Robert Taylor

343

Maureen Withey on 21st January 2022

GRAIN ROBBERY. Patrick Mc’Grogan, Andrew Spratt, Robert Taylor, and Edward Doyle, were indicted for stealing several tons weight of barley, the property of Messrs. Seeds and Casement on 9th December last, at Belfast. Mr. O’Rowan stated the case to the Jury. He said, Gentlemen of the Jury, in this case I am concerned for the prosecution, and will state the circumstances connected with the case which you are now called upon to try. The charges the prisoners at the bar with having stolen a large quantity of barley the property of Mr. Casement and the Messrs. Seed, who are all extensive grain merchants in this town. In October last these gentlemen entered into partnership, and carried on the business of grain merchants extensively, Of the prisoners at the bar there were several of them in the employment of these gentlemen at that time, and some of them Nvore 0 riot, as I will presently show you. The quantity of barley which they took from these stores amounted in all to several tons; and you will perhaps wonder how such an enormous quantity of grain could have been removed from the stores without having been missed ; but, gentlemen, if you were to examine the premises of these gentlemen you would easily perceive that in such extensive lofts, that quantity could have been made away with without their knowledge. The circumstances under which this robbery was first discovered were: prisoner Spratt, who was not in the employment of the Messrs. Seed during the time of the robbery, went to a bailiff named Hull, and informed that he wanted him to seize a load of barley which the other prisoners had in their possession, as it belonged to him ; and Hull, for reasons best known to himself, and which lie will explain, gave information to the police, and had them all captured, and found with them a cart with about l8cwt. of barley there … Belfast News’Letter, 22 Apr 1842. --------------------------------------------------- ADM 101/40/5. Medical and surgical journal of Her Majesty's convict ship Kinnear between 31 May 1842 and 23 October 1842 by George J Fox, Surgeon Superintendent, during which time the said ship was conveying prisoners from Ireland to Hobart Town Van Diemen's Land. Folios 20-21: Robert Taylor, aged 56, convict; case number 1; disease, pneumonia. Put on sick list, 1 August 1842. Discharged dead 4 August 1842.

343

Maureen Withey on 21st January 2022

Kinnear Indent: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-17$init=CON14-1-17P62 and https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON14-1-17$init=CON14-1-17P63 6825. Robert Taylor, tried at Antrim, 12 April 1842, 7 years. Died on board , 3 Aug 1842. Conduct Record: https://stors.tas.gov.au/CON33-1-28$init=CON33-1-28p167