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Ross Alexander: convict number 9277. Born 1845 in Sutherlandshire in Scotland. He was the son of Ross Donald and Joanne [nee MacDonald] and was recorded in the year 1865 as being literate and an unmarried slater. In April 1865 he went out in the evening with some of the local boys drinking and whilst in a state of extreme intoxication he left and started for home. On the way he broke into and entered a premises by way of the bathroom window and in doing so was disturbed by an elderly lady who lived there. He struck her a blow and fled, however the blow was severe and she died. On April 21st 1865, in the court in Inverness, Scotland, he was sentenced to 15 years penal servitude and placed in the Portland prison.

In 1866, he was transported by the ship Corona from Portland Prison to the penal colony in Western Australia and was placed in Fremantle Prison on the 22nd November 1866. It was stated that he would be due for probation on the 15th October, 1877 and it also appeared that the only reason that he did not hang was the extreme state of intoxication he was in when he committed the offence.

In 1869, whilst on a working party in Bunbury, he left the convict camp without permission. Some time later, when intoxicated, he returned and was apprehended whilst entering the camp. For this he was charged and sentenced to an extra 5 months detention, and cautioned for insubordination. On the 19th February 1880 he was granted permission to marry Sarah Jane McGlinn, who was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah [nee Walter]. (Thomas McGlinn was convict no 2368.) At the time of his marriage he was working as a ticket-of-leave (own account).