John Pilkington

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 10th August 2021

New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters - Year 1830 No; 176 Name; John Pilkington Ship; Malabar Remarks; MURDERED Place of origin: Sunderland, Durham Alphabetical Registers of Male Convicts. (CON23) No; 176 Height; 5 Ft 5 1/2 in Hair; Brown Eyes; Grey Age; 21 Trade; Stoenmason Trial; Durham - 28 Feb 1821 - Life Ship; Malabar - 1821 Native Place; Sunderland Conduct Record;- No; 176 Name; John Pilkington alias Moses Dodds. Ship; Malabar - 21 June 1821 Trial; 28 February 1821 - Life Transported for Highway Robbery Noted against name; KILLED; Wednesday morning 2 Dec 1829. Am Inquest held 4 Dec at the Tunks Head Public House. Verdict; Wilful Murder against Geo Jefferys T. L. Geo. Pert Free and P Tuton & Elizabeth Smith per Morley formerly Cable now Ux of Pert. The verdict on held police constable Clark (said to have been murdered by Bevan and his accomplice) has been returned accidental death. A poor man named Pilkington, messenger in one of the offices, met his death on Tuesday evening in a house in Melville in the midst of a family squabble. An inquisition was held before Joseph Hone, Esq. Coroner, but the inquiry has not jet terminated. The unfortunate man it appears was stabbed with a knife in the abdomen Colonial Times. Fri 4 Dec 1829. Page 2. COLONIAL TIMES A long investigation took place yesterday before Joseph HONE, Esq. Coroner, upon an Inquest on, the body of John Pilkington, who was found killed at a house in Murray, street, kept by one George Peart. The enquiry lasted from 1 o'clock in the afternoon until three this morning ; when , from the mysterious circumstances attending the murder, the case was adjourned until 6 o'clock this evening. George Peart his wife (formerly Mrs. Cable), whose husband was some time since executed for felony, and George Jeffries, holding a Ticket-of Leave, are the only persons that were in his house at the time Pilkington was killed. He was found with a wound between the fifth and sixth rib, of eight inches deep; the instrument, supposed, to be a knife that was produced which inflicted the wound, had perforated the heart, although the man lingered for two or three hours afterwards. It appeared, that there was a general quarrel ; but, from the mysterious circumstances at present hanging over it, it is impossible to form any thing like proof, as to the real perpetrator. That the man has been killed by one of them is certain, but by whom is yet unknown. They were, it seems, all upon the most intimate terms of friendship. At present, the suspision is strong against Jeffries. Colonial Times. Fri 11 Dec 1829. Page 2. COLONIAL TIMES On Friday night last, at 10 o'clock, the Inquest closed, and Elizabeth Pearl, George Pearl, and George Jeffries were finally committed upon the Coroner's (JOSEPH HONE,Esq.) warrant for the wilful murder of John Pilkington. It appeared from the evidence adduced, that John Pilkington, who had that day assisted to carry the corpse of Major Loane to the grave, was spending the evening with the other parties, who were all upon the strictest terms of intimacy ; that drink and card playing was introduced, that the woman retired to her bed-room to rest, whether drunk or sober is not known; that shortly afterwards Jeffries, who was drunk, reeled into her room, and rolled on the bed, disturbing the woman, which led to a general disturbance, and Jeffries and Pearl fought. Pilkington, it appears, took the part of his friend (Jeffries), and in the heat of the scuffle, the woman come out of her room, and from what could be collected, there is every reason to suppose at that period Pilkington received the wound, but from whom it is impossible to say. The principal evidence was a Mr. Brown, who lives in the one-half of the house, and who heard all that passed, as to words, through a lath and plaster partition, and was the person who gave the alarm to the Constables. At present this business is still veiled in a great mystery, which it was impossible to unravel, although Mr Hone was most indefatigable and earnest to collect every information for the Jury, who were a most intelligent and attentive set of Gentlemen as could be possibly warned.