Mary Ann Arnott and George Rose

This material is a work-in-progress ...

Mary Ann Arnott was born about 1826, based on her age given as seventeen when she married George Rose in Hobart on 3 June 1843. The witnesses were Christopher Holder and James Sly. 1
Virtually nothing is known of Mary's life as a child, up until her marriage, which raises the question - how and where did Mary meet George Rose ?. Did George Rose and Richard Arnott meet and strike up a friendship while both were serving time at Port Arthur between 1834 and 1837 ?. Could it have been that Mary was visiting Richard Arnott at Port Arthur and met George in the process ?. Did George Rose then visit Richard and Thomas at their Clarence residence and begin his courtship of Mary Ann ?. We may never know ...

George Rose was another of the many convicts sent to the VDL colony in 1831 aboard the transport ship Lord Lyndoch (1). George was born about 1809, based on his age given on his VDL convict records. As a ploughman, he had been tried and convicted in Kent on 14 March 1831 of "housebreaking" after having been convicted four times previously for various felonies including "stealing bread and beef." George's conduct record also records that he was "Married" with "Wife Mary Rose at N[ative P[lace] Canterbury" 2
George had married Mary Ann Bolton in the Kent Parish of St Alphege, on 27 April 1830 3

1832

George was initially assigned to Francis Allison on the Streanshalh property in the Macquarie River district in northern Tasmania. 4
Sheep stealing across the island was a regular occurrence, much to the detriment of the flock owners.

We are greatly in hopes that some of the receivers of stolen sheep on the Tamar, who have to long eluded the vigilance of the Police, will 'ere long be brought to justice. A free man employed as a sawyer, by Capt. Allison, on the Macquarie River, and an assigned servant of that gentleman's have been lately taken into custody on suspicion of robbing the flock of their employer : and on the examination before the magistrate, it has come out that the free man, who was formerly with Captain Stewart, on the Tamar, is deeply implicated in the numerous sheep robberies which have been carried on in this neighbourhood, during the past six years. It is said that from ten to twenty sheep have been slaughtered by this man and his associates at one time for the supply of splitters and sawyers at work on the banks of the river, who were regularly supplied with the finest of the flocks of which he had charge. The robbery, with which he now stands charged is of no trifling extent ; from two to three sheep per week having been slaughtered for the past eight months. The assigned servant has turned approver ; and there is every probability of conviction. We would call on the country magistrates and other authorities to bear in mind the necessity which exists, (for the furtherance of justice) for making every enquiry that may at all throw light upon the haunts and movements of the villains who reside on and about the banks of our river ; and whose occupations give an opportunity of concealing their illegal modes of living from our police. No one could possibly exert himself more than does our Police Magistrate in the means he uses for the discovery of the thieves and receivers who have taken up their residence down the river ; and it can only be attributable to the scanty supply of police-men allowed in the district, that his exertions have not been attended with success. The magistrate in the interior who heard the case brought by Mr. Allison, would do well to communicate with Mr. Lyttleton, and afford him such information as may have been gleaned from the statements of the prisoners ; which we have little doubt, would be sufficient to bring many old offenders to justice. 5

George was committed for trial on the 5th of October, and it would seem that George was the "approver" and had turned "Kings evidence" in the hope of mitigating what was then, a sentence of death if convicted, although it would be quite some time before George learned of his fate.

1833

It was not until the following January that George and his co-conspirator, George Pitt (the sawyer) were brought to trial. George Pitt had been transported in 1825 on board the Lady East and had gained his Certificate of Freedom before being caught, tried and convicted again. 6

Friday 11th - George Pitt and George Rose, tried for stealing one ewe, the property of Francis Allison. Pitt guilty. Rose not guilty. The latter remanded. 7

SUPREME COURT - We give a list of the prisoners convicted during the late Sessions of the Supreme Court, with their sentences. George Pitt, and George Rose, for stealing a sheep ; — Death Recorded. 8

For whatever reason, both men seemed to have escaped the ultimate fate of punishment by hanging and had their sentences commuted to transportation for Life to Port Arthur.

1835

During May, George, as a cook at the Point Puer establishment, had one of the Point Puer boys from the ship Isabella (his name is unknown) charged with "picking a store lock" and for which the boy received "15 lashes on his breech" as punishment. The following month, June, George again laid charges against four other Point Puer boys - Thomas Brown (per ship Surrey) ; James Livesey ; William Bates and John Wilson (all three per ship John Barry) - for having "potatoes in and near a fire" on Thursday evening in the cook-house yard and having thrown a stone at George. The boys each received seven days solitary confinement as their punishment. 9

1836

Police Alterations— The following alterations have taken place in the Police of the Territory: — To be constables— George Rose, 756, Lord Lyndoch, 2nd ditto 10

1837

The following alterations have taken place in the Police of the Territory - Appointments - to be district constable - George Rose, Lord Lyndoch, 1st do. 11

1839

Police Department, Hobart, February 20, 1839.
The undermentioned individuals have been appointed Constables for the Island of Van Diemen's Land and its Dependencies under the authority of the 58th section of the Act in Council 2nd Victoria, No. 22. The Island of Van Diemen's Land, and its Dependencies:— For Tasman's Peninsula only. — George Rose, Lord Lyndoch;
JOSIAH SPODE, Chief Police Magistrate, The Lieutenant Governor approves, M. FORSTER. 12

1841

George receives his ticket-of-leave after serving 9 years, 9 months and 22 days of his original Life sentence.

GOVERNMENT NOTICE. No. 14. Colonial Secretary's Office, 5th January, 1841. Tickets-of-Leave have been granted to the following convicts; viz. George Rose, Lord Lyndoch; By His Excellency's Command, M. FORSTER. 13

1842

George finally receives his conditional pardon #457 after having served 11 years, 2 months and 10 days of his original Life sentence.

On the occasion of the Anniversary of Her Majesty's Birth-day, Memoranda of Conditional Pardon have been ordered for the following persons, until Her Majesty's pleasure be known : George Rose, Lord Lyndoch 14

Only a month after George's emancipation, on the 28th of June, he successfully petitions the Commandant at Port Arthur for a vacant position at the Juvenile Establishment of Point Puer. 15
George is now an Assistant Superintendent of the Crime Class, earning 2d. 6d. per diem (day) for the first three months (£11 5/s) and an additional 6d per diem (day) thereafter (£41 5/s) A full year on 3s per diem (day) would have earned George £54 15/s and he is shown on a return of Civil Officers at the Penal Establishment (of Port Arthur) as receiving rations estimated at £18 5/s per annum. 16

Thomas Shaw, a man belonging to one of the Port Arthur gangs, was charged with the wilful murder of Richard Pickley, an overseer, on the 5th June. George, as a police constable, was involved in the case and called as a witness in the trial. 17

1843

On the 17th April, Mary Ann gives birth to a daughter named Sarah and records that she is residing in Harrington Street, Hobart. 18
George and Mary Ann subsequently get married in St Davids Church in Hobart on the 3rd June. 19

Once again, George is involved in a criminal case involving two of the Point Puer boys as a witness testifying at their trial.

SUPREME COURT-CRIMINAL SIDE.
Before His Honor the Chief Justice, and a Jury of Twelve. Thursday, July 20.
The two boys, Henry Sparks and Charles Campbell, were then arraigned, and pleaded not guilty to an indictment preferred against them for the wilful murder of Hugh McGuire, at Port Arthur, on the 23d ult. In consequence of the non-arrival of some of the witnesses the trial was postponed. 20

GOVERNMENT NOTICE. No. 270. Colonial Secretary's Office, 25th Oct., 1843.
The Lieutenant-Governor directs that the following list of persons who have received absolute or conditional remissions of their sentences, and of which Her Majesty's gracious allowance has been notified, shall be published for general information.
The individuals in whose favour the pardons have been granted will therefore apply at the office of the Muster Master, Hobart Town, or if in the interior, at that of the Police Magistrate of the District, that they may receive the proper documents.
Lord Lyndoch; George Rose 21

1849 Petition for Absolute Pardon refused on 28 July 1849 - Free Pardon 16 August 1849 ?

1850

It would seem that George and Mary Ann became Licenced Victuallers for quite some time; initially taking over the "Royal Oak" in Watchhorn street and remaining there until 1855.

At the corner of Watchorn and Bathurst streets Hobart stands a two-storey dilapidated looking building, which has just been purchased by a body of local philanthropists for a refuge for those individuals who have been wrecked and cast up on the coast line of life.Like many old buildings in the city this edifice has a history. Half a century ago it was a notorious pub, called the Whale Fishery, and much frequented by the crews of whaling vessels and hordes of disreputable characters, which lived in evil-smelling shanties in the immediate locality. A strong rivalry existed between the two hostelries, which were only a stone’s throw from one another. The whalers hated the soldiers, and whenever the crew of a successful vessel was paid off there was sure to be a row.

The whalers sallied forth from their headquarters well primed with beer and forty-rod grog, and gave the Royal Oak what they called a time of it. Then the soldiers would rush from the Oak’s parlors and taking off their heavy belts belabor their assailants, who were not chary in drawing their sheath knives when they found they were getting the worst of it. When a kind of miniature Bedlam had been let loose, a strong body of police, assisted by a military picket, appeared on the scene, and made a few arrests. One well remembers the late Sub-Inspector Pitman remarking that it was the worst part of the town.“There are dens in Watchorn-street which would do credit to St. Giles and Seven Dials” said he, “and the Royal Oak and the Whale Fishery are the two worst boozing dens in the city.” 22

QUARTERLY LICENSING MEETING. MONDAY, 6TH MAY.
The Court opened this morning at ten o'clock; J. Hone, Esq., Chairman ; supported on the right by T. Hewitt, Esq , J.P., when the following transfers were allowed. The Royal Oak, in Watchorn-street, from James Haughton to G. Rose. 23

The Royal Oak, Watchorn street, was not one of Hobart’s very early public houses. The Brown Bear, the Whale Fishery, the Tavistock were its seniors by a couple of score of years. The Royal Oak did not obtain a license until the year 1843, and its first licensee was a Mrs. Catherine Baldwin. From the very start the Royal Oak won an unenviable notoriety. It was the chief resort of whalers, soldiers, and low riff-raff. All the houses in the street with the exception of Mr. Watchorn’s residence, at the bottom, near Liverpool street, possessed doubtful reputations. The peace of this period was a very fragile one, and perhaps broken four nights out or every six in every week. The police, which were then under the control of the central Government, were a rough class of men, recruited from ticket of leavers, and gentlemen who always had their price for the work they did. Their pluck was undoubted, and their motto was: “Get all the law allows you, but don’t let the law catch you napping.” This part of the city was dominated by drunken whalers, soldiers, and roughs consequently the police, unless it was made worth their while, did not at­ tempt to interfere with local brawls, unless something very serious happened. Not even the worse slums in the east end of London could give Watchorn street points when the Bashi Bazouks of the day (the whalers) were on the warpath, and indulged in a pitched battle with the soldiers. Then the street rocked from end to end, and the Royal Oak people looked on complacently and did a roaring trade. A nest of houses, which sheltered demoiselles of easy virtue, and other dens of infamy, acted as tributaries to the Royal Oak, and assisted in no small measure to increase the licensee’s takings to a most gratifying figure.

An Irish gentleman who has long since passed away, kept a lodging house near the Royal Oak, on its Liverpool street end. His name was Sullivan. His customers, intimates, and the police called him Jerry. Mr. Sullivan's domicile was a harbour for the lowest of the low. A visitor from the Old Country, who entered it in the sixties, doubted if there were much worse cribs in the Bowery, of New York. When the police were in search of shady characters they invariably paid Jerry’s place a domiciliary visit. The proprietor never gave the guardians of the peace an effusive welcome, a piece of diplomacy that received the appreciation of his patrons, who, if any of them Were given away by their host, never guessed the sources. Mr. Sullivan accumulated considerable coin. What he did with it forms no part of this narrative. Above the Royal Oak, and a few doors below the Whale Fishery, which guarded the western corner of Watchorn street on its Bathurst street entrance, lived a lady of the period called “Sydney Jane.” Jane in her day was a handsome, buxom female, and was reputed to be the widow of a sea captain who had left her some money which she speedily got through. Jane was one of those ladies who believed in a fast and merry life, and took all the gods gave her. As this lady descended in the social grade, she took up her residence in Watchorn street, and made herself so notorious as to entitle her to police patronage. She outlived her generation, and when she passed away her personality, which was popular and not at all displeasing, had long since been forgotten. The nest of rookeries in the street were tenanted by the scum of the female population for many years. No person who had any respect for himself would pass through Watchorn street after nightfall. When the whaling industry decayed, and the soldiers left the State, the business of the Royal Oak went steadily down hill, and in the end of the eighties it closed its doors.

It was about forty-five years ago that one first paid the Royal Oak a visit. There were five or six in our party, who were all young, sea-faring fellows, ever ready for a night’s frolic without counting much what might happen a t the end of it. We had all spent a good evening at the Mechanics Institute, where a burlesque opera, (in which that premier musician, Linley Norman, was taking part) was doing an excellent business. As soon as we left the Mechanics one of the party suggested that we should pay the Royal Oak a visit. It was between 11 and 12 o ’clock when we entered the bar, which was crowded with a cosmopolitan assemblage, in which the sea-faring element predominated. A soldier of the 14th Regiment, stripped to his shirt and trousers, was dancing a jig on the counter, to the tune of “The Wind that Shook the Barley,” the music being supplied by a wheezy piano that stood in the bar parlour. The whole place seemed in an uproar, as everyone present had more liquor in them than they could conveniently carry. Shortly after midnight a soldier and a whaler started to quarrel and pummel one another. All of a sudden a din sprung up, which caused the old pub to rock again. One notable city rough opened a clasp knife, and started to run amok among the company. He succeeded in giving two men nasty gashes in the arms, when he was felled to the ground with a heavy wooden chair, which the leader of our party picked up to defend himself. Another man then sprung up, and waving a sheath knife, said: “Let us go for the “swaddles.” Thereupon half a dozen soldiers who sprung up from somewhere, joined in the melee, which was of a severe give and take nature. One of our party had his head cut open by the heavy buckle of a soldier’s belt, and another was stabbed in the arm. We all got out of that mess with numerous cuts and bruises, and gave the Royal Oak a wide berth from thenceforth. In after years, when the “Oak’s” prosperity was solidly decaying, one stepped into the bar parlour and called for a couple of drinks for the good of the house. At this period Watchorn street, which has now changed its named to Federal street, was rising in respectability. The whalers and soldiers were things of the past, and the chief rookeries had shed their undesirable occupants. The glory of the Royal Oak had vanished. This is the world of change. If one wants to see fun he must go in when he is young. The age of the Royal Oak and its habitues are things of memory. Whether the is present-day world is any better than the one left behind must be left to future historians to say. 24

INQUESTS
Another inquest was held at the house of Mr. George Rose, the Royal Oak, Watchorn-street, on Thursday, to inquire into the circumstances attending the death of John Pine, a ticket-of-leave man, who was found with his throat cut in a lodging-house in Watchorn-street: adjourned until Monday. 25

1853

Police. (Before Mr, Wilmot and Captain Bateman of Launceston.)
Symons v. Rose. This was an information by the chief constable against Mr. George Rose, landlord of the "Royal Oak," Watchorn-street for a breach of the Sunday clause of the Licensing Act, in having his outer door open between the hours of 11 o'clock in the morning, and 1 o'clock in the afternoon, of Sunday the 13th of March. Mr. Rose being absent from the colony, Mr. T. Sharpe, of the "Duchess of Kent" appeared as his representative, and pleaded guilty to the charge, undertaking at the same time, to answer the result. On being referred to, Mr. Symons informed the Bench, that there were seven persons in the house, with one prisoner of the crown : they were smoking, and there was the appearance of liquor having been drank: Mrs. Rose was present. Mr. Symons, also stated, that the house was generally well conducted : it was in a very low neighbourhood, and frequented by low characters : Mr. Rose had been there about four years, and had never been fined before. Under those mitigating circumstances the Bench imposed a fine of only 3l., being disposed to deal leniently, with the case. The fine, was of course immediately paid. 26

It is believed that George went to Victoria, for the "gold rush" sometime in 1852 or 1853, as John Morgan applied for the renewal of the licence of The Royal Oak on behalf of George's wife Mary Ann, due to George being "out of the colony."

1855

George transferred the licence for the Royal Oak to Michael Arkwright prior to taking a return trip to the UK with his family.

Michael Arkwright, Royal Oak, Watchorn-street, Mr. Perry appeared for the applicant, who applied for transfer from George Rose. Allowed. 27

Where George and his family visited in the UK and the nature of the trip is unknown.

1856

George, wife Mary Ann and daughter Sarah aged thirteen, returned to Hobart.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PORT OF HOBART TOWN. Arrived.
March 6. Ann Lockerby, ship, 466, Thompson, from London, 30th October. Passengers— cabin : George Rose, Mary Anne Rose, Sarah Rose 28

It would seem that daughter Sarah became ill after their return from overseas, occupying George and Mary's attention to the exclusion of the business of acquiring another public house licence.

QUARTERLY MEETING FOR TRANSFER OF PUBLIC-HOUSE LICENCES.
A Quarterly Meeting of Justices was holden at the Insolvent Court Room this morning. The magistrates present were Joseph Hone, Esq, Chairman and Messrs Barnard, Power, Gresley, Fenwick, and H. Hopkins.
The following transfers of licences were allowed :
Mr. Brewer made a similar application for transfer without notice of the Brown Bear, Harrington-street, from James Newton to George Rose. In this case Mr. Brewer stated that Mr. Rose's daughter had for some time been so seriously ill that it was not expected that she could recover, and this had so distressed Mr. Rose that it had quite put out of his bead all other business. The Magistrates granted this application also. 29

After successfully gaining the licence for the "Brown Bear" public house, George promptly advertises his return and welcomes new and old guests.

BROWN BEAR INN
MR GEORGE ROSE (having returned from England), has obtained the Transfer of the Brown Bear Inn, corner of Harrington and Bathurst streets, and having laid in a choice and an extensive stock of Wines, Spirits &e. trusts the favour of a call from his old friends and the public generally.
GEO ROSE
Brown Bear Inn.
May 7th 1856. 30

The Brown Bear referred to in the 1830 list, stood at the corner of Bathurst and Harrington streets, right opposite Chalmers Free Church. The house, which consisted of an upper and lower floor, with two low-lying parlours on the Harrington street side, stood about fifteen or eighteen feet from the footway. In its early days the Brown Bear bore a disreputable character. It was the centre of a low neighbourhood, which was nothing more or less than a nest of brothels, which were tenanted by the riff-raff and scum of the city. When it is borne in mind that these were the days of ticket of leavers, iron-shod Imperial rule, and heavy drinking, which was responsible for more deaths than violence, disease, and natural causes, some sort of an idea can be formed of the general surroundings and unhealthy atmosphere that surrounded the Brown Bear. A writer of the period stated that he never saw in the leading British slums such scenes as he saw enacted in the region that one is writing about. The watchhouse, which was not a great distance from the Brown Bear, never lacked patronage. The police of this period were a plucky set of men, but they received many hard knocks when the peace was fractured by the soldiers, sailors, and city undesirables. As the Brown Bear increased in age so did the bad reputation of its immediate neighbourhood. One of the pest holes of the locality was a nest of two story houses called “St. Giles." This was flanked by four pubs - the Brown Bear, the White Lion, the Queen’s Arms, and the Nag’s Head. This block was responsible for at least two or three murders that the authorities were cognisant of. How many took place that were not traced goodness only knows. Towards the close of its days the tenants of St. Giles paid no rent, and a city collector who was commissioned by a solicitor who had the property to look after, told the agent that he had too much respect for his safety to call for or insist on payment. Ultimately this solicitor secured a title for the property, which got into such a state of disrepair that the civic authorities condemned it.

A terrible fracas occurred in this quarter some six decades ago. Fifty or sixty men were allowed to go on shore from a warship then laying in Sullivan’s Cove, and most of them went to look for trouble and fun at the Brown Bear and the tributaries which assisted this hostelry to make its business flourish. The row commenced in the neighbourhood of St. Giles and the rookeries at the back of it. Four sailors, much the worse for liquor, were set upon and robbed, and when they were rescued by their comrades they were in a pitiful condition. The bluejackets were determined to exact some reparation for the injuries and maltreatment received by their colleagues, and a frontal attack was made on St. Giles, which was full of roughs and women whom degradation and drink had dragged to the lowest pit of shame and depravity. The fight extended from the Brown Bear to the refuge of roughism. The police were powerless, being outnumbered four to one, and it was not until a naval patrol came along that the men-of-warsmen were gathered up, and about a dozen up. As far as the results were concerned, honours were fairly divided. An estimate of real property damage showed that St. Giles was windowless, and the Brown Bear minus dozens of squares of glass and heaps of crockery. One of the undertakers of the period had an unpleasant experience with the denizens of St. Giles. A resident of Upper Harrington street died, and just as dusk set in, the funeral director’s man was sent to the residence of the deceased with the coffin on his shoulder. When abreast of St. Giles, three or four sturdy females seized hold of him and bundled him with his ghastly emblem of the dead into one of the houses. He was told that as long as he behaved himself there would be no trouble for him, and that as the house was short of fuel, they intended to break up the coffin. This operation did not take long, and portion of the wood caused a cheerful blaze to illuminate the room. The coffin carrier, who was scared out of existence by the company he had got into, was allowed to go free about midnight. When he arrived at his employer’s place and related his experience, the reply he received was that he was lucky to have got away without sustaining personal damage. “ But what about the coffin?” he asked. “ Never mind the coffin; go and make another. The ways things are going on in that neighbourhood should give me a job at St. Giles directly, so I ’ll charge the lost box up to the bereaved relatives. They are a bad lot at St. Giles, but they are better pays than those who moved in better social sets.”

In the latter end of the forties and fifties the Brown Bear suffered greatly from competition. There was a pub opposite it on the spot used by Kemp and Denning as a timber depot. The Queen’s Arms and White Lion were almost within a stone’s throw of the front door, and at the corner of Watchorn and Bathurst street, about two or three hundred feet distant, was the Whale Fishery, a notorious drinking shop. A few doors below the Whale Fishery, which is now a lodging house, stood the Royal Oak. There was no class about this hostelry. It catered for the lowest of the low, and when one entered its doors one took risks both from the class of liquor served and the company one was sure to meet. The writer witnessed a stabbing affray in this locality in the end of the sixties, and he afterwards gave the place a wide berth. The Royal Oak is no more on its site stands the imposing eucalyptus factory of A. P. Miller and Co. The Brown Bear has been closed for forty years. The property belonged to a Mr. Walker, who built a large shop on to the front of the hotel. The last landlord was named Banks, who was a sport in his way, and kept the house very well up to date. Both the Queen’s Arms and White Lion are private houses, and the nest of hovels which fringed St. Giles are covered by a large enamel factory and iron works. 31

George once again found himself in the criminal courts as a witness but this time it was as a free man.

EMBEZZLEMENT. — James Claridge was brought before the Chief Police Magistrate and Mr. Manley yesterday to answer the charge of having, on the 10th instant, embezzled the sum of £63 17s. 10d, the monies of his master, Mr. W. Carter. Mr. Carter deposed that prisoner had been in bis employ as town traveller and collector for two years and upward., He received a salary of £100, per annum, and 2 1/2 percent on all orders. It was his duty to pay over daily to the book-keeper all monies received. Not having received payment of an account from Mr. Rose, landlord of the Brown Bear, Bathurst-street; witness told prisoner to press for payment. In consequence of some conversation between witness and his book-keeper, a receipt of Claridge's, for £9 15s. 0d. received from Mr. Rose, was found. When prisoner was asked whether Mr. Rose had paid that sum, he first of all said " No : there must be some mistake." But afterwards - said : " 'It's of no use denying it, sir, I had the money." The sum of £1580 has been received by Claridge, of which £1091 10s. 4d has not been: accounted for by him to Mr. Carter.  Mr. Pyke, Mr. Carter's book-keeper, was next called, and a document produced, purporting to be a receipt signed by Claridge for £9 15s, received from Mr. Rose. Mr. Rose stated that he had known prisoner for some time past, who had been in the habit of taking orders and supplying goods from Mr. Carter's, The document now produced is the last account paid, by witness to Claridge. In consequence; of some conversation that took place, witness took the document off the file and left it with Mr. Pyke.  The Bench were of opinion that the case had been clearly made out, but remanded the prisoner until the 18th inst (this day), in order that other charges may be preferred against him. 32

THE EMBEZZLEMENTS BY MR. CARTER'S COLLECTOR. - The charges against the prisoner, James Claridge, of embezzling moneys of his master, William Carter, Esq., of this town, merchant, to a large amount, have been twice gone into before the Police and the Assistant Police Magistrate at the Police office this week, the last examination of witnesses for the prosecution being concluded yesterday. The prisoner received £100 a year as salary, and £2 10s. percent, on orders obtained and moneys collected. Evidence was given yesterday by Mr. Carter and Mr. George Rose, landlord of the Brown Bear public bouse, Harrington-street, that Claridge had received one account amounting to upwards of £6O from Mr. Rose for which he had not accounted, and after some further evidence respecting the whole charge, the prisoner was committed for trial. 33

Embezzlement — James Claridge, convicted on Wednesday last, of embezzling certain monies, the property of his master, W. Carter, Esq., was again placed in the dock, at the police; Court, yesterday. The same evidence was adduced as was given on the previous day, respecting the nature of Claridge's employment, his salary, duties, and his transactions with Mr. Rose, landlord of the Brown Bear. A bill purporting to form part of Mr Rose's account with Mr. Carter, for liquors, &c., supplied in the mouth of July, was put in in evidence, amounting to £16 17s., dated Aug. 19, and receipted by James Claridge : the above amount has not been paid to Mr. Carter. Prisoner was authorised to collect monies but had no authority to make out bills. Prisoner admitted to Mr Carter that he had received the money; having previously denied that he had done so. F. W. Pyke, Mr. Carter's clerk and cash keeper, next underwent examination, and deposed that prisoner was in the habit of paying over monies to witness, which was received by him (prisoner) in his capacity of collector. it was his duty to pay daily all cash received by him. The amount of the bill produced (£16 17s) has not been received by witness from Claridge. It is in the hand-writing of James Claridge and was received by witness from W. Rose on the 10th inst. and handed over to Mr Carter; Mr. Rose identified the hill produced as being the receipt of James Claridge for the sum of £16 17s. paid on the 19th of August to him by witness, on account of W. Carter & Co., for goods delivered. Witness handed the document to Mr. Pyke on the 10th inst. Prisoner being asked if he had anything to say in answer to the charge,. &c., declined to make any statement, and called no witnesses. A further charge of embezzling the sum of £21 12s. 6d. under similar circumstances, was then proved against the prisoner. Prisoner was further remanded until tomorrow, when other charges will be brought against him. 34

1857

Sometime around June of 1856, just after they had returned from overseas and gained the licence for the Brown Bear, George was assigned a female convict servant who later found herself in court for a serious offence.

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. Mary Doyle was charged with stealing, on the 21st instant, £17 in notes from the person of a pass-holder, named Robert Cooley. It appeared that prosecutor and prisoner were in each others company at the Brown Bear public house, Harrington-street. The latter sat by the side of the former and took the money out of his pocket. She, was fully committed for trial.

MARY DOYLE was charged with stealing on the 21st of March from the person of Robert Cowling the sum of £20. The prosecutor who is in the service of Mr Barlow, New Town stated that on the day in question he was at the Brown Boar public house, where he was served with liquor by the prisoner; witness went into the parlour and called for more drink, which was brought by the prisoner, who put her hand into his pocket and snatched away all his money, namely 12 one pound notes, and part of a £5 note, witness had plenty of ale to drink but knew what he was about; he had never been in the Brown Bear before ; he spent about 15s in tho house for his dinner and the drink treating the landlord his wife and the prisoner : he gave no money to the prisoner.

Detective Constable Morley deposed to the apprehension of the prisoner in the yard adjoining tho Brown Bear ; the prosecutor was present and gave the prisoner in charge ; she shook her head and said she had never seen the man before ; on being searched at the watch-house no money was found in her possession.

George Rose the landlord of the Brown Bear stated that the prisoner was his servant, and had been so for the last 10 months ; the prosecutor when he came to the house treated several persons and changed a pound note ; he afterwards got change for a £5 note ; the prisoner had no permission to leave the house that afternoon ; the prosecutor did not pay for more than two pots of ale and four pints ; he went away after his dinner and then came back in half an hour, and said he had been robbed and believed it was in his house.

By the Chairman ; the prosecutor was not sober but knew what he was doing. The Chairman asked why the witness did not request the man to retire, and not make a fool of himself? This was the way in which persons were ruined and the reason why so disreputable a character was given to the Town. The Crown Solicitor proposed to put in evidence the statement made by the prisoner at the Police Office, which purported to be signed by the Magistrate.

The Chairman demurred to the reception of the document as the Magistrate was not present to prove his signature. The Crown Solicitor could prove the signature by the evidence of Mr Crouch which was all that was required by the new Act.

Mr Crouch was then sworn and gave the necessary evidence when the prisoner's statement was read ; it merely averred that she had never seen the prosecutor until she was taken Into custody.

His Honor having summed up, the jury retired, and after an absence of five minutes returned into Court finding the prisoner guilty. The prisoner was then removed. 35

Not only was it convict servants that George had to deal with but also probation pass-holders who should have known better.

Robert Cooley (the prosecutor in the former case) was next placed in the dock charged wit h attempting. to pass a bad shilling with intent to defraud Mr. Rose, landlord of the Brown Bear. The case not being satisfactorily proved against the prisoner, he was discharged. 36

George died at the relatively young age of forty eight, officially of delirium tremens from the effects of excessive drinking of alcohol, on the 30 July 1857. 37
There was apparently some question as to whether this was the case or there was another cause, and so ...

... a coroner's inquest was held yesterday, at the Queen's Arms, Harrington-street, before A. B. Jones, Esq., and a jury of seven persons, touching the death of Mr. George Rose, late landlord of the "Brown Bear Inn," Bathurst-street. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased died from natural causes, accelerated by intemperance. 38

Coroner's Inquest. - An inquest was held on the body of George Rose, late landlord of the Brown Bear, Harrington-street, at 2 o'clock, p.m., on Monday last, before A. B. Jones, Esq., Coroner, at the King's Arms, Harrington street. After a lengthened sitting of four hours and a half, the jury returned a verdict that deceased "died from exhaustion, consequent on an attack of delirium tremens, produced by long-continued excessive drinking." 39

Mary Ann wasted no time in advertising the licence of the Brown Bear Inn

TO LET, THE BROWN BEAR, Harrington-Street, the rent and coming-in extremely moderate. — This Public House is known to be doing an extensive business, and the decease of the late tenant (Mr. Rose) is the only reason his widow has for parting with it. Apply to J. A. Monteath. Conveyancing and Land Agency Office, 12 Elizabeth-street. 40

It was quite some time, three months in fact, before the licence was finally transferred, leaving Mary Ann free to pursue her "heart's desire."

TRANSFER OF LICENSES. - The Fourth Quarterly Meeting for the Transfer of Public House Licenses was holden this morning before Joseph Hone, Esq., Chairman, and F. H. Henslowe and Nigel Gresley Esqrs. The following transfers were allowed : Brown Bear, Harrington-street, from Mary Ann Rose to John Clayton. Allowed. 41

Locations
Hobart
Port Arthur
Ships
Lord Lyndoch (2)