Captured: Portraits of Crime 1870-1930 - Flipbook - Page 31
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MAITL AND
GAO L
T H AT H A L L N A M E
James Hall
RECEIVING
James Hall, an 11 year old boy from Singleton, was photographed at Maitland Gaol
on 20 July 1880 while serving a sentence of two years hard labour for receiving
stolen sheep.
Charges were first brought against Hall, his 13 year old brother John Joseph,
and their mother Annie, at Quirindi Police Court. Annie was dismissed and the boys
faced Maitland Quarter Sessions on 18 June 1880. James and John were arraigned on two
charges. Firstly, that they did steal, take and drive away fifty-five sheep belonging
to Andrew Loder. And secondly, that they unlawfully received the stolen sheep.
Both boys pleaded not guilty.
Evidence presented in Court outlined how police had followed the trail of the
stolen sheep for nearly ten miles from Loder’s property at Borambil Creek to where
the Hall’s lived at Middle Island. The sheep, all branded and tagged, were located
in scrub around the Hall family house. When arrested, James said to John, “Don’t say
a word, you’re arrested, and that is enough”. Both boys were found guilty on the
receiving charge and sentenced by Judge Wilkinson to two years imprisonment.
The judge commented that:
While there is no doubt that you are guilty of the crime, other people
must have been cognisant of what was going on. I cannot give you a light
sentence ... I cannot help hoping that while in prison you may have an
opportunity of gaining education, and that it will do you good.
The boys joined their elder brother, Edward, who was already serving time for
horse theft in Maitland Gaol. Their father and another brother, Patrick, had served
time in gaol for stealing as had their uncle, Robert Hall. Another uncle was the
infamous bushranger, Ben Hall.
James was released from Maitland Gaol in February 1882, but less than a year
later was in trouble once more. In January 1883 he was charged with horse stealing.
Tried on this charge, two separate juries failed to reach a verdict. It appears that the
widespread influence of the ‘Hall’ name had made it difficult to get impartial jurors. A
third trial in April 1884 found the youth guilty and he was sentenced to three years
hard labour. Separately, at Blackville Police Court in April 1884, he was convicted of
injuring a fence, which at the time was considered to be a very serious offence.
James Hall, grazier, died in 1927 on his property at Moor Creek, near Tamworth.
Hall died intestate and his property was divided between the young children of his
deceased brother Thomas.
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