Are there any Deaf people caught for the crime?
Crime and Punishment – First Fleeters
Are they any Deaf people have been charged for the crime they committed or not in New Zealand?
The deaf blogger was reading the Papers Past for the Deaf research and came across several earliest articles in the Papers Past New Zealand dating back to 1st of January 1839 to 31st December 1950. She recalled the holiday to Sydney – Sydney Town Hall back in 1991, and the construction workers found a burial section during the major restoration works of the Town Hall. The archaeologists came across the lovely headstone – Georgian (Sydney sandstone), and the name on the headstone readout, “In memory of Eliz Steel died 1795 Aged..” So who is Eliz Steel, and how did she come to Sydney before 1795? Why was she there, and did she commit a crime back in the UK?
Well, Eliz Steel – Elizabeth (Betty) Steel was the first Deaf woman to commit a crime in stealing a silver watch from a Deaf man – George Childs in the UK. She was sentenced for seven years of penal transportation to the settlements at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island, Australia. Australian Deaf History No 1. The first convict
From the Papers Past, New Zealand, yes, there were several articles by using the wording ‘deaf and dumb’ due to Victorian times. We, D/deaf people, refused to use the word – dumb because we communicate with our first language, which is sign language, and we do anything in physical activity such as work and home. The deaf blogger removed the wording ‘dumb’ from any articles in the newspapers for this blog.
One article – Phillips v Phillips, dated Thursday, 31st January 1861, at the Resident Magistrates Court in Wellington, before B.A Ferard, Esq, R.M., there was a complainant who is deaf, had to explain to the Court, by means of using the deaf alphabet; and by writing down answers to questions that were shewn (shown) her in writing. The complainant’s evidence was corroborated by her mother. The defendant was charged with having deserted his wife and infant child and leaving them without means of support. The defendant was ordered to pay 10s. a week for the support of his wife.
The second article was about the Native Lands Court, Otaki on Saturday, March 21st 1868. It was about the dispute of the land in Awahou Block Sale and the widow who was Amiria te Raotea of Paratene te Raotea. She disputed against several men and one of the claimants was deaf and could not write. This claimant was Hamiora Te Kaikouri – he is deaf and dumb he is one of the Himatangi people – ‘tamariki’ – son of Te Pakaru – this is the only Hamiora Kaikouri I know – (points to Hamiora)
The third article was about the visiting to Mount Eden Gaol, Auckland, on 26th January 1869. It was about the misformed of the most critical points on Captain Eyre’s management, the report and comments by the public people about prison workers to the Stockade and whether prisoners were not doing any works. One of the persons who visited noted one particular Māori Deaf prisoner who was excellent in-shoe trades by learning a short time and can turn out work equal to any of the men.
Rough notes of a visit to Mount Eden Gaol
Update comments about visiting Mt Eden Gaol
All these articles are yes, there are many D/deaf people committed the crimes for they have done or wrongly for the crimes. The main problem is there are not enough shreds of evidence for the deaf researcher to investigate how can they (D/deaf people) communicate through sign language, writing down or gestures. What were their (D/deaf prisoners) lives like in the Victorian Times? The archives, Old Bailey Courts and the records and newspapers are an excellent pieces to allow them (researchers) to find the clues through online anywhere in the world today.
External Links
http://deafinnswtimeline.com/#timeline2
