52 ancestors Week 18 (May 3-9): Crime and Punishment

 Week 18 (May 3-9): Crime and Punishment – Joseph Guymer

I have found a few people in the tree who fit the “crime and punishment” theme and could be classed as criminals, 1 person that I thought of using has quite a funny story; but I only have limited information on him and his story, so at the moment James Lackey and his stealing of ladies lingerie and selling on has been put on hold. However, the person I am going to use has quite a long list of crimes under his belt!

Joseph Guymer is a distant relative of mine (but relative all the same), he is the nephew of the wife of my 1st cousin 5times removed!

Joseph was born in 1839-1840 in Great Wratting, Suffolk, UK. He was the son of David Guymer and Mary Anne (Mariann) Bentley. He was one of 6 children. According to his police record card he was described at white, with black hair and brown eyes and was about 5ft 7 tall. He was a farmer by trade.

In 1853 Joseph and his family all moved from Suffolk UK to Australia, they went via the ship “Harriett” and arrived 3rd June 1853. 5years after his arrival he was married to Eliza Jane Little in Victoria, Australia.

Joseph’s 1st criminal encounter (that is recorded, or I have found information on) was in November 1871, he was arrested for selling a horse that was not his to sell.  (See newspaper article to the right!)

On the 18th December 1874 Joseph’s horse was impounded due to him owing money to the sum of 10s and 3d. If it sum wasn’t paid the horse was to be sold on 7th January 1875.

In January 1878, he was arrested and released on bail for “maliciously” destroying 200 apple trees! He faced the same charge in April 1879 but this time was acquitted. In December 1882 he was arrested and charged with threatening language.

In June 1885 the local newspaper reported that Joseph had assaulted his wife “possibly with an axe handle” and she was covered in bruises. He was trialled for the 10th instance and had to pay fines and was sentenced to 4months. On 10th June 1886 Joseph was arrested for threatening to kill his wife and was sentenced to 3months.

In April 1887 Joseph was in prison according a to later dated newspaper article, but I am unable to find out what he did on this occasion and it is too late for the June 1886 arrest. On the 8th September 1887 Joseph once again was arrested linked to drunkenness on horseback and refused to get off it when asked to by the police. and served 7days.

In March 1888 Joseph was arrested and charged with threatening his wife whilst being drunk and was sentenced to 3months.  Also on the 6th July 1888 Joseph was arrest and pleaded guilty to being drunk and using threatening language and also on the 6th August 1888 he was arrested and charged for threatening behaviour and sentenced to 3months.

In July 1889 he was again arrested for being drunk and using obscene language, he pleaded guilty of this and was fined 10s or 3days imprisonment and for a 2nd charge was fined 30s or 1 month in jail.

In 1891 Joseph declared himself bankrupt, it was all over the newspapers. On the 29th Dec 1891 Joseph was arrested and committed for trial after causing grievous body harm to his step son after hitting him on the head with an axe.

On the 13th January 1892 Joseph was arrested and charged and sentenced to 18months for causing actual bodily harm. In June 1895 He was charged with damaging the heads of two cows that were impounded.

Not all of Joseph’s arrests and convictions were listed on his police card, but some are as you can see in the image below linked to him. It certainly seems like he was a bad person and liked the criminal way of life! I’ve not added all newspaper articles linked to Joseph as I would be here for ages, but I have added the dates and brief information about his “crime and punishment”.

Joseph died in 1902, its safe to say that his life was far from boring, but it does make you question why he did what he did? Did he enjoy being arrested and spending time in prison? Was it a cry for help? Who knows.




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