AUSTRALIAN OUTLAWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7589, 24 December 1902, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN OUTLAWS.

BUSHRANGERS OF A BYEGONE DAY. [All Rights Reserved.] CHAPTER VIII. (Continued). BETURN OF PRISONERS PROFOSED FOR EXILE OR LIBERATION. William Brookman, for wounding with intent to murder ; convicted Jan. 16, 1868 ; term of sentence, death^ commuted to 15 years' roads ; period served, 6& years ; previous convictions, none known. Recommendation of the Sheriff — May be allowed conditional pardon after April 13, 1874 ; question of liberation in colony to be postponed. Decision of his Excellency —Approved; H.R., Oct, 1, 1873. Samuel Clarke, for robbery, being armed, and horse stealing ; convicted April 18, 1866 ; term of sentence, 15 years' roads ; period served, 8 1-12 years ; previous convictions, none known. Recommendation of Sheriff — May be allowed- a conditional pardon ; failing means, to be brought forward for consideration for liberation in January, 1875. Decision o'f his Excellency —Approved; H.R., Oct. 1, 1873. Daniel Shea, for robbery, being armed; convicted Nov. 6, 1860 ; term of sentence, 15 years' roads - , first 2in irons ; period served, 8£ years; previous convictions, stealing 2 years. Recommendation of the Sheriff — May be allowed a conditional pardon. Decisiotn of .-his Excellency — Approved; H.R., Oct. 1, 1873. William Willis, alias Dunkley, for robbery, being armed, three charges ; convicted May 16, 1866 ; term of sentence, 15 years' roads ; period served, 8 years ; previous convictions^ stealing (3) — 9 months, 18 months, 6 months. Recommendation of the Sheriff — May be allowed a. conditional pardon. Decision of his Excellency —Approved 1 ; HR,, Oct, 1, 1873. Alexander Fordyce, for robbery and wounding/ convicted! Feb. 23, 1863; term of sentence, death ; commuted! to life, first 3 years in irons ; period served 1 , 114 years ; previous convictions, none. Recommendation of the Sheriff— May be allowed a conditional pardon -now; failing taking advantage, case to be brought forward commencement of June, 1874. Decision of his Excellencv — Approved; H.R., Oct. 1, 1873. • .'■ . John Payne, for robbery under arms, two charges ; convicted Jan. 14, 1868 ; term of sentence, 20. years, two of 10 years each, second sentence remitted by his Excellency; period served^ 6£ years; previous convictions, none. Recommendation of the Sheriff — May be avowed' a- conditional pardon after service of 7 years. Decision of his Excellency— Approved ; H.R., Oct. 1, 1873. Jaanes Jones, for robbery under arms; convicted March 31, 1864; term of sentence, 15 years, first 3in irons ;. period served, 10 1-12 years; previous convictions, - none. Recommendation '-.. of the Sheriff-— May be allowed a conditional pardon after service of 10 years. Decision of his Excellency — Approved; H.R., Oct. 1, 1873. Robert Cotterell. alias Blue Cap, for robbery, being armed ; -' convicted April 20, 1868 ; term of sentence, 10 years ori. roads ; period served, 6 1-12 years; previous convictions, none. Recommendations of the Sheriff — Not a case for liberation ; may be allowed a conditional pardon. Decision of his Excellency — Approved;- H.R., Oct. 1, 1873. James Boyd, alias M'Grath, for robbery, being armed ; convicted Feb 24, 1864 ; term of sentence, 10 years on roads; period served, 9i years;, previous conviction, horse stealing, 5 years on reads.. Recommendation of the Sheriff— May be allowed a. conditional pardon. . Decision of his Excellency — Approved; H.R., Oct. 1. 1873. Thomas Cunningham, alias Smith, for robbery under arms ; convicted April 9; 1867 ; term of sentence, 15 years' roads ; period served, 7 1-12 years ; previous convictions, none known. Recommendation of tha Sheriff— May be allowed a conditional pardon ; failing. to avail, case to be brought forward for liberation in- January, 1876. Decision' of his Excellency— Approved ; H.R., Oct. 1, 1873. Charles Hugh Gough, alias Windha/m, alias Bennett, for robbery under arms ; convicted April 9, 1867 ; term of sentence, 15 years' roads; period served, 7 1-12 years; previous conviction, assault with intent to rob, 3" years. Recommendation, of the Sheriff— To be allowed conditional pardon ; failing to avail, case to be brought forward for liberation in January, 1876. Decision of his Excellency — Approved ; H.R., Oct. 1, 1873. . Thomas Dargue, for robbery, being armed, convicted March 28, 1867 ; term of sentence, 10 years' roads (first year in irons) ; period served, 7 1-6 yeais ; previous convictions, nono known. Recommendation of the Sheriff-r-May be allowed a conditional pardon, case for liberation to be brought forward in September, 1874. Decision of his Excellency — Approved; H.R., Sept. 1, 1873. . Henry ©argue, for robbery, being aimed 1 ; convicted March 28, 1867 ; term of .sentence, 10 years' roads ; period servejl, 7 1-6 years; previous convictions, none known. Recommendation of the Sheriff — May be allowed conditional pardon ; case for liberation to be brought forward in September, 1874. Decision of his Excellency—Approved; H.R., Sept. 1, 1873. John Kelly, for robbery, being armed ; convicted March 11, 1867 ; term of sentence, 14 years (first two in irons); period served, 7 1-6 years j previous convictions, embezzlement, 2 years. Recommendation of the Sheriff— May be- allowed

conditional pardon; case may be brought forward for liberation in May, 1875. Decision of liis Excellency— Approved ; H.D., Sept. Ij 1873. James Smith, robbery, being armed; convicted April 15, 1867 ; term of sentence; 17 years' roads ; period served, 7 1-12 years; previous convictions, horse stealing (two charges), 3 years' road. Recommendation of the-' Sheriff— Case to be brought forward for consideration as to' conditional pardon in May, 1874. Decision of his Excellency — Approved; H.R., Sept. 1, 1873. John Fora>n, robbery, being armed j. three charges ; . convicted Oct. 18, 1867 ; term ot. sentence, 15 years' roads; period served, 6 7-12 years; previous convictions, none knbwn. Recommendation of the Sheriff — Mav be brought- forward for conditional pardon in January, 1874. Decision of his Excellency— -Approved ; H.R., Sept. 1, 1873. y :■-.■-* Edward Kelly, for robbery with arms; convicted Jan. 14, 1868; term of sentence, 15 years' roads ; . period served, 6 1-3 years ; previous convictions, none 'known, of ' the Sheriff— Case for conditional pardon. May be brought forward in April, 1874. V Decision of his Excellency—Approved; H.R., Sept. 1, 1873. John Williams, for wounding with intent to murder ; convicted: Jan. 14, 1868 ; term of sentence, death, commuted to 15 years' roads ; period served, 6 1-3 years ; previous convictions, none known. Recommendation of the Sheriff— May be brought forward for consideration as to conditional pardon in April, 1874. l Decision of his Excellency— Approved ; H.R., Sept; 1, 1873. . William H. Simeons, for robbery, being armed; convicted April 6, 1868.'; term of sentence, 15 years' roaus ; period seryed, 6 1-12 years ; previous convictions, larceny (two charges), 10 years' roads. Recommendation of the Sheriff— May be; brought forward for conditional pardon in April, 1874. Decision of his Excellency—Approved; H.R., Sept. 1, 1873. William Taverner, for robbery, being armed; convicted April 5, 1867: ; term of sentence, 10 years' roads, commuted to 8 years; period served, 5 1-12; previous convictions, none known. Recommendation of the Sheriff — May be allowed conditional pardon; case for liberation, to be brought forward in April, 1875. Decision of his Excellency— Approved ; H.R., Sept. 1, 1873. ..-■■• Daniel Taylor, for robbery, being armed, nn.l * horse stealing-; convicted Oct. 24, 1865 ; term of sentence, 15 years' road; period served, 8 1-12 years; previous convictions, none known. Recommendation of the Sheriff — May be allowed conditional pardon; case for liberation to be brought forward in January, 1875. Decision of his Excellency—Approved; H. R. , Sept. 1, 1873. John Bollard, for assault--, with intent to rob, being armed ; convicted Oct. 19, 1869; term of sentence, 10 years' roads; period served, 4 7-12 years ; previous convictions, none known. Recommendation of the Sheriff — May be brought forward for conditional pardon in October, 1874. Decision of his Excellency— Approved j H. R., Sept. 1, 1873. Francis Christie, alias Clarke, alias Gardiner, for wounding, with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and highway robbery ; convicted July 8, 1864 ; term of sentence, 32 years' roads, first 2 in irons ; period served, 10 years ; previous convictions, horse stealing, 14 years. Recommendation of the Sheriff— (Full reports, minutes, etc., in this case already laid before Parliament). John Bow, for robbery and wounding ; convicted Feb. 26, 1863; term of' sentence, death, commuted to life on roads, first 3 years in irons ; period served, 11£ years ; previous convictions, • noue. Recommendation of the Sheriff— May be allowed a conditional pardon now (in August, 1873) ; failing to take advantage thereof; case for liberation in the colony to be; brought for- , ward in June, 1874. Decision of his Excellency — I approve the Sheriff's recommendation in this case ; H. R., August 19, 1873. Undoubtedly the majority of jthe bushrangers named owed their release to the determination „of the authorities to open the

prison doors for Gardiner. It would not look well to release such a notorious offender—rand it had been ordained that by hook or by crook he should be set free — * without releasing others who had been guilty of similar offences. Needless to say, the prisoners concerned were not slow to avail themselves of the advantage held out to thom. (To be continued on Saturday.)