Joseph Williams

341

Maureen Withey on 15th December 2024

An attempt at robbery, and murder, was made in the Saracen's Head public house, Gloucester-street, on Friday evening last, about nine o'clock. Two men went into the bar at, that hour, and called for some liquor they were supplied by the landlady, Mrs. Cotton, widow, of Mr Brighton Cotton, whose funeral took place on Monday. Seeing no one in the bar besides the landlady; one of the men threw her on the ground, the other calling to him " to kill her outright, while he searched for what was in the house." A third man was seen to look in at the door while this was going on ; while lying on the floor, Mrs. Cotton received a severe wound in her thigh from a sharp knife by the miscreant who stood over her. At this moment, a female servant, the only other person on the premises, except: a child about six years of age, and an infant in arms, were alarmed by the screams of Mrs. Cotton, and coming to see what was the matter, her approaching footsteps: were heard by the robbers, who made off immediately, without being enabled to collect any booty, or strike another blow. Inspector Fitzpatrick being on duty in Georges-street, was informed by a lad of the circumstance almost instantly after it occurred, who gave him a description of the robbers, saying, he had just seen them going towards the wharf; whereupon Fitzpatrick following quickly, came up with them just opposite the wharf, and succeeded in taking one of them in custody,.after having been compelled to knock him down twice. The other escaped at that time, but Fitzpatrick immediately sent a description of his person to the different watch-houses, for the information of the Police on duty. About eleven o'clock the same evening, two men went into the watch-house on the Rocks, in which the captured man was confined, and asked whether a man named Jones was confined there? Serjeant M'Neill, who was in attendance, at once suspected one of them as the party described by Fitzpatrick, and asked the other man (Michael Sheridan, a most notorious character, who is frequently before the' Police Bench) who he was? to which Sheridan replied " a friend of mine." McNeill then opened the half-door of the watchhouse, with a view of enticing the parties inside, for the purpose of locking up the suspected man, when Sheridan's " friend" struck at the constable with a. heavy paling about seven feet in length, the blow of which fortunately failed of effect, and both parties made off, followed by Constable McNeill, armed with a cutlass. He succeeded in capturing the man who struck at him with the paling, Sheridan escaping. Sheridan was apprehended by another constable about an hour- afterwards, not however without considerable resistance, having knocked down the capturing constable twice, ' The two men turn out to be runaways from the ironed gang of Parramatta; one of them Joseph Williams, per OCEAN, is a thorough ruffian, and has escaped several times from custody once from the cells. The other prisoner is Daniel McDougall, per HIBERNIA. Mrs. Cotton, to whom Williams was shown Immediately after his capture, instantly recognised him as the man who called to his companion to " kill her outright." The parties were brought before the Bench on Saturday; but Mrs. Cotton being unable to attend from the effects of the wound in her thigh, they were remanded until Tuesday next.--Monitor. Australian Chronicle, 27 Aug 1839. Supreme; Court. WEDNESDAY; NOVEMBER, 6. (Before Mr. Justice Willie ) Daniel McDougall was indicted for stabbing Mary Cotton on the right thigh with intent to murder her, and Joseph Williams was indicted as an accessory. The prisoners, who were runaways from an iron gang, went into a public house in Gloucester street, kept by the widow of Brighton Cotton, and asked for some drink, which was refused them, McDougall then committed the crime for which he stood indicted; the other being present on the watch. Guilty- death recorded. Sydney Gazette, 9 Nov 1839.

51

Chris Ison on 10th December 2024

Norfolk Island -On the 15th July last, seven [more likely eight] of the prisoners at this settlement made their escape in a whale-boat, which they had contrived to build secretly in a cave in Mr. Waldron's garden, and which they carried overland a distance of three miles to Cresswell's Bay, at which place they embarked, and got clear off. Owing to the tempestuous weather which set in the day after their departure, and which continued eighteen days, there is every probability of the boat having foundered. It appears strange that the building of the boat could have been effected without discovery, as it was found, on examining the marks on the sand, that she measured about thirty feet over all, and it must have taken some time to complete her. (Colonial Observer 24 Sep 1842, p. 6.) Principal Superintendent of Convict Office, Sydney, January 17, 1844. THE undermentioned Prisoners having absconded from the individuals and employment set against their respective names, … Higgins John, John Barry, (3), 24, Lancashire, rope maker's labourer, 5 feet 5} Inches, ruddy freckled comp., brown hair, brown eyes, eyebrows partially meeting, three warts and scar back of right hand, long sear right thumb, two scars back of forefinger, and wart between fore and middle fingers of left hand, from Norfolk Island, since August 6,1842. Williams Joseph, Ocean (3), 40, Exeter, carpenter 6 months, 5 feet2 ¼ inches, fair comp., dark flaxen hair, blue eyes, cast in right eye, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. Bennett James, jun., Mangles (3)47, Sussex, carpenter 5 feet 9$ inches, fresh, comp., brown hair, light blue eyes, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. Brady James, Waterloo (2), 35, county Cavan, labourer, 5feet 4 ½ inches, florid pockpitted comp., brown hair, light brown eyes, small mole at corner, and under left ear, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. Brown William, Waterloo (3), 29, Lambeth, watermans 5 feet 4 inches & upwards, fair sallow comp., red hair, hazel eyes, LMERCT inside lower right arm, blue mark resembling a star back of ball of right thumb, ring on middle little fingers of same, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. Ellis Henry, John Barry (8), 26, Chester, labourer, 5 feet 1 ½ inch, ruddy comp., light-brown hair, grey eyes, nose a little pockpitted, scar on knuckle of left thumb, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. McDougall Daniel, Hibernia,39, Lanarkshire, labourer, 5 feet 7 inches, ruddy comp., light-brown hair, grey eyes, nose rather flat, lost part of third finger of left hand, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. Spencer Joseph, Lady Harewood (I), 35, Hull, mariner, 5 feet 4 inches, ruddy freckled comp., brown hair, hazel eyes, two small diagonal scars over right eye, scrofulous under cheek and left jaws and at lower part throat, from Norfolk Island, since August 1842. (New South Wales Government Gazette 19 Jan 1844 [Issue No.10], p.155)