MIDDLETON, John George

1841 - 1897  (55 years)

• Name	MIDDLETON, John George  [1, 2]
  Born	1 Oct 1841	Hunter Vally, New South Wales, Australia   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Died	10 May 1897	Clermont, Queensland, Australia   [2]
  Person ID	I10709	My Genealogy
  Last Modified	16 Sep 2023

  
  

  Father	MIDDLETON, George Augustus,   b. 11 Jan 1818, Kennington, Surrey, England ,   d. 16 Aug 1900  (Age 82 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	TUCKER, Frances,   b. 29 Nov 1822,   d. 2 May 1896, Green Wattle Woodville, New South Wales, Australia  (Age 73 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Married	8 May 1839	Paterson, New South Wales, Australia
  Family ID	F634	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	BROWN, Mary Allen
  Married	20 Mar 1878	Queensland, Australia   [2]
  Last Modified	16 Sep 2023
  Family ID	F2874	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  George Augustus Middleton death notice 2 Oct 1903

  
  

• Notes

  The Brisbane Courier - Saturday, 5 May 1883 (page 6). On Sunday morning last the people in the vicinity of the Dan O'Çonnell lease were shocked by the discovery of the dead body of a man named Robert Brown Nesbitt, under circumstances which showed clearly that a murder had been committed.  The body was lying at full length in a dry watercourse close to the Dan O'Çonnell mullock heap, with a bullet wound in the right temple.  From the natural position in which the body was found, and from the almost total absence of any blood about the wound, it was evident that the body had been removed to this spot from the site of the murder.  The police were at once communicated with, and the body was soon after removed to the hospital morgue.  A post-mortem examination was made by Doctor Paoli, who discovered the bullet close to the vertebral column.  The bullet was flattend out, almost to pieces.  Before evening, from "ïnformation received," the police arrested three men named George Pratt, John George Middleton, and William Simpson on suspicion of having murdered Nesbitt.  They were brought up on Monday, and the evidence of the arresting constable taken.  The prisoners were then remanded for eight days.  From the evidence taken it appears that poor Nesbitt was drinking in town on Saturday night with one at least of the prisoners, that they came home together to where the prisoners live (not a hundred yards from where the body was found}, where they had more drink until between 12 and 1 o'çlock.  Prisoner Middleton, previous to his arrest admitted that deceased came to his door between 1 and 2 o'çlock and rapped, saying, "Get up, Jack : I've got schnapps." He told him to go away, and it was time he was in bed.  Deceased remained at the door and sang him (Middleton) to sleep.  Prisoners Pratt and Middleton live together, the latter being a married man, as is also the prisoner Simpson, who lives close by.  A Colt's revolver belonging to Pratt was found in a box with one chamber lately discharged.  The other chambers appeared not to have been loaded for some time.  The foregoing is the substance of the eidence given by the arresting constable, but it is said the police are now in possession of other evidence of importance which may enable them to bring the guilty party or parties to justice.  What the motives were which led to the commission of so foul a crime is yet only a matter of conjecture; but it is to be hoped it will soon be cleared up. —— The Queenslander - Saturday 26 May 1883. A REMARKABLE CASE - MURDER OF ACCIDENT? The prisoner Simpson was then placed in the dock, and in this case also the Crown Prosecutor stated that no true bill had been found.  John Geo. Middleton was then arraigned on the charge of having on the 22nd ultimo, at Charters Towers, murdered Robert Brown Nesbit, to which charge the prisoner pleaded not guilty.  Mr. Cooper, who appeared for the prisoner, applied for a postponement of the trial until next sitting, on the grounds that certain material witnesses were absent, and also on account of the shortness of the time for the preparation of the defence.  In support of this application, he gave evidence on oath, which his Honour carefully considered and then granted the adjourment asked for until the next sittings of the court.  Of the circumstances in connection with this murder as far as at present known the public throughyour columns are not yet informed.  In my first report I mentioned that three persons - namely, Pratt, Simpson, and Middleton - were arrested on suspicion of having committed the murder.  They were brought up on the 23rd, and remanded until Monday, the 30th ultimo.  The court was densely crowded, every available space being taken advantage of during the four days which were occupied by the hearing.  On the Wednesday the prisoner Pratt, who had been discharged that morning, made a most important statement, disclosing a plot concocted the previous night by Middleton, who was confined in the cell adjoining that in which Pratt was for the purpose of fastening on Simpson the crime of having shot Nesbit.  In order to arrange an interview with Pratt, Middleton wrote a few words on a slip of paper, which he secreted in the water-closet, and directed Pratt where to find it.  This scrap of paper was found by Pratt a few minutes after, and handed to the lockup-keeper, who then arranged to be concealed with Pratt in the cell in order to hear the expected conversation.  Towards 12 o'clock at night Pratt spoke to Middleton, and said he thought all was quiet now, and asked the latter what he had to say.  Middleton deferred speaking on the matter, as he thought it was rather too early.  In a short time again he however spoke, and a long conversation ensued, in which Middleton professed to relate the circumstances of the murder, which he said was done accidentally by Simpson.  These circumstances he wanted Pratt (who appears now to be entirely innocent) to verify in order to corroborate his staatement.  The circumstances, as related by Middleton, were that the deceased prevailed on him and Simpson to go with deceased to the house of a shipmate named Jackson, where deceased boarded, and to fire a revolver off in the garden in order to frighten Jackson.  This they agreed to do, Middleton taking the revolver.  After going a short distance away from the house of the latter, deceased sat down in the spot where he was found next morning.  The other two knelt alonside of him.  Simpson took the revolver out of Middleton's belt, and in examining it, it went off accidentally, the bullet entering near the right temple of deceased, who instantly dropped dead.  Middleton also stated, when asked by Pratt what became of the money which was in deceased's pocket at the time, that he took two notes, and Simpson took the silver.  The whole of the conversation which took place between the prisoners Pratt and Middleton, of which the foregoing is the substance, was related on oath by Constable Ryan, the lockup-keeper, and afterwards corroborated by Pratt.  On Thursday afternoon two statements made by Middleton, and taken down in writing, on the the 28th ultim, and the other on the 1st instant, were put in by Sub-inspector Meldrum and received. The following is a copy of the statement of the 1st instant:-      "Lockup. Charters Towers, ast May, 1883." "John George Middleton, of his own free will, and after being duly cautioned that anything he may say may be used in evidence against him and that he cannot expect to derive any benefit from the statement, says:- "I heard my statement, made on 28th April, 1883, to the police-magistrate, read over to me; I want to make certain corrections now; on Sunday morning, the 22nd of last month about 2 o'clock as near as I can guess, I was awoke by deceased Nesbit and prisoner Simpson knocking at the door, asking to be let in; Pratt asked who was there; Nesbit replied, Ït's me, George; open the door and I'll give you and Middleton a drink; Pratt opened the door and they both came in; we had a drink, and then deceased Nesbit started to sing; the song was "Bright Sunny Days", Nesbit broke down with his song, and Simpson said, Ï'll finish it for you, Bob": Simpson got up and sang part of the song and danced to it; my wife said, Ït's time stopping that noise; Simpson said, "You had better go over with us, and we'll go home;"Nesbit said, "let us  have another drink before we go;"Simpson took a drink to my wife in bed; I can't say if she drank it or not; my wife said again, Ït's time you were getting home;"Nesbit said "We will take the revolver if you won't go, George;"he then said to me, "You go over with us, Jack, and you will be company for Simpson back; I said, Ï would rather not;" he said "Come on,  you wont be long, we'llmake Jackson believe there is someone in the garden by firing off the revolver;"when they persisted so much in my going over I took the revolver out of Pratt's box; I think there were three charges in it; I put the revolver inside my waistband on the left side; then we went away towards Nesbit's place; when we got to the creek where the body was found we stopped; Nesbit sat down on his haunches; I sat down on my knees, and Simpson sat down in a similar manner on my left side; Nesbit first said, "How nicely we would frighten Jackson with the revolver, as he would think there was somebody in the garden;" by that Simpson said "Give me the revolver,"and he took it out of my waistband and held it up to look at in the moonlight; whilst he was looking at it the revolver went off; Simpson said, Öh dear, I could not help it, I was looking at the revolver, it went off accidentally;" then I said, "What have you done? You have shot Bob;" he said, Ït went off accidentally whilst I was looking at it;"Simpson laid hold of deceased and shook him, and called out "Bob;" he then said, Öh dear, he is dead; what'll we do now?" I said, Ï am going home;"so I picked up the revolver and came away; Simpson said "Stop Jack I believe he has got some money;" I stopped and said, "What are you doing?" he said, "Here is a purse with two notes and some silver;"he gave the two notes to me and kept the silver to himself; he then said, "What will we do now? Bob is shot, and it could not be helped; where are we to go?"I replied, Ï am going home;"so we came away home by a roundabout way, and came in by the front door; as we were coming home I noticed a big patch of blood on Simpson's shirt-cuff; I said to him, "Look at your shirt;"he said, "What will I do with it?"I said, "You know best; this is a bad job;"he said, Ï will tear it off and burn it, so that it won't be found;"it was a white shirt.  He said, "whatever you do don't speak about it;"I said, "Ï will not;" he said "be sure and don't mention it, for I gave you the two notes;"I said, Ï will not mention it." Simpson then went into his own house, then went into my house.  Pratt was lying in his hammock, he seemed to be asleep.  I wish I had confessed this last Sunday morning.  I took Pratt by the arm and shook him, I said "George Simpson shot Bob accidentally;"  Pratt said, "That is a bad job".   I then drew the two remaining charges out of the revolver, and put it back to the box.  Between 6 and 7 o'clock next morning I went up to Henderson's and told him that Simpson shot Bob accidentally.  Then I came back and went to bed again and told my wife that Simpson had shot Bob, and he might have shot me, but it was done accidentally.  My wife said it was a bad job I ever went out; I said "I would not have gone if they had not pushed me so, I went to oblige them. "JOHN GEORGE MIDDLETON" In reply to the usual questions before committal, Middleton stated : "No one but Simpson and I had anything to do with it; he had the revolver : it went off, and shot Bob accidentally." Simpson said : Ï am innocent : I am innocent as the God in heaven".  No doubt, when Middleton is again put on his trial, the evidence of Simpson will be taken, and may help to clear up this case fully.

  
  

• Sources

  [S308] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;;), Ancestry Family Tree. Database online. Record for John George Middleton http://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=340008757501&indiv=try