The writer seems certain that ………

In 1865, James, the young son of the family all of whom were thieves, was imprisoned at Cockatoo Island for seven years. Obviously, he had been involved in the robbery of the Cowra mail office together with two other robbers, but his presence there was not proven; still, some bank-notes stolen from the mail were found on him, and he was sentenced for receiving stolen property. This sentence had obviously saved him from the gallows -the fate of his brothers because otherwise as the youngest brother John did, he would have joined his brother Thomas in an armed robbery in which three people were killed. Just a week after the bloody robbery, which occurred during James' term in prison, both brothers were captured in a country inn, and were soon executed.