CrimePolice

Botched 1838 hanging in North Adelaide of Michael Magee, who shot the colony's first sheriff: Samuel Smart

Botched 1838 hanging in North Adelaide of Michael Magee, who shot the colony's first sheriff: Samuel Smart
J.M. Skipper's sketch of the 1838 handing of Michael Magee from a gum tree on Montefiore Hill, North Adelaide.
Image courtesy State Library of South Australia

South Australia’s first sheriff, Samuel Smart, appointed in May 1837, zealously pursued escaped convicts and ticket-of-leave men for Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania), who terrorised whole Adelaide neighbourhoods. South Australian governor John Hindmarsh appointed Smart, a solicitor from Van Diemen’s Land, mainly because he knew these convicts.

Smart himself became a target for three “Vandemonian” convicts in Adelaide when he was attacked and wounded during robbery at his hut. Two attackers were caught but a third, named Morgan, escaped to the whaling station at Encounter Bay.

Three special constables were sworn in and told to bring Morgan back dead or alive. They found Morgan asleep with a gun in his hand but they got lost in the hills of Fleurieu Peninsula while bringing him back. Morgan was left chained to a tree for four days – “tormented by flies and menaced by dogs” – while the constables went for food and help.

Another of the offenders, Michael Magee, was the first person hanged in South Australia in May 1838 near the government store on Montefiore Hill, North Adelaide.

The sheriffs was in charge of executions – and Magee’s was badly botched. Because Smart couldn’t find an executioner (or “Jack Ketch”), the South Australian Company cook (disguised by a mask and hump) was roped in.

Many people watched the hanging that turned slow and grisly. With Magee able to lift himself up on the rope, the hangman had to grab his legs until he died – causing the crowd to shout “Murder!”. The cook/hangman had to be escorted away.

Sheriffs continued to oversee South Australian executions, along with running courts and their orders. Sheriffs’ duties were extended in 1856 to being returning officers for elections and in 1870-1965 to running all gaols and the custody of all imprisoned debtors and criminals.

The Office of Sherriff, after Smart, was run by Charles Dutton (1838), Charles Burton Newenham (1839-56), William Boothby (1856-1903), Otto Schomburgk (1903-29), Harold Whittle (1929-35), Stanley Blackman (1935-50), James Allen (195065), Herbert Collins (1965-78), John Carr (1978-2000), Timothy Goodes (2000-04), Mark Stokes (1004-18), Steve Ferguson (2018-).

Other related ADELAIDE AZ articles

South Australian police commissioner Grant Stevens speaking of the opening of the Northern Hub offering multi-agency domestic violence prevention, early intervention, and recovery. South Australia Police and Women’s Safety Services South Australia will lead the services available at the hub.
Women >
Police among range of services dealing with domestic violence and recovery at northern suburbs Adelaide hub
READ MORE+
Vaping and student violence – some filmed and shared to social media – were some of the biggest challenges for the South Australian government education minister in 2022.
Police >
Police called to nearly 1,000 serious, violent, anti-social incidents at South Australian state schools during 2021
READ MORE+
From its struggling start in 1838, South Australia built the first centrally-controlled police force in Australia and third oldest in the world behind its concept models: the London and Dublin metropolitan forces. 
Settlement >
Two escaped convicts in 1838 join initial South Australia police: third in world, Australia's first centrally-run force
READ MORE+
South Australian Police Association members were called Bolsheviks and other abuse during a 1918 dispute with the South Australian government.
Unions >
South Australia gets Australia's first police union in 1911, formed courageously in the face of personal costs
READ MORE+
The Adelaide police offices in King William Street, Adelaide, in 1850s/60s. This building was demolished to make way for the new general post office. Image courtesy State Library of South Australia
Adelaide City >
Adelaide city council alone in paying a moiety towards the cost of policing in its area from 1861 to 1938
READ MORE+
The crowd for a patriotic meeting at Speakers' Corner in the Botanic Park, near Frome Road, Adelaide, in 1917. Image courtesy State Library of South Australia
Rights >
Police involvement in Adelaide political surveillance – on unions or speakers' corner – starts in World War I
READ MORE+

 

 
©2025 Adelaide AZ | Privacy | Terms & Disclaimer | PWA 1.1.58