Isaac Patience (1861 - 1878)

Born 8 Nov 1861 in Greenough, Western Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Died 6 Nov 1878 at age 16 in Greenough, Western Australia, Australia

Biography

ISAAC PATIENCE (Patience-73)

PARENTS. John Pashen/Patience & Anne (Criddle) Patience

BIRTH. 8 Nov 1861, Greenough, Western Australia, Australia

BIRTH. WA BDM Birth Reg: #6108/1861

Family name Patience

Given names Isaac

Father John

Mother Criddle Annie

Place of birth Greenough

DEATH. 6 Nov 1878, Greenough, Western Australia, Australia

DEATH. WA BDM Death Reg: #9895/1878

Family name Patience

Given names Isaac

Age 17

Father Unknown

Mother Unknown

Place of death Unknown

BURIAL. Greenough Cemetery

PATIENCE , , Isaac, B. 8.11.1861 D. 6.11.1878, Guy Fawkes night accident

INQUEST REPORT. GREENOUGH, November 13. I hasten to give you a few particulars of the sad accident, attended with fatal consequences, which occurred near Mr. Maley's mill on Guy Fawkes night. It appears that a party of young men and lads met together for the purpose of commemorating the time-honoured Gunpowder Plot. In order to do this the more effectively they secured two fowling pieces and an old carbine, and a canister of gunpowder. After amusing themselves by firing in the air, along the ground, &c, one of the young men, by way of adding to the excitement, commenced firing off his gun unexpectedly between the legs of some of his companions. One of the lads, named John Cook, who had possession of the carbine, unhappily attempted the same dangerous amusement, and, stealing up behind one of the young men, named Isaac Patience, put as he thought the barrel of the carbine between his legs and fired it off, but instead of the charge going clear of the legs it unfortunately took effect in the young man's left thigh, tearing away a great piece of flesh and shattering the thigh bone, causing a frightful wound, from which the blood flowed copiously. The unfortunate youth was immediately carried to his home, which happened to be close by, and a messenger despatched for medical assistance, but before the doctor could reach the scene of the accident the sufferer had ceased to breathe. Our active and energetic Sergeant of Police, who happened to be passing at the time of the accident, at once instituted inquiries as to how the accident occurred, but it was not until the next morning that he could ascertain the name of the lad who fired the fatal shot. John Cook, a lad of about fourteen, admitted to the Sergeant that it was he who fired the shot. He was then arrested pending the result of the inquest, which was held in the Mechanics' Institute the following morning, before Mr. E. H. Laurence, R.M., and a jury consisting of Messrs. Hugh Stevens, W. Moore, and Thos. Clinch. After viewing the body and hearing the evidence, which took up nearly the whole of the morning, the jury returned the following verdict : —"We find that the deceased, Isaac Patience, came by his death from hemorrhage from a wound in the leg caused by the discharge of a gun loaded with powder and fired for amusement by a lad named John Cook." This verdict the coroner considered equal to one of manslaughter, and Cook has been committed for trial on that charge.

(1879). TRIAL REPORT. The lad Cook was placed upon his trial at the Geraldton Quarter Sessions on the 4th instant for the manslaughter of Isaac Patience by the explosion of a carbine at the Greenough Flats on Guy Fawkes Day. He was acquitted, notwithstanding his admission of guilt The verdict of the jury has given rise to some spirited discussion in the district.

Sources

• Birth: WA BDM Birth Reg: #6108/1861

• Death: WA BDM Death Reg: #9895/1878

• Burial: http://www.ozburials.com/CemsWA/Geraldton-Greenough/greenough.htm

• INQUEST REPORT: The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901) Wed 27 Nov 1878, Page 3: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65955514

• (1879). TRIAL REPORT: The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901) Wed 1 Jan 1879, Page 1: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65957282