The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 7 Apr 1859  ¹

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
WEDNESDAY.

BEFORE THE CHIEF JUSTICE. [Sir Alfred Stephen] 

BUSINESS OF THE COURT.

     On taking his seat, his Honor said that many applications had been made to him on the subject of the arrangements necessary for getting through the business of the Court. He would mention that Term commenced on Monday next, with the longest paper on record in the Supreme Court, and consequently he conceived it would be his duty to take his seat on Monday morning next in the King-street, Court-house. Until then, he would go on trying such cases as might be brought before him, sitting up to seven o’clock, or later if necessary. He would however, be no party to thrusting off the business of one branch of the Court in order to make way for that of another. Thus, any business that was not disposed of before this Court by Saturday next, would have to go over to the next Criminal Sittings. The Legislature had been made aware of the difficulty in the way of getting through the business of the Court, and of the remedy that had been proposed for it; if they did not think proper to adopt that remedy it was no fault of his, and he could only sit day by day, and get rid of as much of the business as practicable. He would not, however, consent to put off one part of the business to make way for another.

THE LATE HON R CAMPBELL.

His Honor said he had been asked to adjourn this Court on Friday next, to enable the members of the bars to pay a mark of respect to the late Hon Robert Campbell, by being present at his funeral. The departed gentleman had not only been a personal friend of his Honor’s but he had been one whom he so much respected that he was sure there was no person in the colony who would put himself more out of the way to show a mark of respect to his memory than would his Honor. But to adjourn the Court in the present state of the business before it, was what he certainly could not consent to do, as he would be thereby wanting in the performance of the duty he was sworn to perform. If by adjourning for two hours until twelve o’clock the purpose would be served, he would readily accede that much.

Mr Holroyd mentioned that the funeral took place on Friday, at one o’clock, at Parramatta, and that such an adjournment would be useless.

His Honor: In that case the Court would sit on Friday. 
…

UNNATURAL OFFENCE

    John Taylor was charged with having at Ryde, on the 10th February last, committed an unnatural offence, [bestiality with a mare].
    The evidence which is altogether unfit for publication, was given by two females and by Mr Cowell, publican, of Ryde, the latter of whom stated, that the prisoner was half tipsy at the time.
    Prisoner simply denied the charge.
    His Honor did not consider there was sufficient proof of the completion of the offence; the jury would, therefore, only decide whether a misdemeanor [sic] had been committed.
    The jury found the prisoner guilty of an attempt to commit the offence.
    His Honor passed sentence of two years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Sat 9 Apr 1859  ²

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
————
(Abridged from the SM Herald.)
Tuesday and Wednesday, April 5 and 6.
(Before Mr Justice Milford.)

…
    John Taylor was indicted for the commission of an unnatural offence, at Ryde, on the 10th February. Guilty of an attempt to commit the offence. Two years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

¹  The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 7 Apr 1859, p. 2. Emphasis added.

²  The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Sat 9 Apr 1859, p. 2.