William Taylor

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Maureen Withey on 3rd October 2025

CORRECTION The date of the above newspaper report should read 5 Dec 1828.

341

Maureen Withey on 3rd October 2025

WEDNESDAY. Joseph Belcher, William Taylor, and Thomas Scott, were severally indicted, capitally, for stealing on the 29th of August last, one ewe sheep, the property of Mr. Samuel Terry, at Bathurst. A second count in the information laid the offence to be one of killing, with intent to steal the carcase, &c. From the evidence of John May, formerly a shepherd in the employ of Mr. Icely, at Bathurst, till becoming free by servitude, he got into Mr. Terry's employ, and was in it in August last ; during part of which month the prisoner Belcher assisted in curing of some of Mr. Terry's sheep, which were in a diseased state — Taylor being there in the capacity of shepherd, and Scott of night-watchman. About the latter end of August, on a Thursday night, Belcher, according to May's evidence, followed him into the pen, and asking him if he would "stand the slaughter of one of the sheep," on May's refusal, there was nothing further done to the injury of the sheep, till between nine and ten o'clock next night, when, it being moonlight, witness was coming home by the back part of the huts, he swore he overheard Belcher say, " we'll have one in spite of him ;" which expression was followed, by Belcher's going into the sheep-yard, and returning with one sheep, which he stabbed, as witness deposed, in the neck, and by the blaze of a brisk fire in the hut saw the other two prisoners assist Belcher in skinning the sheep ; and after observing what was going forward, for nearly an hour and a half, witness reported the circumstance to Mr. Terry's superintendent, and afterwards to the chief constable, Mr. Blackman, who, with the witness May and two subordinate constables, on searching the prisoners' hut found a new skin, resembling in every way the description previously given of the slaughtered sheep by the witness May, who, it appeared on cross-examination, had had a quarrel with the prisoners, and reported some time in August that three sheep had died; whereas it subsequently appeared one of the sheep had died, and the other two been killed by the native dogs. The prisoners simply put in a denial of the truth of the charge laid against them, and the learned Judge leaving the case to the Jury as one depending in a main degree on the weight of credit they might be disposed to attach to the story told by the witness May ; as, if they believed all of his testimony, there was a case made out against the prisoners, but if on the other hand they should receive his evidence with jealousy, bearing in mind what his Honor considered a public duty to mention, as the ends of public justice were concerned in it, that the tale told them by the witness May did not precisely accord with that before the Magistrates,— the Jury brought in the prisoners not guilty. The Australian, 5 Dec 1825.

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Maureen Withey on 3rd October 2025

William Taylor, Daniel M McColl, Thomas Cumming, Thomas Davies, alias Roberts, alias Eccles, and William Caldwell, charged with attacking  Robert Murphy, on the 22d May, near the Tron Church, Glasgow, and robbing him of two one-pound notes, five numbers of the Old Testament, and a cotton handkerchief, pleaded  Not Guilty. The diet was continued against Caldwell, and he was re-committed. After the examination of several witnesses, the Advocate-Depute (Mr Dundas) addressed the Jury for the Crown, as did A. Neill for the prisoners, after which the Jury retired, and the Court adjourned. Thursday, Sept. 30. The Court met this day at ten o’clock, when the Jury gave in their written  verdict in the case of Taylor, Davies alias Roberts alias Eccles, and Cumming, finding Taylor and Davies Guilty, Not Guilty, and Cumming Not Proven. The libel against Taylor was restricted, he being only 16 years of age. After a suitable admonition, Davies was sentenced to be executed on Wednesday the 17th November. On being taken from the bar, the unfortunate man protested his innocence in the most solemn manner. Fife Herald, 7 Oct 1824.

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Maureen Withey on 2nd November 2022

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE. SEPT 23d. 1828. TWENTY POUNDS REWARD. WHEREAS the Four undermentioned Individuals contrived to effect their ESCAPE from the Gaol at Bathurst, on the Morning of the 11th Instant;-NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That a REWARD OF FIVE POUNDS will be paid for the Apprehension of each of the said Individuals who shall be safely lodged in any of His Majesty's Gaols; viz, JOSEPH BELCHER, per Tottenham, Labourer and Groom, a Native of Oxfordshire, 31 Years of Age, 5 feet 7 inches high, with sallow Complexion, brown Hair, and dark Eyes, holds a Certificate of freedom, No. 46-1913, dated 5th March, 1824. WILLIAM TAYLOR, per Minstrel (2), Millwright, a Native of Glasgow, 20 Years of Age, 5 Feet 21/2 inches high, brown Complexion, brown Hair, and light blue Eyes. THOMAS SCOTT, per Manlius, a Native of Waterford, 18 Years of Age, 5 Feet high, fresh fair Complexion, brown Hair, blue Eyes, and is afflicted with singular cutaneous Disease like leprosy, from his Infancy. The above Three Men were committed for Sheep Stealing. JAMES GREY, per, Countess of Harcourt (4), Hatter, a Native of Dublin, 21 Years of Age, 5 Feet 6 1-2 Inches high, fresh fair Complexion, light fair brown Hair, and grey to blue Eyes, under Sentence to a Penal Settlement. Sydney Gazette, 24 Sep 1828.