TROVE TUESDAY 19TH FEB 2019... COLLECTION of CONVICT CAPTURES

COLLECTION of CONVICT CAPTURES

Some of the most interesting items to be found in TROVE are the stories of convict captures. When you read the situations many found themselves in, you can understand the longing to escape.

Some were simply lifetime villains, others were still unbelieving that they had been sent so far away from their loved ones and believed it was worthwhile taking a chance of escape, even if in an unknown land.

Please click to enlarge..

James Hurley, described as a 'notorious escaped prisoner'  was definitely one of the former.

Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser (Grafton, NSW : 1859 - 1889), Tuesday 24 Aug 1875.    National Library of Australia   http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61902528

William Thompson was one of the same ilk... in Western Australia.

Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950), Tuesday 15 November 1887, page 3

National Library of Australia. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76472263

Victoria had their fair share of escapees, this one being a man named Hutchinson... seems he had a lucky escape.

Kerang New Times, Vic. 10 Sep 1901

It seems there may have been a hungry escapee in South Australia.

Daily Telegraph Launceston 21 Nov 1904

Clive Frankston, in Victoria, was one convict who was glad to be recaptured.

Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), Saturday 14 May 1927, page 1

National Library of Australia. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243915979

Joseph Bourke, also known as Simpson, led the police a merry chase in Sydney...


The Argus, Melbourne. 8 Apr 1939

A further report on the above, Joseph Bourke, but in more detail.

Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), Friday 7 April 1939, page 8

National Library of Australia. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52302579

Poor Captain John Hindmarsh had his hands well and truly full.

Beverley Times (WA : 1905 - 1977), Thursday 16 January 1958, page 6

National Library of Australia. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202784635

There are numerous stories in TROVE about our convict history, so many with an unexpected twists.  The above is just a small selection...