It is not known who William Barnard's parents were, when he arrived in New Zealand or where or when he died (1907 or 1908) His wife Alice died in 1917 and her death certificate said she was a widow. A police report said he was a sailor and so may have jumped ship about 1870. William was employed by Messrs McDonald and Doring, of George street, Dunedin where he learnt the butchers trade.

He came to the attention of the police in July 1873 during a period of petty crime and burglary in Dunedin and so started thirty years of police contact. Between £7 and £8 in silver had been stolen from the shop of Lo Keong in George Street and William Barnard, an Englishman, was in the shop that evening, saw the owner lock it and leave and knew where the money was kept. He was immediately suspected but discharged through lack of evidence.

Again in September, 1873, numerous complaints were made to police of a number of till robberies in the south end of the town. Strict watch was kept and William Barnard was arrested by Constable Frank O'Brien of the Dunedin Police on the 18th on suspicion of having entered Messrs M'Donald and Doring's shop the previous night and stolen a cash box containing cheques and money. He appeared at the Police Court, was remanded for a week while police endeavoured to find the stolen property but again was discharged.

He went north to Kaiapoi where he was a butcher and on the 20th December, 1876, William Barnard married Alice Edgington. Witnesses to the marriage were George William Traill, a butcher of Kaiapoi and sister Ellen Edgerton of Kaiapoi. (Alice's brother David was a butcher.)
In November 1878, William Barnard appeared in the Christchurch Court charged that on Oct. 23rd he had in his possession, 200 sheep without brands at Addington. He admitted the offence stating that he dealt in sheep, but was not aware he was compelled to brand all sheep passing through his hands. The sheep had no brand, however the Inspector of Sheep said in this case he would not impose no heavy penalty but warned owners to attend carefully to the matter of branding. William was fined 10s. The ownership of the stock was not questioned and subsequent events would make you wonder where those sheep came from…….

In May, 1879, William Barnard, butcher at Kaiapoi, was arrested and charged with stealing about 300 sheep, the property of Robert Chapman, Spring Bank run, Moeraki Downs. Bail was accepted from himself for £200, and from two friends, sureties of £100 each
A week later, William had fled and the two who had put up bail money which they now stood to lose, made a frantic search for him. Another warrant was now added - a charge of stealing 135 ewes and lambs from Joseph Senior White, of Ohoka, which he had sold the previous Wednesday at Addington, to Mr Tisch, of the North road.
The Police gazette also had at the same time "Stolen from Phillip Colin Triekeld, Oxford Tram Road, Eyreton, 60 long wooled sheep, mixed ages, branded P on top of Inverted T in red near loin, snip on under part near ear. Suspicion attached to Wm Barnard."

Court day came but no Barnard to answer to the charge of sheep-stealing. His bail was estreated, and a warrant issued for his arrest. Police circulated his description:

William Barnard, a butcher, about 26 years of age, 5 ft 9 inches tall, slender build, fresh complexion, blue eyes, long features, pointed nose, dark hair, very small fair beard beginning to grow, small mark of a cut on the upper lip supposed on the left side, usually wears a tweed coat, black billy-cock hat and lace up boots. He left his home in Kaiapoi on the 20th. Rewards amounting to £75 are offered for information leading to his arrest. It was considered likely he would endeavour to leave the Colony.
At the Kaiapoi court May 28, James Dipenhien, who was employed as a butcher by William Barnard was charged as an accessory and on the application of the police, remanded for 24 hours. His bail was refused.

26 June 1879: At the Magistrates Court Christchurch, unhappy Francis Bususton and Martin Crosby Moran of Kaiapoi appeared to plead why their bail money put out on behalf of William Barnard charged with sheep stealing but who failed to show, should not be forfeited. Francis Bosuston, said he was a farmer near Kaiapoi, lodging at Burnip's Hotel, Raven street, Kaiapoi. "I kept a look out on Barnard from the time I entered into the recognisance and saw him the morning he was released and was with him till mid-day, when he went to Rangiora by train. I did not see him again. I looked for him 11 and 12 o'clock that night. He had not come back so went at once and informed Detective Walker. It was not by any collusion with me that he went away." Martin Crosby Moran, livery-stablekeeper, Kaiapoi, residing at Burnip's Hotel, gave similar evidence. The Christchurch detective corroborated their statements - he went up to Kaiapoi on Tuesday, May 27, the day Barnard bolted and that evening, at 11 o'clock Mr Bosuston told him that Barnard had not been at home all the evening. Both sureties had tried to find out all that night where Barnard had gone, and had done all they could to assist witness to find him. The Bench permitted the withdrawal.

July 24: The breakthrough came. In the morning William was seen to enter the express train at Ashburton for Dunedin. After the train left Oamaru, a passenger, who had been in the same carriage with Barnard, and had got out at that station, informed the railway officials that there was a man in the train suspiciously wearing a false beard. This was promptly reported to the police, who wired each station south along the line. At Palmerston South, Sergeant Rooney, was waiting on the platform when the train arrived and looked intently for a man wearing heavy whiskers, and all of a sudden the whiskered one, knowing he was spotted, made a bolt across country from the other side of the carriage, closely followed by the Sergeant. After an exciting chase, during which the officer came to grief once, and the runaway when caught broke away, Barnard was finally captured, He gave his name as Goldsmith and next day was received into the gaol and given a month's sentence for resisting the police at Palmerston. On removal of a false beard he was wearing, he was identified as William Barnard wanted at Kaiapoi for sheep stealing and Rooney, the arresting constable, got the £75 reward offered for the prisoner's capture. Barnard was remanded to appear back at Kaiapoi, Aug. 1.

1879 Aug. 6. Supreme Court. William Barnard was placed in the dock, and charged with stealing 266 sheep on May 5, 1879. He pleaded guilty and offered no defence. He was further charged, with stealing 139 sheep about the same date. He again pleaded guilty. Detective Walker gave evidence as to the prisoner's character in Dunedin wherehe had previously got into trouble - that he had been to Court, but had not been convicted. When called upon to give reason why sentence should not be passed upon him, the prisoner said that he had been in difficulties, and had committed the acts on the spur of the moment. His Honor commented upon the enormity of the offence, which formerly would have received the punishment of death and sentenced the prisoner to 6 years hard labour on the two indictments.

However his goal sentence must have been reduced as Taranaki newspaper shipping news report William Barnard as a passenger on board the coastal ship "Douglas" on 28 June 1884 leaving from Port of Waitara for Onehunga. In the cargo are 66 Sheep (Winks;) 7 horses (Barnard;) 16 bales fungus (Sbera) Somehow he had got money for horses….
New Plymouth Dec. 1885: William Barnard is again trading as a butcher! Xmas report:
"Owing to the excessively hot weather at present prevailing, the houses in the meat trade, with one or two exceptions, have relaxed their endeavours to make a Christmas show, and have contented themselves with making their shops noticeable from a clean and wholesome appearance. The West End Meat Bazaar, where the signs of the times were confined to the display of fernery, and cleanliness. However, a very large stock of meat had of necessity to be hung up - 3 bullocks, 20 sheep and lambs, several pigs, and a quantity of small goods and poultry. The lambs were of extraordinary size, and were from Messrs. Morris and Wareham's farm at Tapuae. The very prime beef was of Mr. Bayly's own feeding from Parihaka.
Messrs. Sole Bros, had produced an effect that could be obtained by nothing else but their varied and extensive stock - 3 bullocks, 3 pigs, 10 lambs, 8 sheep, 20 turkeys, 25 geese, 20 pairs of ducks, 25 pairs of fowls, 1 calf, and 3 sucking pigs. Their shop was also most tastefully set out with ferns and evergreens. One remarkably fine bullock was on view, which had turned the scale at 13 cwt.
Mr. Wm Barnard relied more upon the cleanly appearance of his shop for attractiveness, although some really fine meat was to be seen. Christmas was, however, not entirely overlooked, being recognised by a display of fernery and flowers."







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