William Percival

343

Maureen Withey on 11th September 2022

PERCIVAL, William. Per "Guildford", 1822 1822 Jul 24 On list of prisoners assigned (Fiche 3291; 4/4570D p.96) 1825 Nov 24 On return of prisoners tried before the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Fiche 3298; X727 pp.14, 15) 1825 Dec 7 Convicted of being accessory before the fact of arson and burglary; sentence of death commuted to transportation to Norfolk Island for life. On return of prisoners tried and sentenced by the Supreme Court (Fiche 3298; X730 p.27) -------------------------------------------------- Patrick Kyan and Robert Storey, for arson, in setting fire to the house of Mr. Richard Thompson, at Bathurst, on the 14th July last.—Death. Robert Storey, as principal, and William Percival, Benjamin Bishop, and Nathaniel Bishop, as accessaries before the fact, for shooting at Mr. R. Thompson, on the 14th of July last.—Death. Sydney Gazette, 8 Dec 1825. -------------------------------------------------- Supreme Criminal Court. Thursday November 24.—Patrick Ryan, Robert Storey, Benjamin Bishop, William Percival, and Nathaniel Mitchell, were indicted for arson, in setting fire to the house of Mr. Richard Thompson, at Bathurst, on the 25th of July last. The prisoner Ryan as principal, Storey present, aiding and abetting, and the three other prisoners as accessaries before the fact, in counselling and inciting ; Ryan end Storey Guilty. The three other prisoners. Not Guilty. Robert Storey, William Percival, Benjamin Bishop, and Nathaniel Mitchell, were indicted under the statute of Geo. I. called the Black Act, for maliciously shooting at Mr. Richard Thompson, on the 25th of July last. Mr. Richard Thompson deposed, that he is a settler at Bathurst; that his house was set on fire about 6 o'clock on the evening of the 25th of July last; that at the time he heard a noise without, and his servant begging for mercy, from some men who were outside; witness came out and ran towards the river, which is at some short distance from the home, when a shot was fired after him, and a man pursued close, striking at him as he ran, with the butt end of a gun, crying out at the same time that he would shoot witness if he was his brother; witness gained the river, and as he swam to the other side, he heard a man named Blanchfield, who, together with Storey, had been his servant, and had taken to the bush, calling out to the others to shoot him; witness cannot say who fired the shot, but is positive that he heard Blanchfield's voice. Patrick Blanchfield, an approver, deposed, that he knows the prisoner Storey about 6 months, and the other three prisoners while they were servants on Mr. Rankin's farm. Witness was in company with the prisoners on the night when Mr. Thompson's house was set on fire. It was pre-concerted with Sullivan, who lived with Mr. Thompson, that he should, when the house was set on fire, pretend to beg for mercy from the rest of the party; that he should induce his master to come out, and they could easily shoot him as he passed them. The only reason for this violence was, that Mr. Thompson had the character of being a bad master. It was also planned, when Mr. Thompson should be shot, that a note written for the purpose by the prisoner Percival, should be pinned to his shirt, which they said "would be a terror to the neighbourhood, and a warning to all Scotchmen." The prisoners Percival, Bishop, and Mitchell, were servants to Mr. Rankin, whose farm lies near to that of Mr. Thompson, and used to maintain Storey, witness, and the prisoner Ryan, already convicted, while in the bush. Witness and Storey had a meeting with Percival and Bishop, on the night preceding the fire at Mr. Thompson's, when they regretted that they could not accompany them, as they feared being discovered if they left the farm. Mitchell was not present at the meeting, nor at Mr. Thompson's. Witness saw Storey fire at Mr. Thompson, and afterwards run after him, striking at him with the musket, and crying out that he would have his life if possible. The gun was loaded with slugs. Mr. Rankin deposed, that he lives about a mile and a quarter from the premises of Mr. Thompson; remembers his home being set on fire on the evening of the 25th of July. Percival, Bishop, and Mitchell, were servants to witness. Blanchfield was apprehended about three weeks afterwards; and the other prisoners, with the exception of Mitchell, who was in Sydney at the time, took to bush immediately on hearing it. Witness always had a favourable opinion of the prisoners, particularly of Percival. His Honor summed up the evidence, and the Jury found the prisoners Guilty. Robert Storey, William Percival, and Benjamin Bishop, were indicted for a burglary in the house of Mr. James Kinghorne, overseer to Mr. Icely at Bathurst Plains, and stealing therefrom 30lbs. of tea, 100lbs. of tobacco, 4 gallons of rum, 5 gallons of brandy, 50lbs. of flour, and 10lbs. of soap, the property of Mr. Thomas Icely, on the 22nd of August last. The evidence of Patrick Blanchfield, the approver, who though not present at the robbery, deposed to having heard the prisoners plan the attack on Mr. Icely's house, was in this case strengthened by the testimony of Robert Ferrier, a servant to Mr. Icely, who was in the house, and identified the prisoner Percival.—Guilty. Remanded. Sydney Gazette, 28 Nov 1825.