Frederick Ward: Trial reports from Maitland Mercury 1856

 
After being taken into custody for his alleged involvement in John Garbutt's horse-stealing operation in 1856, Frederick Ward  (later known as bushranger Captain Thunderbolt) appeared before the East Maitland "bench" on two occasions: on Friday 9 May 1856 in company with Alexander Anderson and William Anderson who were released the next day, and on 20 May 1856 when he was committed to stand trial at the next Quarter Sessions.  His case was heard at the Maitland Quarter Sessions on 13 August 1856 when he was sentenced to 10 years hard labour on the roads – which by then meant the penal establishment on Cockatoo Island.
    The newspaper reports relating to these hearings and his eventual trial are found below. See Frederick Ward Trial Notes 1856 for the recently-discovered transcript of his trial.
    To place this event in the context of Fred Ward's life, see his Biography.

Maitland Mercury 13 May 1856 p.2

Maitland Mercury 22 May 1856 p.2

 Maitland Mercury 14 Aug 1856 p.2