 10th of February , 1 watch, value 1l.; 1 seal, value 5s.; 1 watchkey, value 3s., and 1 ring, value 2s., the goods of Michael Dibley , from his person .
MICHAEL DIBLEY. I went to the Three Crowns public-house, East-road, City-road , on the 10th of February, about eight o’clock at night - I went into the bar to have half a pint of ale - I found it cold, and went into the taproom; there were seven or eight people there; in a few minutes, Morris came in; she complained of being very cold, and asked if any one would treat her - as no one else offered, I offered her a drop of gin, or any thing else; she preferred a drop of brandy - it came in, and she drank it; she then came and sat on my right-hand side, and, in about twenty minutes, a friend came in, and we had a pot of ale; Morris was sitting on myright-hand; she took part of the ale - my friend was cold, and we had a quartern of rum, and then another pot of ale - when that was nearly gone, my friend went away; the prisoner had some of that, and when it was out, she enquired for more; I said I would not have more as it got late, and I pulled out my watch; she asked to look at it, and said it was a pretty watch; she took it from my hand, and I saw no more of it - in about five minutes I enquired for it; but nobody seemed to know anything about it; the prisoner then said she had given it me back again; I sat still some time, and then, as I could not get it, I went to the bar to send for an officer, but I heard the watchman, and I went to call him; the prisoner Cooper came out, and said something to me, which I can not recollect; but I said to him in return, “I suppose you are one of her bullies,” and he gave me a blow on the nose - Morris then came to the door, I took hold of her, and we both fell - I gave charge of her and Cooper; I asked Morris for the watch - she denied it strongly - I saw my watch at the office, the next day.
Prisoner COOPER. Q. Did you see me in company with Morris? A. Not to my recollection.
GEORGE SHEEN . I am a watchman. At half-past ten o’clock I was going by and saw the prosecutor at the bar, talking to Mrs. Hewitt - her husband was out of town: he was saying “I want an officer” - I walked on a few yards and called my brother watchman; the prosecutor then came running out and calling Watch! Morris came out; the prosecutor fell upon her, and two or three more upon them. I went up and saw Cooper strike the prosecutor; he struck him again slightly - I rushed in between them and took Cooper, and my brother watchman took Mooris - they were taken to the watch-house, but nothing was found on them.
Q. Was the prosecutor sober? A. He was a little fresh; but he was so much agitated he did not know what he did.
FRIEND ALEXANDER . I am a watchman. I assisted in taking the prisoners to the watch-house; when I came up the prosecutor and Morris were scuffling together; the prosecutor said he had been robbed of his watch and this person had robbed him - Cooper stood by, and told him not to hurt the girl; the prosecutor said he did not want to speak to him, he supposed him to be one of the bullies.
GEORGE WILLIAM BENNETT . On the morning of Monday, the 11th of February, I was in the back parlour of that public-house, and saw Cooper and Morris there in custody; Harding was there, but not in custody - I heard two females come and ask Stocks, the officer, if the watch was restored, whether they would stop the prosecution; he sent them to the prosecutor - I did not hear the answer, but, shortly after, I saw the two females come to the house again - Harding went out to them; Stocks then came to me, and said the watch was brought back. I went into the passage, and there I saw the three prisoners in custody, and heard Harding say he would a bl - y sight sooner be lagged than he would split, meaning he would be transported rather than tell of the transaction.
THOMAS STOCKS . I am an officer. I was in the parlour with the prisoners the next morning, when the two females came, and spoke to me as this witness has stated.
SUSAN BROWN . I was in the public-house on the Monday morning, and saw the three prisoners there; I saw something pass under the table from Harding to Cooper; I could not see what it was, but it was like a watch.
JOHN KETT . I am a soldier. I was in the Three Crowns, on the 10th of February; I saw Dibley and Morris sitting on the right side of him; I saw the prosecutor produce the watch and she asked to look at it; she had the watch, and he had the seals for some time; she then took it in her hand, and they sat about half an hour - I then saw her pass it to a young man, who is not here, and he passed it to Harding, who shoved it into his bosom, and went out of doors; the prosecutor then went to the bar for an officer; I went to go out, and saw they were kicking up a row - I would not interfere with it. I went back and sat down again - I wanted to tell the officer of it, but could not get at him.
HARDING’S Defence. I was not in the tap-room at the time the robbery was done.
MORRIS - GUILTY . Aged 27.
Transported for Fourteen Years .
HARDING - GUILTY . Aged 22.
Confined Six Months .
COOPER - NOT GUILTY .
https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/print.jsp?div=t18280221-137
Ron Garbutt on 20th March, 2020 made the following changes:
gender: f, crime
This record was discovered and printed on ConvictRecords.com.au
