George Smith

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FOOTNOTES: ** George's trial in the Old Bailey was held on 22 October, 1866. ** Year of Birth is taken from official records but day and month are not known. The latter dates have been entered as 01/01 because the site does not allow those fields to be left empty. --00--

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From: Daily News (Perth), 24 July, 1894, p2: “FATAL ACCIDENT IN MILL STREET. A carter named George Smith, in the employ of Messrs. Watson and Co., merchants, of Perth and Fremantle, was conveying a loaded dray, drawn by one horse, down the slope of Mill-street towards the river side in Perth, yesterday afternoon, when the horse bolted, and the driver was thrown off when turning the corner, the dray passing over his head and causing instant death. Mr. Cowan, P.M., opened a coroner's inquest, later in the afternoon, and adjourned it until this forenoon for evidence. Dr. Harvey deposed to being called, and that death had resulted from the injury. Mr. H. E. Watson deposed that the dray was loaded with about 5 cwt. of goods for Fremantle, that the horse was a quiet one, often driven in a buggy, and the driver was steady; and that the harness, which he examined after the accident, was sound. Constable J. E. Vaughan deposed that, about half-past one o'clock, in Mill-street, where he resides, he heard distressful cries of ‘Wey, Wey!’ On going out, he saw George Smith on a dray and the horse boltiug down the street. As the horse reached the corner, at a galloping pace, it turned the corner sharply on the road towards Fremantle, the off-side rein broke, and the sharp snapping of the rein and the swerving of the dray shot the driver off. He fell forward, and the left wheel passed over his head. If he had been sitting on his right side, he might not have fallen under the wheel. Death seamed to be instantaneous. Blood was gushing from his ears, nose and mouth, and the brain showing through the left ear, where the wheel had passed over. Dr. Harvey, being sent for, arrived within a few minutes and pronounced life extinct. The horse continued its fast pace along the Fremantle road, three or four hnndred yards further, and was stopped by Mr. D. Murphy and Mr. Maley. The harness appeared sound, and the broken rein had stood the pull well. Witnesses thought the horse had shied. Daniel Murphy deposed to the runaway horse and dray being stopped near the Stanley Brewery. The Coroner, in summing up, said Mill-street was dangerous, and the bottom should have the corners rounded off. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and they also recommended that the intention of the City Council be drawn to the dangerous condition of the corner at the bottom of Mill-street. It was remarked, by the Coroner and others, that this was not the first accident which had occurred at that narrow corner.” (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/77279017) --00--

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DEATH: From: Southern Times (Bunbury), 24 July, 1894, p3: “FATAL ACCIDENT. Perth, This day. George Smith, a carter, was thrown from his cart yesterday in Perth and killed.” (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/157522870) --0--

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FREMANTLE JAIL RECORD: SMITH, George; inmate #9879, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1848 Date of Death: 23 Sep 1894 [incorrect – it was 23 July; see news reports below] Place of Death: [Perth] Fell off cart Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Tailor, shopman Literacy: Literate Crime: Burglary Sentence Period: 10 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket Leave Date: 18 Jan 1872 Certificate of Freedom Date: 21 Dec 1876 Comments: Conditional Release 1874. Labourer, sawyer, general servant, cook, wood cutter, shepherd (https://fremantleprison.com.au/history-heritage/research/convict-database/). --00--

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IN WA: 1868, 10 January: On arrival, GEORGE SMITH was listed as convict #9879, 18 [when convicted], shopman, previously tailor; single, no children; literate, Protestant; convicted for “burglary after previous conviction”; 10 years’ penal servitude; family – father William, 15 Brand Street, Holloway; behaviour in jail in England “indifferent”; 5’4¼” tall, brown hair, brown eyes, round visage, fresh complexion, healthy appearance; marks – scar right knee, X on left hand (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers, General Register for Nos 9599-10128 cont. (R16)). --00--

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EMBARKATION: 1867, 5 October: George Smith was sent from Portsmouth to board the Hougoumont for WA (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for George Smith; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners, 1866-1868). “The hired convict ship Hougoumont, which has been taken up, by the Government for the conveyance of a numerous party of convicts to Freemantle, Western Australia, left the Nore on October 1, and proceeded down Channel, after receiving on board 150 convicts from the establishments at Chatham and Millbank. The convicts from the Chatham establishment, at St. Mary's, embarked from the dockyard on board the paddle-wheel steamer Adder, Mr. W. J. Blakely, and were in charge of a numerous party of convict guards and wardens, all heavily armed. Among the convicts shipped were a party of fifteen Fenians, who were engaged in the late conspiracy in Ireland, together with the officers and crew convicted of scuttling the ship Severn [only two were on the Hougoumont – Thomas Berwick and Lionel Holdsworth, each sentenced to 20 years for fraud], and some others who have achieved notoriety from their crimes. The Fenian convicts, like the remainder of the prisoners, were chained together in gangs, but it was observed that they were kept apart from the other convicts in a portion of the vessel by themselves. The steamer Petrel also took down a number of convicts from the establishment at Millbank, for shipment on board the Hougoumont, in charge of a strong escort and convict guard. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Hougoumont arrived in Portland roads. Shortly before midday ninety convicts were marched down to the Government pier at Portland under a strong escort of the 12th Light Infantry. The party included twenty-three Fenian convicts, among whom it was said, was Moriarty [not the senior Fenian, Captain Moriarty; rather, this was Bartholomew Moriarty, aged 17]. The Government steamer employed in the breakwater service was used for conveying the convicts on board the Hougoumont transport ship. The convicts were chained together on embarking, and on board the steamer a strong guard of marines from her Majesty's ship St. George was formed, and saw the convicts safely placed on board the Hougoumont. The Governor of the penal settlement at Freemantle, Captain Young, is on board the Hougoumont, and returns in that ship to his sphere of duty after paying a visit to his native land.” (Sydney Morning Herald, 19 Dec 1867, p4, at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28608271). --00--

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1867, 18 July: Sent to Portsmouth Prison; inmate #1057 (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for George Smith; Portsmouth Prison; Registers of Prisoners, 1866-1868). --00--

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1866, 15 November: Sent to Millbank Prison, Westminster; inmate #2603; 18 years old, tailor, Roman Catholic, single, semi-literate; family – Ann Smith, 15 Brand Street, Holloway; two previous convictions (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for George Smith; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners, 1866-1867). --0--

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JAILS: 1866, 10 October: Admitted to Newgate Prison, corner Newgate Street and Old Bailey Street, London; George Smith, 18, tailor of Islington; 5’5” tall; previous conviction felony, Middlesex, 1 year; held for 23 days in separate confinement; behaviour “good” (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for George Smith; Newgate Prison; Registers of Prisoners; 1863 [sic]). --0--

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TRIAL TRANSCRIPT: 943. GEORGE SMITH (18), Burglary in the dwellinghouse of William Ellis the elder, and stealing three desks, and other articles, his property. MR. WOOD conducted the Prosecution. ELIZABETH MARY BOWLER. On the evening of the 2nd October I was on a visit at Mr. Ellis's, Richmond Road Islington—the place was all safe when we went to bed—at half-past four in the morning we found it open—I was awoke by a scream—I got up—the prisoner was in Mr. Bieswerk's room. ALFRED BIESWERK. On the night of the 2nd October I slept in the front bedroom of Mr. Ellis's house—I went to bed about half-past eleven—I noticed that the back parlour window was then shut—we all went to bed at the same time—I shut my bedroom door, but did not lock it—about half-past four I was awoke by a noise caused by some one opening the drawers in my room—I saw some one moving about—I got out of bed and struck a light—it was the prisoner—when he saw me get out of bed he was so frightened that he screamed—he stood quite still and seemed to lose all self-possession—he had no boots on—at that time some one came into my room and asked what was the matter, and called "Police!"—I locked myself in with the prisoner until the police came, which was about two or three minutes—I let the police in, and when the prisoner saw him he took a knife of mine off the drawers and brandished it about as if he were going to stab him—I gave an alarm to the policeman, and he wrested the knife from him. WILLIAM ELLIS, JUNIOR.—I am the son of the owner of the house—on the morning in question I heard the scream—I got up and heard a strange voice talking in Mr. Bieswerk's room—I went downstairs, opened the front door, and a policeman came running in—I did not get home the previous night until the others had gone to bed—I shut the front door—after the prisoner was taken into custody I found the back parlour window open and three writing desks put outside—they had previously been in the parlour—there was also a pair of steps in the garden. EDWARD FITZGERALD (Policeman 45 Y). I first noticed the prisoner about four o'clock on the morning in question in company with another man, and, knowing him to be a thief, I followed them into the Hemingford Road, but lost sight of them close to the prosecutor's house—I waited about twenty minutes and then I heard a scream—some one opened the door, I went upstairs and saw the prisoner in Mr. Bieswerk's room—he had this dagger in his hand, which I wrested from him—he had no boots on, they were afterwards found by Mr. Ellis in the garden—I found three writing desks, a quantity of papers, and other things in the yard—the entrance had been effected through the back parlour window by a small step-ladder—I examined other parts of the house, but they were all safe. GUILTY.** The prisoner PLEADED GUILTY to a previous conviction of felony.— Ten Years' Penal Servitude (https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=def1-943-18661022&div=t18661022-943#highlight). --00--