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Archiver > AUS-Tasmania > 2002-12 > 1039032363


From: "Peter M Thomas" <>
Subject: RE: [AUS-Tas] Murder ? Launceston 1835
Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2002 05:36:20 +0930
In-Reply-To: <8220837252.20021204181736@bright.au.com>


G'day, I researched a murder near Launceston in 1834: the home invasion,
robbery, & murder of Mrs Hannah HOWELL. Once I got her death details from
BDM, I followed the whole tragedy through the newspapers, right upto the
hanging of the three culprits a few weeks later.

My tips are: read every available newspaper from the date of the crime to
the conclusion of the trial. You may be lucky and get a report of the
crime, reports on the progress of the investigation, the arrest of the
malefactor, court appearances, trial, petitions for mercy, and execution,
including last words, etc. Secondly, I found that the Hobart papers had
plenty to say about Launceston matters. There were 3 or 4 papers at that
time: some have enormous detail; others none.

Also, I have found that executed prisoners don't always make it into the
BDMs. The records currently available for the pre-Registration period are
in fact church burial records. Some criminals were buried without a prayer,
and so there is no record of them in the usual places.

Curiously, the two Launceston cases from 1834 that I have looked into, both
resulted in trials in the Supreme Court sitting in Hobart.

Love the alias.


Peter THOMAS
Darwin, Australia
<>


-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Meighan [mailto:]
Sent: Wednesday, 4 December 2002 16:48
To:
Subject: [AUS-Tas] Murder ? Launceston 1835


Hi,

During the month of August 1835, William ROTHWELL, alias Black
Bill was accused of the wilful murder of Charlotte YOUNG at her
house in Launceston Tasmania.
Charlotte's seven year old son George witnessed her being pushed
on to the fireplace during an argument.
Has anyone any knowledge of the case? or suggestions where I may
be able to get further info.

--
Regards,
Tony mailto:

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