Michael Ryan

341

Maureen Withey on 26th February 2022

Continuation of Conduct Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON34-1-7$init=CON34-1-7P122 Native of Cork. Trade, Labourer. Transported originally for stealing a coat. Details of absconding and attempts to escape and subsequent punishments. Date of last entry on record, 11/5/49.

341

Maureen Withey on 26th February 2022

National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/29/71 Prisoner name(s): Michael Ryan ( or Michael Ragan). Prisoner age: 18 years. Court and date of trial: Middlesex Sessions, Clerkenwell Green, November 1836. Crime: Larceny. Initial sentence: Seven years transportation. Gaoler's report: Convicted before. Annotated (Outcome): Nil. Petitioner(s): The prisoner's brothers Daniel Ragan and Jeremiah Ragan , 35 Great Peter Street, Westminster, undersigned by seven supporters. Grounds for clemency (Petition Details): The prisoner is young and of previous good character. Additional Information: Prisoner sentenced to Justitia hulk ship. Date, 1836 Nov 22. -------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Conduct Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON31-1-36$init=CON31-1-36p132 1243. Michael Ryan, per Elphinstone, arr Oct 2 1837. Tried Middlesex Q,S. 14 Nov 1836, 7 years. Transported for Larceny. Gaol report, Served 6 mos in the House of Correction. Hulk report, Good, single, stated this offence, Stg. A ? ? having served 6 mos on the stg of ?. Various incidents recorded. Free Cert, No 881/1843. Supreme Court Hobart, June 1844, Death recorded. Assaulting William ? being ? of with a ? stealing from him a watch Remainder of Probn. At N. Id. specially remitted for services performed. 10/11/46? In margin: S.C. 6 July 1842. Acquitted. --------------------------------------------------- SUPREME COURT, LAUNCESTON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 6. Michael Ryan indicted for feloniously entering the dwelling-house of William Thompson Macmichael on the 6th of May, and stealing therefrom fifty pounds of flour and other articles. Verdict — Not Guilty. Launceston Examiner, 9 July 1842. Michael Ryan was indicted for feloniously and burglariously entering the dwelling-house of Wm. Thompson Macmichael, on the 6th May, and stealing therefrom 50 lbs. flour, some bacon, and other articles. A second count laid the premises as the dwelling house of Arthur Wellington Macmichael. Arthur Wellington Macmichael. - I reside at Trefusis, there is a store adjoining the dwelling house; I left home on the afternoon of the 6th May; the stores were secure on the 5th; I returned on the 7th; I then saw a place broken through the wall into the store; I missed about 30lbs flour, some bacon, bags, &c.; they were the property of my brother; these are the same, (produced and identified). Emanuel Taylor. - I am shepherd to Mr. Macmichael; know his store; on 6th May, saw a hole in the wall of the store; on the11th, I saw the prisoner, near Malony's Sugar Loaf, about four miles from Mr. Macmichael's store; he had a knapsack on his back, he was in company with a man who had a gun; Ryan threw the property into a tea tree scrub, and went away. Thomas Fielding. - I am a constable at Oatland's; was at Mr. Macmichael's on the 11th May; saw some smoke about four miles off on the beach, and upon going there I saw the prisoner in a hut, he told me he was a splitter for Mr. Scott; I found in the hut this bag of flour and bacon; I then took him into custody. His Honor in summing up, pointed out to the jury that there was no evidence of burglary, and the question for their consideration was simply the charge of housebreaking. Verdict. - Not guilty. Launceston Advertiser, 7 July 1842. The prisoner was remanded. --------------------------------------------------- SUPREME COURT. Criminal Sittings. Michael Ryan, Michael Robinson, and James Donnely, were capitally charged under the Colonial Act, with a robbery, being armed with a gun, at the house of William Palmer, on the 4th of April last. The jury returned a verdict of guilty against Ryan and Robinson, and acquitted Donnelly. The True Colonist, 7 Jun 1844. -------------------------------------------------- SUPREME COURT. Criminal Sittings. Saturday, July 8th. SENTENCE OF THE PRISONERS The Chief Justice sat this morning to award judgment on the prisoners who had been convicted during the sitting. Michael Ryan and Michael Robinson.— The Judge directed sentence of death to, be passed on these men, capitally convicted under the Colonial Act, of a robbery in a dwelling-house, with violence. His Honor observed that it was too common for persons placed in their situation to consider the recording of sentence of death as a mere mockery but he begged them to understand that if the Executive Council- should so decide, the last sentence of the law might be carried into effect. The True Colonist, 14 Jun 1844. -------------------------------------------------- Escape from Gaol and Recapture.---On Wednesday morning, a little before six o'clock, Michael Ryan, a desperate offender, convicted for a robbery at the house of Mr. Palmer, Black Snake, and sentenced to transportation for life to Norfolk Island, made his escape from the city gaol. This convict had been allowed to attend on the prisoners at the debtors' side of the gaol, unfettered. He procured a ladder by means of which he mounted the wall, and made his escape at the rear of Mr. Jones's premises, the Waterloo Hotel. Although several persons were in the yard at the time, no attempt appears to have been made to stop him, and he got clear off. Despatches were immediately forwarded to the country districts, and he was apprehended near Austin's Ferry, about nine o'clock on the same evening. Yesterday morning he was escorted to Hobart Town, and again safely lodged in his old quarters. Prisoners for Norfolk Island. On Saturday, the Louisa, government brig, will proceed to the ultra-penal settlement, with prisoners. Ryan, who made his escape from gaol, but was re-captured, will be amongst the convicts in this vessel. Launceston Examiner, 17 July 1844.