Hi Adrian Re your newspaper snippets It does look pretty unjust to us but, sadly, 15 yrs old wasn't as "young" in those days as it is now and I think there was still some sort of an idea, even this late in time, that somehow a rape was just about all of the woman's fault. I am surprised there was a conviction at all. Also with regard to the theft of a bonnet, commission of theft of property (however small)was just about the worst crime one could commit in those days. Many people are not aware that there was not actually a lot of prison space available then and one of the reasons for starting the Aus convict colonies in the first place was that there hadn't previously been many punishments except hanging. There was an increasing public high-level feeling against all this hanging but the prison hulks got too overcrowded. Another reason, by the way, was that the government thought that the prisoners could go over there and grow trees to use for the Royal Navy ships. Sadly, the trees in Aus proved to be no use for the purpose! Wonder where they could send us these days to reduce prison overcrowding!! Here endeth ...! Regards Glenda