The 1900 Police Gazette noted that Frank Ernest Thomas received a sentence of two years hard labour at Goulburn Gaol for the theft of George Snodgrass's cattle.

After serving his sentence, Francis must have returned to the Monaro as the 1913 electoral roll for the Monaro-Umaralla polling place lists both Francis and Julia living at 'Elmsmere' together with their son, Walter Harold Thomas (who would go on the become the Deputy Mayor of Penrith).