Evidence Type: Newspaper Report
17 August 1827
GEORGE BAXTER, a veteran of the New South Wales corps, stood indicted for stealing a quantity of soap and salt, the property of the King.
Mr. GORDON, examined—Is store-keeper of the Government Stores, as Parramatta. On the 29th of April last, the prisoner came to him, and made a requisition for 57lbs. of soap, for the use of the Female Factory. The soap was packed up in six cases, and carried away under the prisoner’s charge. On the 29th of March preceding, prisoner received 100lbs. of salt from witness; the salt was demanded as a debt due to the Factory; the soap was on the monthly account. The cart which conveyed away the soap, witness believes, belonged to a person named HARVEY, in Parramatta, knows his servant man was with the cart.
By the COURT—The prisoner held the office of store-keeper in the Factory. The Female Factory is supplied with provisions and necessaries generally from the Government Stores. The prisoner when he drew supplies, made a requisition for them; it was upon this requisition, that witness gave supplies. Those stores are the King’s Stores. There was no requisition made for the salt, it was not necessary. The inmates of the Factory had not been supplied with their proper quantity of salt for some weeks back, in consequence of a scarcity in the store; and it was then given them as being in arrear.
Cross-examined—The prisoner had the sole control of all the supplies he drew out of the Government Stores, at Parramatta.
THOMAS LONG, deposed to having on the 29th of April last, put six boxes containing soap into a cart; the cart belonged to a Mr. HARVEY, of Parramatta, whose servant (EDWARD CLEMENTS) it appeared on a cross-examination, had received ten bags of salt from the prisoner on a former occasion, for the purpose of carting them. There was no concealment used.
HENRY HARVEY deposed that he bargained with the prisoner for the purchase of some salt and soap. He paid at the rate of 6d. per lb. for the soap, considered that its full value.
Several witnesses have the prisoner an excellent character.
The Jury returned a verdict of guilty.
CITATION
Female Factory Online, (femalefactoryonline.org), “Law Report of GEORGE BAXTER,” https://femalefactoryonline.org/law-reports/p18270817/, accessed [insert current date].
RELATED CONTENT
See Original
© Copyright Michaela Ann Cameron 2017
The Female Factory Online 