Difference between revisions of "John Keogh"

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On the occasion of Josephs' liberation a man named John Keogh raised a shout in court, and was committed to gaol for seven days for contempt; he subsequently petitioned the court, in very penitent language, for an abridgement of the term. His honor thought this contrition was brought about by punishment, but this formed no rational excuse for pardon. On the same plea house-breakers, horse stealers, or any felon might express contrition when punishment overtook them. The term of seven days was a very light sentence for the offence, and he did not feel inclined, under the circumstances, to abridge it. On the occasion of a re petition of a similar offence a severe example would be made.<ref>Launceston Examiner, 3 March 1855.</ref>
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:On the occasion of Josephs' liberation a man named John Keogh raised a shout in court, and was committed to gaol for seven days for contempt; he subsequently petitioned the court, in very penitent language, for an abridgement of the term. His honor thought this contrition was brought about by punishment, but this formed no rational excuse for pardon. On the same plea house-breakers, horse stealers, or any felon might express contrition when punishment overtook them. The term of seven days was a very light sentence for the offence, and he did not feel inclined, under the circumstances, to abridge it. On the occasion of a re petition of a similar offence a severe example would be made.<ref>Launceston Examiner, 3 March 1855.</ref>
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:Mr. Aspinall presented a humble petition on behalf of John Keogh, who was committed for sevon days to gaol for contempt of court, in manifesting signs of applause on the acquittal of Josephs, lately tried for high treason. The learned counsel read the affidavit, which was couched in humiliating language, hoping the court would be merciful and abridge the term of his imprisonment. The petitioner said he could not control his feelings at the time, expressed his heartfelt contrition, and hoped His Honor would let him out of prison to go home to his wife and family.
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:His Honor thought this contrition was brought about by punishment, but this formed no rational excuse for pardon. On the same plea house- breakers, horse stealers, or any felon might express contrition when punishment overlook them. The term of seven days was a very light sentence,  for the offence, and he did not feel inclined, under the circumstances, to abridge it. On the occasion of a repetition of a similar offence a severer example would be made.<ref>Empire, 6 March 1855.</ref>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Latest revision as of 15:17, 4 January 2014

Background

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

John Keogh was arrested and gaoled for contempt of court after the acquittal of John Joseph at the Eureka Treason Trials.[1] He requested leniency from the court, but his plea was denied.[2]

Post 1854 Experiences

In the News

FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN TRIALS, No. 12 - EUREKA AFTERMATH
(By STANLEY BROGDEN)
PART 1
AT SIX O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1855, the gallery of the Supreme Court at Melbourne was in an uproar. Men and Women stamped their feet on the floor and pounded the seats with their fists.
A few of them shouted, but the words were lost in the din: 'Good old Jack! Good on yer. Darky! That'll show the Toorak Tyrant! Wot d'yer think of that verdict, Sir William Stawell? The Chief Justice (Sir William A'Beckett), sat back in his ornamented chair amazed, while the court officials tried to restore order. In a momentary lull in the uproar, the Chief Justice bitterly told his clerks to seize the persons responsible for the 'disgraceful scene.' The gallery emptied quickly. Of the dozens who had clamoured upstairs, only two were caught, and they were brought, struggling, before his Honour, to admit their names as George Gordon and John Keogh. But while his Honour flayed the pair with bitter comment on the type that had made him famous throughout the colony, nobody took much heed of their fate. Sentenced to a week in the cells for contempt, they were taken away by the troopers almost unnoticed... [3]


On the occasion of Josephs' liberation a man named John Keogh raised a shout in court, and was committed to gaol for seven days for contempt; he subsequently petitioned the court, in very penitent language, for an abridgement of the term. His honor thought this contrition was brought about by punishment, but this formed no rational excuse for pardon. On the same plea house-breakers, horse stealers, or any felon might express contrition when punishment overtook them. The term of seven days was a very light sentence for the offence, and he did not feel inclined, under the circumstances, to abridge it. On the occasion of a re petition of a similar offence a severe example would be made.[4]


Mr. Aspinall presented a humble petition on behalf of John Keogh, who was committed for sevon days to gaol for contempt of court, in manifesting signs of applause on the acquittal of Josephs, lately tried for high treason. The learned counsel read the affidavit, which was couched in humiliating language, hoping the court would be merciful and abridge the term of his imprisonment. The petitioner said he could not control his feelings at the time, expressed his heartfelt contrition, and hoped His Honor would let him out of prison to go home to his wife and family.
His Honor thought this contrition was brought about by punishment, but this formed no rational excuse for pardon. On the same plea house- breakers, horse stealers, or any felon might express contrition when punishment overlook them. The term of seven days was a very light sentence, for the offence, and he did not feel inclined, under the circumstances, to abridge it. On the occasion of a repetition of a similar offence a severer example would be made.[5]

See also

George Gordon

Further Reading

References

  1. Townsville Daily Bulletin, 25 February 1953.
  2. Launceston Examiner, 3 March 1855.
  3. Townsville Daily Bulletin, 25 February 1953.
  4. Launceston Examiner, 3 March 1855.
  5. Empire, 6 March 1855.

External links


Citation Details: Gervasoni, Clare, ‘John Keogh', Eurekapedia, http://eurekapedia.org, accessed [insert date]

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