Captured: Portraits of Crime 1870-1930 - Flipbook - Page 32
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PA R R A M AT TA
GAO L
S TEALIN G TO SURVIVE
William Plummer
B U R G L A RY
William Plummer, a 66 year old whitesmith (metal worker)
originally from England, was photographed at Parramatta Gaol on
26 March 1884 while serving a sentence of four years hard labour
for burglary. The half blind, elderly man with flagellation
scars and arms tattooed with initials had spent the previous
five decades in and out of gaol.
John Plummer — his original name — arrived in NSW in 1835 on
board the convict ship, Marquis of Huntley. He had been
sentenced to fourteen years transportation for stealing lead.
Like many convict transportees, Plummer was assigned to an
employer upon arrival in the Colony. James Macarthur, son of
entrepreneur and pastoralist John Macarthur, took on Plummer.
He was known to be a hard master who held little faith in his
convicts. Plummer absconded twice from Macarthur’s employ and
was punished. The second escape led to a six month sentence on
the ironed gangs. The first was probably when Plummer received
his flogging. Under the Offenders Punishment and Justices
Summary Jurisdiction Act 1832:
every offender under sentence of transportation ... who
shall be duly convicted ... of any misdemeanour ... shall
for a first offence be liable if a male to be whipped by the
infliction of any number of lashes not exceeding fifty or to
be kept to labour in irons on the roads or public works of
the said Colony for any time not less than six ... months.
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