Fifteen years for a sheep

Bridget Doe was not the shy retiring type. When her husband came home to tell her that he had, had an altercation with John Harris, she went immediately into action. She assessed the situation immediately and decided that she needed to put her side of the story to the police first. She demanded a saddle from her neighbour, a neighbour with whom she was not on the best of terms, and pressed till she was given access to check the Dawes bedroom for the presence of Thomas Dawes.

In court, she confidently examined the witnesses and added her own colourful language to the proceedings. She accused the neighbour of “shooking” timber. I can remember this term being used occasionally many years ago but it seems to have disappeared now. Bridget also accused people of trying to “man blot” her husband. She was not going to give in easily. Bridget knew she was fighting for her future and that of her whole family.

The newspapers of the day loved sensation and this “crime” was reported Australia wide. A few years later it was used again in the Tasmanian courts to illustrate the dangers involved when trying to catch criminals. Ephraim Doe had earned himself a real reputation.

Despite the defence put up by the Doe family, Ephraim was found guilty of manslaughter, committed while trying to steal a sheep. It can hardly be imagined how Ephraim and Bridget had spent the two months between the inquest and the trial. Both had been charged and held in custody during that time. Did they see each other during that time? The evidence against Bridget was not strong and she must have had some hope of being found innocent. Ephraim would have known that his chances were poor. He sold his land in preparation of an unknown future.

Where Bridget spent the next few years is a mystery. She most likely stayed around the North West Coast of Tasmania as her children made appearances there several years later. I have found no more references to Bridget until she died 15 years later in Launceston. She would have had to support her two children for a few years until they were old enough to earn a living by themselves. For women, of her status, the only real option was housework. Ephraim was back in prison. What must his feelings have been? Fifteen years was a long sentence and Port Arthur had a reputation as a severe place to be. Were those sheep really worth it?