Thomas William Turner

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

NOTE: Re "Occupation" -- clearly he was not a laundress but cook/laundress is the only option available in the list.

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

NOTE: 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.

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

FREMANTLE JAIL RECORD: TURNER, Thomas William; inmate #9900, arrived 10 Jan 1868 per Hougoumont Date of Birth: 1842 Marital Status: Unmarried Occupation: Labourer Literacy: Literate Crime: Pickpocket Sentence Period: 14 years Previous Convictions: Yes Ticket Leave Date: 13 Jan 1876 Certificate of Freedom Date: 20 July 1881 Comments: Conditional Release 1879. Quarrier, baker, miner, labourer, well sinker (https://fremantleprison.com.au). --000--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

IN WA: 1868: On arrival, Thomas William Turner, 25, was listed as convict #9900; sentenced to 14 years, at CCC, 10 June, 1867, for “larceny from the person and previous conviction”; labourer; single, no children; literate; Protestant; family – mother Caroline, Weymouth Terrace, Hackney Road, London; behaviour “good”. Described as 5’10” tall, long brown hair, hazel eyes, oval visage, fair complexion, stout; scars on nose, right and left cheek slightly pockmarked. Previous convictions: See beginning of this bio. Ticket of Leave 13.1.76; Certificate of Freedom 20.7.81 (Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; General Register for Nos 9599-10128 cont. (R16)). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

EMBARKATION: 1867, 30 September: Thomas William Turner was sent to board the Hougoumont for WA. “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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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

1867, 28 September: Sent to Millbank Prison, London, “for embarkation on board the ‘Hougoumont’ for Western Australia” (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Thomas William Turner; Pentonville Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1866-1869; image 112). -- 1867, 28 September: Admitted to Millbank Prison – inmate #3858 Thomas W Turner (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Thomas W Turner; Millbank Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1867-1868; image 85). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

1867, 5 July: Admitted to Pentonville Prison, Caledonian Road, London – inmate #4716, Thomas William Turner, 14 years’ penal servitude (UK, Prison Commission Records, 1770-1951 for Thomas William Turner; Pentonville Prison; Register of Prisoners; 1866-1869; image 112). --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

JAILS: 1867, July: Held at Newgate Prison, corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey Street, London, while awaiting trial and following his conviction. --0--

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Dianne Jones on 10th January 2024

TRIAL: 1867, 10 June: Thomas William Turner, 25, a cook, was tried at the Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court), convicted of pocketpicking and sentenced to 10 years’ penal servitude. --- TRANSCRIPT OF TRIAL: “602. THOMAS WILLIAM TURNER (25), JAMES ATKINS (20), and JAMES BENDON (16), Stealing a purse and 2s. 9d. of Jane Boore, from her person. MR. POLAND conducted the Prosecution, and MR. LEIGH appeared for Turner, MR. STRAIGHT for Atkins, and MR. BROOKE for Bendon. WILLIAM WINES (City Policeman 551). On 18th May I was on duty in plain clothes in Princes Street, between six and seven o'clock—I saw Mrs. Boore in the act of getting into an omnibus—I saw Bendon put his hand in her pocket and take out a purse—I caught hold of his arm, and Turner took the purse out of his hand and gave it to Atkins, who ran away—I kept hold of Bendon some considerable time, and Turner struck me on the right ear and the eye—I lost a great deal of blood—I said I was a police officer and asked for assistance—when I was struck in this way a fourth man held my arms, and then Turner struck me a blow in the eye, which stunned me—Bendon was rescued from me by Turner, and he got away—then I tried to take Turner—I drew my truncheon—Turner and the man not in custody, struck me another blow and ran away—I pursued him—he ran along Princes Street, down Old Jewry, and was stopped in Grocers' Hall Court, and I took him into custody with the assistance of another officer—when he was stopped he said, ‘For God's sake do not take me, I have been fighting’—I searched him and found on him a pair of gloves, 4s. 1 1/2 d. in money, and this brooch (produced) dropped from his side—on the 15th May I went with a brother officer to Bristow's coffee-house, and in the parlour I saw Bendon—I had placed two officers at the back—he ran out and they stopped him—he was taken into custody—Atkins was taken as well. Cross-examined by MR. LEIGH. Q. Did Atkins strike you at all? A. No—the man not in custody struck me—I believe I know his came—Turner gave his correct address—I swear I saw a brooch drop from Turner—it fell out of his hand. Cross-examined by MR. STRAIGHT. Q. What time was this? A. Twenty minutes to seven—there were a great many persons about, and no one assisted me—I was suddenly assaulted—Turner struck me first, and the other came to his assistance. Cross-examined by MR. BROOKE. Q. When were you first examined? A. On the 9th—I then stated to the Magistrate that I saw the male not in custody attempt a lady's pocket—I saw Bendon put his hand into the lady's pocket. JOHN RIVETT. I live at King Street, Old Kent Road, and I sell newspapers in the streets—on 8th May I was at the corner of Princes Street about ten minutes to seven—I saw Bendon commit the robbery—he rushed towards the omnibus and pulled the purse out of the lady's pocket—the officer said, ‘Give me what you have got in your hand’, and as soon as he caught hold of him Bendon handed the purse to Turner—Atkins said, ‘Fly, or we are all nabbed’—I ran to see if I could see a policeman in uniform—I was not examined before—I was bound over to come here. Cross-examined by MR. STRAIGHT. Q. What were you doing? A. I was selling my papers—I was at the police-court, but was not called as a witness. EDWARD WORRELL. I am a messenger to the telegraph office—between six and seven on 8th May I was at the corner of Princes Street—I saw Bendon pick a lady's pocket—the lady was just getting into an omnibus—the officer caught hold of him, and the other prisoners punched him—I did not see the purse—they ran alongside of me, and Atkins told him to fly or they would all get nabbed, and Turner began punching the officer, who bled very much; and then ran down Princes Street and down Old Jewry. Cross-examined by MR. LEIGH. Q. Had you ever seen Turner before? A. No—there was a great crowd—I could not say how many—there might have been twenty or thirty. Cross-examined by MR. STRAIGHT. Q. Were you called before the Magistrate? A. No—I was talking to Rivett—he was selling his newspapers—I saw the man who is not in custody, but I have not seen him since—they were altogether—there were about twenty or thirty persons standing about the bus. Cross-examined by MR. BROOKE. Q. How was it that you did not assist the officer? A. Because I was not able—I could not run after Bendon because he was out of sight—the one not in custody jumped on the officer's back while Turner punched him. WILLIAM FREDERICK COLES. I am a merchant, and live at Fore Street—on the 8th May I was at the corner of Princes Street—I saw Turner and Wines in conflict—I did not know at the time that he was an officer—I saw them apparently trying to hit each other, and Turner tried to kick the officer several times—I saw the officer had a truncheon in his hand—he seemed to be using it very feebly—he did not take the opportunity of striking Turner on the head—the conflict went on for a few minutes, and then a powerful man came behind the officer and leaped on his back, and held him in a slanting direction, while the prisoner took a few steps back, and hit him while he was in that position—I raised a cry—I did not see anything more of it. Cross-examined by MR. LEIGH. Q. Where were you? A. I was near the kerb-stone, near the Bank—it would be just the distance of the road to the bus—there did not appear to be a great crowd of people—the officer was defending himself with his staff as well as he could—he seemed to be hitting the prisoner's head with his staff. Cross-examined by MR. BROOKE. Q. Where were you standing? A. At the Bank side of Princes Street—the bus was on the other side, near the Union Bank. JAMES CLARK . I am a telegraph messenger—I was there, and saw Turner there, scuffling with the constable, at the omnibus—I saw the two other prisoners running away—somebody was calling out, ‘Police!’ but no one was assisting the constable. EDWARD DOER. I am the conductor of the omnibus—I merely saw a rush and two men fighting—I believe Turner is the one who fought with the policeman—I did not know at that time that a lady had been robbed. Cross-examined by MR. STRAIGHT. Q. You will not swear that it was Turner that you saw? A. No—there was a great crowd of people—I am the conductor of that bus regularly—I cannot recognise any of the prisoners—they looked like two gentlemen fighting—I did not see whether one of them was a police-constable—I was on the monkey-board of the bus. Cross-examined by MR. BROOKE. Q. Were there a great many people about the monkey-board? A. Yes, a great many. JANE BOORE. I am a widow, and live at 3, Ashley Road, Islington—on the 8th May I was at the corner of Princes Street—as I was getting into an omnibus I noticed a little commotion, and I afterwards saw the detective and another man struggling—when I got to the end of my journey, I found that my purse was gone—there was a key and 2s. 9d. in money in it—it was in my pocket when I got into the omnibus—I afterwards gave information—I did not lose anything but my purse. GUILTY. They were all charged with having been before convicted, to which they PLEADED GUILTY. TURNER**— Fourteen Years' Penal Servitude. ATKINS** and BENDON*— Eighteen Months' Imprisonment each.” (https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/record/t18670610-602) --00--