File 4: Hassall family, correspondence, volume 4, pp. 1343-1673, 1818-1895

1665

Reverend Sir

I ham verry sorrey to inform you of my Troubeled mind That Mr Mansfield as taken a dislike to mee and Turned mee out of Class Meeting for a Crime that I ham inosent off as George Smith the man that is the Leader of the Class as told him that I had raised a false Report of him as he is a Taylor by Trade. I carried him three yards and half of stuff to make a Jaket I had then on and I asked him how much Calico it would take Line it he told me to go to Harveys the Shop keepers and buy a yard of wide Calico which Cost me 1s.7d. and it Was made when I saw it I was quite astonesed. It was not made to big for a Boy about fourteen years of age. I then Whent to my Brother Haywood hence and told him that I had Got a Jaket made but it was to small for mee and he asked mee Who made It. I Told him my Brother George Smith and I Reasoned with him and told him that I Believed there was not the Stuff in it that I Carried him to make the Jaket off and it his Opinion Likewise.

I Then said I must have a Jaket made and I Whent to a Taylor and I shewed him the Jaket and told him it was to small for mee he asked mee how much Stuff I Gave the Taylor to make it. I told him three yards and half, he then asked mee who the Taylor was. That made it that there was one part out of three of the Stuff not put in the Jaket and if he had done such a Jobb he should be brought to Court for It. I said I would not take him to Court

1666

for if he had done this justice to mee the Reward would follow him as it was against his Profession. I then asked the Taylor how much stuff I should Get of the same kind to make mee a Jaket he told mee to Get the same Quantity 3½ yards and Likewise a yard of Whide Calico Which he made a Jaket Full big Enough for mee which was Lined with the Calico both Sleeves and Body. The Other Jaket that had the same quantity of Calico was only Lined in the Sleeves which thus made mee Well assured that my Brother Smith had defrauded mee out of my Calico and stuff. I then considered that it was verry sinfull for me that many a man had been Transported for a defraude and I thought if I Brought him to Court it would be a great Disgrace on His Profession. Then I thought no more of hit for some weeks after untill one day I met Brother [indecipherable] having some Discourse with him, I told him I had Gave some Stuff to G Smith to make mee a Jaket and he had spoil'd it and it was no use to mee and I tould him that I Thought G Smith had dealed Verry Unjustly with mee as he had Charged mee 7s.6d for the making of It which is 1s.6d more than the Regular Price. I then Thought I should have no more about it as I was speaking to a Brother as I did not whant it talked abought I thought he would keep it to himself. Last Monday I Was Coming by G Smith's house he called mee in a Great Rage and said I Was tring to hurt his Cristian Profession that I had said he had defrauded mee of my Cloth that I had Given him to make a Jaket.

1667

I told him I had not made a Talk about It but I had spoke to Brother [indecipherable] about he then said he would Complain of mee to Mr Mansfield I then found my mind disturbed and I said I would tell his Master Likewise. I Went to Mr Mansfield and told him and took the Jaket that he had made for mee and the Other Jaket that was made of the same Quantity of Stuff as I was in hopes to satisfy Mr Mansfield that G Smith had dealed Verry Unjust with mee and I took a strip of Each Cloth with mee and the Cloth that the Bigg Jaket was made of was four Inches narower than the Other. With such Clear Proffs I was in hopes to Convince Mr Mansfield that I Was Right and to have no more about it. But Mr Mansfield as turned me out from the Class Meeting and says that I ham In the fault as I ham sowrn to report the Truth as far as Comes to my Understanding. I Well know that I have it in my Power to make a Publick Exampel of him but as it is such a serious thing I should be Verrey Glad to speake to your Reverance before I percifier in it.

Reverend Sir I Remain your humbel Servant

Thomas Smith Constabul Parramatta

The Reverend Thomas Hassall Parramatta

1669a

My third object is to show the probability that the robbery was concocted at the Public house (Sidwells) from whence they started, at the same time I do not wish to implicate any because I have no evidence [crossed through - against them] to satisfy my mind as to who the parties were.

Sidwell has taken a strange part in the affair. He represents at the trial that these men took his Grey Mare, that he could not find her, that he knows nothing of the Chestnut Mare, never saw her. Lost pistol lately. Denies their true relationship. All this against Shand, and yet I believe he was about to be committed at the Trial for asserting their innocence in an improper manner. I wrote him expecting his assistance on their behalf; received no reply, but hear from Police that he is now declaring them guilty, I have no doubt whatever he authorized these men to take the Chestnut Mare, and knew all about her. I believe he strongly persuaded them to start in the evening (perhaps to suit his purpose). I may mention that his character was considered bad when Ben Hall , Gilbert and other bushrangers so often robbed near his house. He was tried for stealing stone from a Government bridge and whether these men are guilty or not of this robbery Sidwell cannot clear himself either way.

[Crossed through - again when Conroy was]

Then there was something about a blanket, a Saddle and the Pistol, which appear to have a connection with Sidwell's house, and from Conroy's statement the robber appeared to know the particulars about the Coach's travelling. "I said I was always

1669c

the last coach that left Goulburn and he said I was not always the last I had not been so once last week. For 4 or 5 days Vennel could have known this fact but it more probably was the remark of a new resident. Sidwells sin is not considered clear I believe and the notorious Jacky [indecipherable] are living close by Sidwells. The Yass Mail was stopped and Mr Longfield shot a few days after this 10th May and after Vennell and Keevil had been imprisoned. Berriman an almost necessary accomplice in the case of these men clearly proved an allibi and was acquitted altho' Mr McAlroy almost recognised him hovering about his house, and the connexion at Sidwell's was as suspicious.

I have not in my remarks entered into the minute particulars of the journey from Sidwells to Braidwood made separately by the men, and which is my strongest reason for believing them innocent and independent of all other facts would convince me in fact did convince before I made enquiries on Rao's behalf, and I maintain that I have only one difficulty in all the evidence against them and that is the truth of McAllroy statement. I fear he has not confined himself to truth. He may [crossed through - think] have seen the shirt as the Police passed from Braidwood and remarks may have been made upon it after they had taken it from his house, but Keevil, no doubt, had on a new brown crimson shirt.

I should have liked to obtain the information from Keevils sister who lives at Sidwells as to the reason she had for warning her brother to be very careful what he did or he would get into trouble. He does not know what she alluded to nor did I remember the words until he had been some time in Prison. I cannot [indecipherable] her or conveniently see her about it.

The Prisoner Vennel served a sentence for a former offence. Keevil is very young. They lived in a bad district, but were not connected with the outlaws, as one was in gaol, and the other too young. They have conducted themselves well in Prison. Lastly they fully confess their error in taking the Christmas Mail but maintain their intention to return with it when they came for the [indecipherable]. I believe they were not tried on that charge if so they have suffered pretty well for it.

Judge [indecipherable]