George Jones (bushranger)
George Jones (c. 1815 – 30 April 1844) was a convict bushranger known for escaping from Port Arthur, Van Diemen's Land (the so-called escape-proof colony), with Martin Cash and Lawrence Kavenagh.
George Jones | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1815 Westminster, England |
| Died | 30 April 1844 Hobart, Tasmania |
| Conviction(s) | Armed robbery |
| Criminal penalty | Hanged |
Born in Westminster, he was convicted for burglary and sentenced to penal transportation for life. He arrived on the Andromeda in 1833 at Sydney. In 1842 he was sentenced in Sydney and sent to Port Arthur.
Cash and Co.
On 26 December 1842 Martin Cash, George Jones and Lawrence Kavenagh absconded from a work party. Hiding in dense scrub land and with little food they made their way 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to The Neck. Swimming with their clothes tied in bundles above their heads, they made the other side, but all three lost their bundles. Naked, the trio robbed a road gang's hut for clothing, and began a seven month spree of bushranging, robbing mail coaches, homesteads and inns.
The three became known as Cash and Co and their reputation grew. In July 1843, the Government offered 'one hundred acres of land or one hundred sovereigns, in addition to the reward of fifty sovereigns, free pardon, and passage from the colony, for the apprehension of' Cash, Jones and Kavenagh.[1][2]
Shortly afterwards, on 10 July 1843, Kavenagh tripped over and the charge in his gun exploded. He said he had to give himself up or he would have bled to death in the bush.
On 29 August 1843, Cash made his way to Hobart, wanting to confront his partner Bessie after hearing she was with another man. Cash was spotted in Brisbane Street, and a gunfight ensued resulting in Cash's capture.
Capture, trial and sentencing
Jones remained at large, recruiting other outlaws, James Platt and Frederick Moore, and continuing to rob settlers and travellers for another six months. On 10 April 1844 the three bushrangers, Jones, Platt, and Moore, having recently committed several robberies in the Brighton district, were tracked by the Chief District Constable of Brighton and a posse of five to a hut situated on a cross-road between Brighton and Richmond.[3]
Knowing that the gang was well-armed, the posse decided to burn them out. The hut was set on fire, and when the bushrangers rushed outside a gunfight ensued with Jones being shot in the face by buckshot; Moore was mortally wounded.
Jones and Platt were put on trial for armed robbery, found guilty and sentenced to death. Jones revealed during his trial that he was now blind.
Jones was hanged with James Platt on 30 April 1844.
References
- "Domestic Intelligence". Colonial Times. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 11 July 1843. p. 3. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- "REWARD of One Hundred Acres of Land, or One Hundred Sovereigns!". The Courier. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 14 July 1843. p. 4. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92672900?searchTerm=george%20jones%20platt&searchLimits=l-decade=184
