Thomas Moore (c. 1882–?)
This article was published:
- in the Biographical Register of the Australian Labour Movement, 1788-1975
- online in 2023
Thomas Moore (c1882-?) seaman, gaoled IWW member
Birth: about 1882 in New Zealand. Death: unknown. Religion: Anglican.
- Arrested on 29 September 1916 and charged with other members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) with treason. Further charged with stealing a quantity of flannel shirts, “the property of the Commonwealth”. The "treason" charge was later altered to conspiracy.
- Convicted at the Central Criminal Court, Sydney on 2 December 1916 sentenced by Judge Pring to 10 years hard labour. The stealing charge was dropped.
- In March 1917 his conviction and sentence were confirmed on appeal.
- In 1919 it was reported that he was “laid up with the ‘flu in Maitland Jail”.
- After a judicial inquiry by Justice Ewing in 1920 found that he had been unjustly convicted, Moore was released from Long Bay Gaol on 2 August 2020.
- A press report in July 1923 stated that he was living quietly in Sydney. In 1927 it was reported that he “has disappeared from industrial circles altogether”.
- Workers’ Weekly articles in 1929 provided convincing arguments that Moore had been framed by the police.
Additional Resources and Scholarship
- is charged with treason, Newcastle Morning Herald (NSW) 30 September 1916, p 4
- court case, Sydney Morning Herald, 4 October 1916, p 8
- is sentenced to 10 years gaol, Sun (Sydney), 2 December 1916, p 6
- Judge Ewing's review of the men's sentences, Sydney Morning Herald, 31 July 1920, p 13
- the men are released from Long Bay gaol, Evening News (Sydney), 4 August 1920, p 4
- Moore has disappeared from industrial circles, News (Adelaide), 4 February 1927, p 8
- was likely framed by police, Workers' Weekly (Sydney), 4 October 1929, p 3
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- King, John Benjamin (colleague)
- Hamilton, John (colleague)
- Fagan, Maurice Joseph (colleague)
- Reeve, Charles Thomas (colleague)
- Larkin, Peter (colleague)
- Glynn, Thomas (colleague)
- Teen, Thomas William (colleague)
- Beattie, William (colleague)
- McPherson, Donald (colleague)
- Morgan, Frederick John (colleague)
- Grant, Donald McLennan (colleague)
- Bessant, Bernard Bob (colleague)
- Pring, Robert Darlow (judge)
- Ewing, Norman Kirkwood (judge)
- Scully, Henry Christopher (related entry)
Citation details
Chris Cunneen, 'Moore, Thomas (c. 1882–?)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/moore-thomas-33462/text41842, accessed 17 March 2025.
Thomas Moore, 1916
Sydney Mail, 18 October 1916, p 7
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Life Summary [details]
Birth
c.
1882
New Zealand
Cultural Heritage
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Religious Influence
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.