50-Day Family History Blogging Challenge - Day 5

Fragments of Family History

Jennifer Jones from TRACKING DOWN THE FAMILY has initiated a 50-Day Family History Blogging Challenge. This is a big writing commitment but I have decided to participate. I have decided my topic will be “Fragments of Family History”. I will write short posts of newspaper items or single stories connected to my family history. This may expand over the 50 days.

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ROBBERY IN A DWELLING HOUSE

My 2x Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Giles, wife of publican and butcher, John William Giles of Sofala, N.S.W. caught an employee robbing her house in 1858. She was a very small woman but stood up for herself.

‘Robbery in a Dwelling House’, Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW : 1851 - 1862; 1872; 1882; 1885 - 1897; 1899 - 1904), Saturday 13 March 1858, p. 2.

ROBBERY IN A DWELLING HOUSE.

John Anson was indicted for having, at Sofala, on the 6th January, feloniously stolen from the dwelling house of John William Giles the sum of £27.

The prisoner was a Dane, and Mr. Anderson of this town acted as interpreter with great ability.

The prisoner had been employed by the prosecutor a butcher and publican, at Sofala, and on the 6th of January Mrs Giles asked him to take charge of the bar while she went into the butcher's shop. In the bedroom adjoining the bar, she had a large sum, amounting to between £80 and £100, placed in a drawer, the key of which was deposited in a tumbler, and this tumbler was concealed under the pillow of the bed. She had been absent about ten minutes, when she returned, and entering her bedroom, found a man there having closed the door, she recognised the prisoner as he was in the act of taking three £1 notes from the drawers, which were open. Mrs. Giles then very courageously seized him by the collar of the neck ; but on his threatening to fling at her the tumbler full of silver, she said, "Give me the money, and I'll let you go" He then tendered the three £1 notes, and made his escape, but was shortly afterwards apprehended and searched by Wilkinson, a Corporal in the Gold Police, stationed at Sofala, who found nothing upon him.

The prisoner, who was undefended, said that the tumbler had been left on the chest of drawers in the bedroom, that he only took the notes in joke, and had not touched the rest of the money.

Mr Tilling, late of the Turon, who had known the prisoner for many years past, gave him the highest character for honesty and general integrity.

The Chairman having briefly summed up, the jury retired for a short time, and returned with a verdict of guilty.

The Chairman, in consideration, of the very high character which the prisoner had received, and the possibility that the tumbler had been left on the chest of drawers, as stated by him, sentenced him to 6 months' imprisonment and hard labour in Bathurst gaol.

I find it interesting that the Chairman considered that the possibility that “the tumbler had been left on the chest of drawers” was mitigating to the sentence! John Anson went into a private bedroom, used the key in the tumbler to unlock the drawer holding the money and took some money out. However, if as Elizabeth stated she had between £80-100 in the drawer, how did they know £27 was taken?

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