Charles William Blakeney was a judge and politician in Queensland, Australia.
Background
Charles William Blakeney was born in Cooltigue Castle, County Roscommon, Ireland in 1802. He was the eldest son of Review Thomas Blakeney and his wife Alicia (née Newcome), daughter of Archbishop William Newcome, primate of Ireland.
In 1826 he married Ellen Frances, the daughter of John Jeffries of Blarney Castle, County Cork.
Following the death of his father in 1845, he inherited the family property, Holywell, in Roscommon from which he derived a rental income of £1500 per annum.
Education
He went to study at Trinity College, Dublin in January 1820 but never completed a degree.
Career
They had three children:
Charles John Blakeney (1830-1892)
William Theophilus Blakeney (1832-1898)
Alicia Honoria Blakeney (since 1833)
In 1831 he became a barrister in London and in Ireland in 1836. However, he led an extravagant life and eventually lost his assets through his gambling debts. He was Chairman of Committees from 12 June 1861 to 22 May 1863.
He resigned in order to take up appointment as the first judge of the Western District Court, which covered Condamine, Dalby and Roma.
Trial of Harry Redford
As the judge, Charles Blakeney presided over the 1873 trial of Harry Redford (sometimes spelled Readford) at Roma Courthouse. Redford was a cattle rustler, who is believed to be the inspiration for the fictional character Captain Starlight in the novel Robbery Under Arms.
In 1870, Redford was working as a stockman on Bowen Downs Station near Longreach in Queensland, where, with two associates, George Dewdney and William Rooke, he stole about 1,000 cattle. Knowing the cattle would be easily identified by their cattle brands in Queensland, he drovethe cattle through the inhospitable terrain of the Channel Country and the Strzelecki Desert to South Australia where he sold the cattle for £5,000.
Redford was apprehended in Sydney in 1872, and faced trial in Roma, Queensland.
Redford"s solicitor was Charles William Blakeney"s son, Charles John Blakeney. Around 1874, he suffered a paralytical stroke. This eventually affected his mind and he was unable to continue as a judge and retired from public life in September 1875.
On 12 January 1876, he left his home to take a morning walk, but failed to return.
He was later found drowned in the Brisbane River believed to have been caused by his mental affliction. On 14 January 1876, he was buried in South Brisbane Cemetery at Dutton Park.
Membership
He was elected a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for the seat of Town of Brisbane from 11 May 1860 to 25 November 1865.