George Hughes

George Hughes

George Hughes had been in trouble with the law in his native Gloucestershire at an early age. He and his elder brother were arrested in connection with the robbery and wounding of a local farmer. The older brother was hanged for the crime and George transported to New South Wales for life. In 1839 Hughes and a fellow convict named Henry Curran managed to escape from New South Wales still in their irons and it was said that they endured unimaginable hardships before reaching South Australia where they met and teamed up with James Fox. Together the trio took to the bush on a robbing spree. ….more

http://murderaus.com.au/2017/07/13/accomplices-in-life-accomplices-...

George Hughes, Henrys Carran, and James Fox, for stealing a coat, a waistcoat, and several articles of clothing, value five pounds, the properly of .Michael Pffender, and for presenting & firing off a loaded gun at Mina,-the wife of the said Michael Pffender, with the intention of murdering her, on the 26th Jan. 1840. Also, for stealing from thetent of Julius Fielder; on the 28th January, 1840, 201bs. of flour, 6 lbs. pork, 4 lbs. sugar, 1 lb. tea, £-3. in notes, some powder and shot, a double barrelled-gun. a pistol, &c. the property of the said Julius Feilder: Also for stealing from the tent of Mr. Jones, a gun, his property, value £5.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195859682

EXECUTION. ON Monday morning, at eight o'clock, Curran and Hughes, two of the criminals sentenced to death at the late assizes, suffered the penalty of their crimes on a scaffold erected in the square of the Police Barracks, which was temporarily inclosed for the occasion.

The prisoner Hughes behaved with the most hardened indifference, and seemed perfectly insensible to the awful change which awaited him. He mounted the scaffold with a pipe in his mouth, and appeared to pay no attention to the earnest exhortations of the Rev. T. Q. Stow, who attended him. He made two or three rushes at the executioner, telling him he would ruin him if he put the rope round his neck, and dared him to take the mask off his face, and do his duty like a man. He resisted to the last, kicking the executioner in the performance of his duty. Curran, the other prisoner, a Roman Catholic, was attended by Mr. Phillips, and appearred very penitent and resigned. When his companion in crime resisted the execution of his sentence, he exclaimed. "Oh, George ?" — appearing shocked and distressed at his hardihood and indifference. The executioner was obliged to call for assistance, and as the fatal knot was adjusted, the signal was given, and the trap fell. Hughes died almost instantaneously, and Curran after a few struggles. However abhorrent such exhibitions may be to the feelings of humanity, it is absolutely necessary that the hardened villains who escape from punishment in the other colonies should be taught that they have no trifler's hand to deal with here; and that there is a determination on the part of the Government to protect to the utmost the lives and property of its constituents. We are happy to say that on this occasion, justice was tempered with mercy, and that the other prisoners, against whom sentence of death was recorded, were reprieved, and their sentence commuted to perpetual banishment.

A considerable crowd assembled to witness the execution. Several natives were present, upon whom we doubt not, the awful scene will have a salutary effect. The greatest decorum prevailed throughout. A body of the mounted police were on duty outside the inclosure, and a strong party were stationed within it. There appeared to be but one feeling among the assembled crowd, which was that the prisoners deserved their fate. - Chronicle.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71619059