Analysis: Did the death of Fred Ward's brother
spawn his life of crime?
Copyright Carol Baxter 2011
The crime that led to Fred Ward’s incarceration in the Cockatoo Island prison in 1856 and his eventual reincarnation as the bushranger Thunderboltincluded the theft of horses from famed horse-stud Tocal. Thunderbolt aficionado Barry Sinclair has claimed that Fred Ward targeted Tocal because the management was responsible for the death of his brother George (see below):[1]
Fact Sheet on the Death of Thunderbolt
The facts tell a different story.
Victims testified at Fred’s trial in August 1856 that some 47 to 50 horses were stolen from two neighbouring stations: Tocal belonging to Charles Reynolds, and Bellevue belonging to William Zuill.[2] The following newspaper account reveals that in the aftermath of the robbery, 40 of the stolen horses were identified and returned to their owners. Of these, 36 belonged to Bellevue whereas only 4 belonged to Tocal:[3]
Victims testified at Fred’s trial in August 1856 that some 47 to 50 horses were stolen from two neighbouring stations: Tocal belonging to Charles Reynolds, and Bellevue belonging to William Zuill.[2] The following newspaper account reveals that in the aftermath of the robbery, 40 of the stolen horses were identified and returned to their owners. Of these, 36 belonged to Bellevue whereas only 4 belonged to Tocal:[3]
Maitland Mercury 22 May 1856 p.2
Clearly, 90% of the identified horses were stolen from Bellevue and only 10% from Tocal. While the remaining half-dozen or so unlocated horses might all have come from Tocal, it is more likely that the ownership ratio was similar. Therefore, at the very most, 25% of the stolen horses (but more likely only 10-15%) were from the best horse-stud in the country, a stud Fred knew particularly well.
What does this mean? Rather than targeting Tocal, Fred and his mates seemingly did Tocal management a strange sort of favour!
In truth, the beginning of Fred's life of crime was "caused totally" by the return to the Maitland district of Fred's nephew John Garbutt, a blue-eyed, blond-haired conman who had decided to assist NSW horse-owners redistribute their horse-flesh around NSW – without their permission, of course. Bellevue and Tocal were ideal targets because Fred well knew the area and the quality of the horseflesh (see Timeline: 1835-1863).
What does this mean? Rather than targeting Tocal, Fred and his mates seemingly did Tocal management a strange sort of favour!
In truth, the beginning of Fred's life of crime was "caused totally" by the return to the Maitland district of Fred's nephew John Garbutt, a blue-eyed, blond-haired conman who had decided to assist NSW horse-owners redistribute their horse-flesh around NSW – without their permission, of course. Bellevue and Tocal were ideal targets because Fred well knew the area and the quality of the horseflesh (see Timeline: 1835-1863).
Sources:
[1] Fact Sheet on the Death of Thunderbolt by Barry Sinclair [http://users.tpg.com.au/users/barrymor/Family%20Facts%20on%20the%20Death%20of%20Thunderbolt.html]
[2] Notebooks of Mr Justice Cheeke: Trial of Frederick Ward & James Garbutt, 13 Aug 1856 [SRNSW 2/2484]. NB. It is important to ignore the numbers given in the indictment which have led Thunderbolt writers to state that 60 horses were stolen from Bellevue and 15 from Tocal. The indictment actually said that Fred stole ... "twenty horses, twenty mares and twenty geldings, the property of William Zuill, and five horses, five mares and five geldings, the property of Charles Reynolds". Did it not occur to the Thunderbolt writers that these figures were extraordinarily round? For some reason the prosecution could get away with rounding figures upwards, as shown in the trial of the Bank of Australian thieves (see Breaking the Bank: An Extraordinary Colony Robbery by Carol Baxter).
[3] Maitland Mercury 22 May 1856 p.2
[1] Fact Sheet on the Death of Thunderbolt by Barry Sinclair [http://users.tpg.com.au/users/barrymor/Family%20Facts%20on%20the%20Death%20of%20Thunderbolt.html]
[2] Notebooks of Mr Justice Cheeke: Trial of Frederick Ward & James Garbutt, 13 Aug 1856 [SRNSW 2/2484]. NB. It is important to ignore the numbers given in the indictment which have led Thunderbolt writers to state that 60 horses were stolen from Bellevue and 15 from Tocal. The indictment actually said that Fred stole ... "twenty horses, twenty mares and twenty geldings, the property of William Zuill, and five horses, five mares and five geldings, the property of Charles Reynolds". Did it not occur to the Thunderbolt writers that these figures were extraordinarily round? For some reason the prosecution could get away with rounding figures upwards, as shown in the trial of the Bank of Australian thieves (see Breaking the Bank: An Extraordinary Colony Robbery by Carol Baxter).
[3] Maitland Mercury 22 May 1856 p.2