William Murphy

341

Maureen Withey on 18th February 2025

Commission Court. WEDNESDAY. Pocket Picking in the Court of Chancery. William Murphy and Thomas Wintersgale were indicted for stealing from the person of T. Babbington, Esq., a pocket book, containing a bank of Ireland note for 20£., one for 10£., forged note for thirty-shillings, and divers other small notes and bills of exchange, to 'the amount of 300. Thomas Babbington deposed that he is a solicitor, and was attending  the Court of Chancery on Friday, the 21st of May last; the Court was very crowded; on entering, the witness was twice jostled, and while speaking to a barrister after coming out of Court at about three o'clock, he  missed his pocket book, containing a 20£ ... and a forged thirty-shilling note, besides small notes and bills of exchange, amounting in all to about 300£.; the forged note was returned to me; and is marked with the  name of the gentleman from whom I got it ; this is the note; I got the 20£. and 01. notes from Mr. William Fox, by the hands of my nephew, Mr. James McFadden, on the 17th of May; these two notes were got in  payment of check for 43£., from Ball's bank, and were given to me with some small notes, and a memorandum of some money paid out of the 45£, all pinned together. The witness identified the 5s. note. William Fox proved the receipt of the amount of the check at Ball's bank on the 17th of May last, and theit he wrote on the back of the 10. note, the words, from Ball's bank, 17th May, 30, and delivered them pinned together the same day to Mr. McFadden, to hand to Mr. Babbington. James M'Fadden proved that he delivered the notes so received  from the last witness to Mr. Babbington the next day. Patrick McEvoy proved, that, on  the 17th of May last, he was at Mr. Roe's public-house, .No. 1. Usher's-quay, at about three o'clock, when he heard the prisoner Murphy, whom he identified, ask the waiter for change for a thirty-shiling note; that that the waiter brought the note to witness to ask his opinion of it ; identified the note. Mary Anne Roe saw the two prisoners at her house on Usher's-quay, on the 17th of May last, at about three o'clock; my waiter, Patrick Farrell, came down stairs for change for a thirty-shilling note; I had not  change, and Farrell went out to get change ; while he was out Murphy came down stairs and asked me for his change; I told him the waiter was gone for it, and would bring it to him ; Murphy then went up stairs; Farrel came back with the notes which I showed to peace-officer Campegne, who came in at the instant; while I was doing so, The two prisoners came down stairs and went out; Campagne said the note was a forged one, and asked from whom I got it; I told him from the man who had just gone out; he immediately followed them; I discharged Farrell about a month ago for bad conduct, and I don't know what has become of him. Samuel Campagne, peace officer, corroborated the testimony of the last witness as far as related to himself, and said that ; on going out he saw Wintersgale standing et the corner of the street beckoning to some one; I looked up the street, and saw Murphy running very quick up Lower Bridge-street; I pursued and overtook he struggled very hard, and put his hand into his pocket, and threw something behind; I called the attention of the crowd that had assembled to this, and brought him away in custody. The other prisoner was arrested by the waiter, Farrell, by my directions; he was walking very leisurely along Usher's-quay.  Thomas Dorgan saw the scuffle, and after the crowd had withdrawn, found on the spot where it  had occurred, the 201. and the 101. notes, with the memorandum now produced, and which he gave up to Campagne, the peace officer, at the police office. FOR THE DEFENCE. Counsel contended  that under the present indictment; the. prisoners could not be convicted, as there was no evidence of a stealing from the person by them. The Court said that was a question for the Jury, who, after a short charge from the learned Judge, returned a verdict of Not Guilty against Wintersgale,,and of Guilty against Murphy, who was subsequently sentenced to transportation for life. Murphy exclaimed, For Life -who ever heard of transportation for life for a felony like this.  Baron Pennefather: Within the last two years, the felony of which you have been convicted was a capital one; and, but for a recent statute, was one for which your life could have been forfeited. Freemans’s Journal, 8 July 1830.

94

Dennis Nightingale on 15th June 2015

128593 Murphy William - Waterloo 1831. 1845 6 February Maitland CDR. Ticket of leave holder - Died.

94

Dennis Nightingale on 15th June 2015

Born - Limerick Ireland. Married - sister Mary Minahan arrived per Hooghly (3) [1831].