Evidence Type: Newspaper Report
DATE: 21 September 1844
AN AMATEUR POLICEMAN.—GEORGE MATTHEWS, a ticket-of-leave holder, under sentence for life, was, on Thursday last brought before the Parramatta Police Bench under the following circumstances. It appears that a ticket-of-leave holder, named TERENCE MASTERTON, was on Tuesday night standing at the corner of Ross-street, near MR. NEW’s, the butcher, when a man named THOMAS CLEGHORN came up to him, who, being a stranger, asked him where he could get a cheap ledging for the night. MASTERTON was about to reply when MATTHEWS came up, and asking him if he were free, seized him by the collar. MASTERTON told him he was a ticket-of-leave holder, when MATTHEWS struck him, and knocked him down, and when down kicked him several times. He then made off after CLEGHORN, who had escaped, and overtook him at a short distance. He then asked CLEGHORN, who he was, and on his replying that he was a free man, said it was false, and that he knew him (CLEGHORN) to be a bolster from Moreton Bay. CLEGHORN then produced his certificate of freedom, which prisoner snatched from him, and he has not since seen it. Prisoner then took him by the collar, stating that he was a constable, and must take him to the lockup. He then dragged CLEGHORN to Inspector FOX’s house, much to the alarm of a servant girl, who was alone in the house; and on finding FOX from home, he requested to be obliged with a pistol, which modest request the girl refused to comply with, greatly to the comfort of MR. CLEGHORN, who began to fear that he had been taken by some lunatic constable. However the prisoner left, dragging his victim after him, and performing a very beautiful imaginary staff exercise in the air, with nothing in his hand; and then concluded by giving CLEGHORN one of those professional shakes, which policemen are so fond of practising on little boys caught in any delinquency. He then yielded to the persuasions of a female, who had joined them, and went home, leaving poor CLEGHORN, half dead with fright, and minus two shillings that he had had in his pocket. He was sentenced for this exercise of his constabulary skill to be worked in irons for twelve months. His wife being a Government woman was returned to the Factory.
CITATION
Female Factory Online (femalefactoryonline.org), “Law Report of Mrs. MATTHEWS, https://femalefactoryonline.org/law-reports/p18440921-2/, accessed [insert current date].
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