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The
execution of notorious bushrangers
Patrick
Cuffe (Coffee) and John Toole
in front of the stockade men at Newcastle in mid March
1838 had little
effect on three young men residing in that town. Just two weeks after
the execution Henry Allen, William Bell and John Smith began their
short-lived careers as bushrangers themselves.
William John (Southerwood) Bell was 17 years old in 1832 when arrived on the Captain Cook having been tried in county Antrim in 1831. John Smith arrived from Ireland on the Florentia in 1830. On the evening of the 9th April 1838, Allen, Bell and Smith perpetrated a vicious attack and robbery on Neil Penny (Tierney/Tinny/Finny) a 52 year old labourer who was walking along the Newcastle - Maitland road. Penny arrived on the Phoenix in 1826 and had held a ticket of leave for the district of Newcastle for the last six years. As there were only about 1200 people residing in Newcastle at this time, Penny would most likely have been known to the three who had probably also been residing in the area for a number of years. They disguised their faces with black handkerchiefs and Bell first grabbed Penny from behind before the others appeared to assist. William Bell's disguise was torn from his face in the scuffle. Between them they threw Penny to the ground and viciously kicked and ill treated him before robbing him of 15 shillings and an order for £3.All three were apprehended and lodged in Newcastle gaol on 14th April 1838. They were sent to Sydney soon after to stand trial for highway robbery and received sentences of 'death recorded' for their crime. Henry Allen received a Ticket of leave in 1847. It is not known at this time what became of John Smith and William Bell. Neil Penny (Tierney) was possibly still residing in Newcastle in 1847
Newcastle Bench Books 14 March 1837 Newcastle Gaol Entrance books 14 April 1838 Sydney Gazette 12 May 1838 SAG Tickets of Leave Sydney Herald 14 May 1838 The Monitor 9 May 1838 Sydney Herald 15 March 1838
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