New South Wales Inquests, 1840; 24/03/08 SYD1840 CJA, 6/436, 01/01/1840 INQUESTS. - On Saturday last, at the house of ADAM WILSON , constable, at New Town, on the body of ROBERT DAY, who died from the effects of a ruptured blood vessel, produced through intemperance. Verdict accordingly. On Monday last, at the Cross Keys, corner of King and Kent-streets, on view of the body of WILLIAM RAGAN [REGAN] [ aged 50]. It appeared in evidence that the deceased retired to rest on the night previous to his demise, apparently in good health; but, that on the following morning, he was found lying on his bed quite dead. Verdict, died by the visitation of God. SUDDEN DEATH. - We understand that Mr. TOMPSON, the butcher, of Market- street, fell off a chair in his own house, yesterday, and instantly expired. Dr. HOSKING was called in, but his services were not required, as the fountain of life had ceased to flow. CJA, 6/438, 08/01/1840. BIRTH. On the 6 th instant, at the residence of the Rev. J. SAUNDERS, Prince street, Mrs. Saunders, of a son, still born. CJA, 6/443, 25/01/1840 FELIX MONAGHAN was put to the bar, on a charge of murdering one of Mr. LANG’S assigned servants, at the Paterson. Mr. MITCHELL had received satisfactory intelligence from the authorities in that district, and in order to give time for the necessary witnesses to arrive, the prisoner was remanded to the Gaol for seven days. The following is the manner in which he was captured, as related to us:- Yesterday week, as the supposed murdered was going up George-street, he was met by constable STENTON , and recognised as being an old chum, and one of his late companions in an iron-gang. The constable challenged him, and being aware that a warrant had been issued for his apprehension, proceeded to take him into custody; but Monaghan being a powerful man, succeeded in making off. Stenton, nevertheless, dodged him, and in company with another constable, two days afterwards, fell in with, and pursued him; and as they were crying out “stop him” Mr. CARRICK , of the “Oxford Arms,” succeeded in staying his progress, and Monaghan was lodged in the watchhouse. CJA, 6/445, 01/02/1840 DETERMINED MURDER. - A few days ago Mr. FULLER , overseer to Mr. THORNE , of Parramatta, in company with an assigned servant, was returning, both on one horse, from Goulburn, when their discourse caused high words between them, and the servant in a fit of desperation, or rather madness, drew from his pocket a sharp knife, with which he stabbed the overseer in the back, and afterwards cut him across the belly, which caused the wounded man to fall off the horse, and on the spot he was found the following morning a corpse. The perpetrator of this most determined and rash act, we are happy to learn, was apprehended on the day on which the body was found, has been committed to take his trial, and now lies in Sydney Gaol awaiting his certain doom. SYDNEY HERALD, 03/02/1840 New South Wales Inquests, 1840; 24/03/08 Supreme Court of New South Wales Dowling C.J., 1 February 1840 SUPREME COURT – (Criminal Side) Saturday, February 1st – Before the Chief Justice. THOMAS CHUBB was indicted for shooting at RICHARD SMITH , with intent to murder him, at Wallowa Creek on the 20th October, and FREDERICK KNOWLES was indicted for being present, aiding and assisting. Other counts laid the intent to be to do some grievous bodily harm, and to prevent the lawful apprehension of their own persons. The prisoners were both runaway convicts, and on the 29th October went in company with another bushranger named REES to the house of Mr. Brown, a settler residing near the Vale of Clywd, which they robbed of a considerable quantity of property. The next day Mr. Brown went to a neighbouring Police station, and Sergeant SNEYD and trooper SMITH of the mounted Police went with him in pursuit. They went to the house of Mr. Walker who joined them with two native blacks. The blacks traced the bushrangers all day and at night the party came up with them encamped near the head of the Wallowa Creek. By leaving their horses and crawling on their hands and knees they got close to them, and challenged them before they were observed. All three of them ran away and Sergeant Sneyd shot Rees dead, Smith followed Chubb, who turned round and fired at him but luckily missed him. One of the blacks knocked Chubb, down and he was secured; he lamented that he had fired off the pistol before he encountered the blackfellow. In the camp were found, three double barrelled guns, five single barrelled guns, and five pistols. The prisoners had committed a great number of serious outrages. Guilty to be transported to a Penal Settlement for life never to be allowed to return to Sydney. See also Australian, 23 January 1840. Decisions of the Superior Courts of New South Wales, 1788-1899; Published by the Division of Law Macquarie University CJA, 6/446, 05/02/1840 An inquest was held on Saturday last, at the Currency Lass , Bridge-street, Windsor, on the body of ELLEN HOLMES , wife of JOHN HOLMES , a shoemaker, residing in that town, who was found drowned in the South Creek, near Howe’s Bridge. From the evidence given, it appears that for the last few days, the unfortunate woman had taken to drinking ardent spirits, supposed to be caused by some family dispute and the frequent state of intoxication in which her husband kept himself, and while suffering from the effects of liquor, went and threw herself in the Creek, - her cap and shoes were found on the banks. There are eight small children left to deplore her unhappy fate. Verdict. Destroyed herself while in a fit of temporary derangement, caused by the use of ardent spirits. THOMAS WETTON [WHITTON] and BERNARD REYNOLDS were received into Sydney Gaol yesterday afternoon, under committal for trial on three distinct warrants – one for murder, arson, and robbery; another for murder, and attacking the person of Mr. GROSVENOR with intent to kill that gentleman; and the third on a general charge of felony. The above villains have received notice of trial at the present criminal sittings of the Supreme Court. These are they that murdered Mr. HUME about a fortnight since; and certainly we cannot but admire the promptness with which the authorities are bringing them to their last account on this side the grave. SYDNEY HERALD, 07/02/1840 New South Wales Inquests, 1840; 24/03/08 Supreme Court of New South Wales Willis J., 3 February 1840 ALEXANDER FENTON was indicted for shooting at CHRISTOPHER TIPLADY , at Nattai, on the 20th July. Chalker’s public house, near Berrima, was attacked by three bushrangers; knowing that there were some soldiers encamped in the neighbourhood Mr. Chalker ran to them to give the alarm. While he was gone one of the bushrangers, the prisoner, went to the kitchen and told Tiplady, the cook, if he did not come out he would shoot him; Tiplady said, “fire and be___ ”; the prisoner then went into the house to get the other two men to assist him to open the kitchen door; Tiplady followed him, and at the door of the house the prisoner fired a pistol at him: the pan was so near to his eyes that the flash blinded him for a short time, but, luckily, the ball missed him; the prisoner then levelled and fired a musket at him, and thirty slugs entered the wall behind him, but none of them hit him. The alarm that the soldiers were approaching was then given, and the bushrangers ran away, taking nothing with them. When called upon for his defence the prisoner said “I don’t see that I can say anything.” Guilty - To be transported for life. See also Australian, 8 February 1840. Decisions of the Superior Courts of New South Wales, 1788-1899; Published by the Division of Law Macquarie University CJA, 6/447, 08/02/1840 INQUEST. - On Sunday last, at the “Bard’s Legacy,” on THE FOOT OF A MAN , which had been found on the beech (sic) at Billy Blue’s Point on the preceding day, in a boot, with a portion of shirt, marked with the initials C.R. No.6. Verdict - that part of a human foot had been found on the beech (sic), being part of a body unknown, and of the manner of whose death no evidence was before the jury. SUPREME COURT CRIMINAL SIDE – Monday, February 3. Before Mr. Justice Stephen. JOHN HUNT stood indicted for the wilful murder of DANIEL MACARTHY , at Regentville, on the 30 th October, by throwing him upon the ground, and beating him. Guilty. Death. NEBUCHADNEZZAR LANSDOWNE stood indicted for the manslaughter of HELENA DAVIS , an old woman, about sixty years of age. It appeared in evidence, given by a boy about twelve years of age, who was on the dray in company with the deceased, on the day of the accident (November 1), that on going down the road leading to Clarke’s Creek, the bullocks trotted, and he could not say whether they were made to by the prisoner’s cracking the whip (the only way, as observed by one of the jury, by which bullocks attached to a dray are kept from going at a dangerous pace); on arriving at the Creek the dray was upset, and the woman and boy thrown to the ground; the former was left there, but the boy, although injured by the fall, proceeded with the dray, which was going on to Mr.