THOMAS GAULT
On the evening of 7th September 1858, Mr. John Duffy, Superintendent of the Mount Nelson signal station was at home with his wife. Suddenly, the door burst open and three men rushed in. The first, Thomas Gault, placed a pistol at the head of Archibald Stacey, Duffy’s assistant. The second Anthony Lovell, levelled a double-barrelled gun at Duffy’s chest. The third man, Joseph Johnson, went into another room.
A scuffle ensued between Lovell and Duffy, who was struck behind the ear by Lovell’s gun. The men then ransacked the house while Gault searched Isabella Brown, Duffy’s niece. The men took a watch, portmanteau with four pound and all the books in the house.
Duffy reported the robbery to the police and said that he could identify the thieves. As a result, the three were arrested and appeared at the Supreme Court, Hobart on the 2nd December 1858. They were charged with having feloniously assaulted John Garth and robbing him of forty pound and, on the same day, assaulting Duffy, Stacey and Isabella Brown, placing them in bodily fear and robbing them of a number of articles. Gault was also charged with having feloniously assaulted Thomas Parlour on the 29th August and robbing him of a watch and five pound.
The three men were tried only on the second charge relating to the robbery at the signal station, which was a capital charge. The jury returned a verdict of guilty against Gault and Lovell but discharged Johnson. Both Gault and Lovell were sentenced to death. Gault was an ex-convict who had served 4 years at Norfolk Island.
A petition from Duffy and Stacey to spare Lovell and Gault, was considered by the Executive Council but they confirmed the sentence on Gault. Fortunately for Lovell, the jury had petitioned the Council regarding Lovell and his sentence was commuted.
Gault was executed on the 21st December 1858. He expressed much contrition for his past crimes.
Due to Gault’s request, Lovell was allowed to remain with Gault in the condemned cell until the time came for his execution.