Well Trish, whatever serious crime my forefathers committed I, for one, can honestly say I am glad you and I are here today esp. you for I would not ever have been conceived if you had been judge and jury back then! GRIN --Manaia PS: Regards to your dear Brother. ++++ --- On Mon, 7/14/08, tsymonds <psym8950@bigpond.net.au> wrote: > Thanks to everyone who has offered comments into the crimes > committed and > sentences received. I can understand the sentences handed > down for the > crimes committed were often harsh. However, my brother > maintains that some > of these men were caught committing serious crimes, such as > arson, or > committing grievous bodily harm on another, or whatever, > but the courts > would then downgrade the crime in the records to read that > they stole a hat, > or a handkerchief, or something similar, in order to give > them a lighter > sentence - and that our forefathers, rather than being > unjustly treated > were, in fact, serious criminals. I just fail to > understand his argument, > and can't see a reason why such a thing would be done. > If someone burned my > barn down and it was later reported in the newspapers that > he had only > stolen some articles of clothing, I would be fairly annoyed > and would be > letting friends and neighbours know what I thought to the > court system. But > if the whole country was involved in a cover-up along these > lines, and > everyone was making their opinions known, then I would > think it would be > well documented in newspapers and books that this was the > course of action > it had been decided to take in England at the time - and I > just haven't > found anything saying this in any of the research I have > done. Oh, well, it > looks like brother and I will just have to agree to > disagree - again! > Thanks everyone for your insights. > > Cheers > Trish > Nowra NSW