James Francis Thomas

James Francis Thomas
James Francis Thomas (1899)
Born(1861-07-25)25 July 1861
St Marys, New South Wales, Australia
Died11 November 1942(1942-11-11) (aged 81)
Boonoo Boonoo, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation(s)Solicitor, newspaper proprietor, soldier

Major James Francis Thomas (25 July 1861 – 11 November 1942), was a solicitor from Tenterfield, New South Wales.

As Major Thomas, he defended Lieutenants Peter Joseph Handcock, George Ramsdale Witton, and Harry "Breaker" Morant, of the Bushveldt Carbineers (BVC) of the British Army, in their trial for the murder of nine Boer prisoners-of-war during the Second Boer War.[1]

Major Thomas, standing behind the joint grave of Handcock and Morant (1902)

Education

He was educated at The King's School, Parramatta,[2] and at the University of Sydney.

Law

He served as an articled clerk in a reputable Sydney law practice.[3]

He was (unconditionally) admitted to practise as a solicitor on 28 May 1887.[4]

Tenterfield Star

He was also the owner-operator of the Tenterfield Star newspaper for sixteen years, from 1898.[5]

Death

He died on his property at Boonoo Boonoo, near Tenterfield, on Remembrance Day, 11 November 1942.[6]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ "Major Thomas Defended Breaker Morant". Australians at War. Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia). 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  2. ^ Captain J. F. Thomas, The Daily Telegraph, (Wednesday, 21 February 1900), p.7.
  3. ^ Public Notices: James Francis Thomas, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Thursday, 26 May 1887), p.2; Public Notices: James Francis Thomas, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Friday, 27 May 1887), p.2;
  4. ^ Supreme Court Proceedings: Admission of Attorneys, Australian Town and Country Journal, (Saturday, 4 June 1887), p.14; Law Report: Supreme Court: Saturday, 28 May: Admission of Attorneys, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Monday, 30 May 1887), p.4.
  5. ^ Brief Mention, The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser, (Friday, 23 Sep 1898), p.4.
  6. ^ Murphy, Damien, "Breaker Morant Relics Found on Rubbish Tip", The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 April 2016.

References