John Lingway, 1856
Below also see: John Lingway, 1858
Ah Pin, 1864 – Indecent assault
Empire, Wed 14 May 1856 1
CENTRAL POLICE COURT.—Tuesday.
(Before the Police Magistrate, and
Messrs EH Hargraves and RS Ross.)
…
John Lingway, a Chinaman, apprehended by constable Baskett, detective officer, on suspicion of stealing a brooch, a breast-pin, razor, &c, value 23s., the property of Thomas McNab, toy-dealer, of King-street, was charged with that offence. It appeared that the prisoner went into tho shop, on Saturday last, between twelve and one o’clock, and asked to look at some brooches and other articles, with a view to purchasing. Having been shown a variety of goods, he made a selection of several articles, and requested to have them made up into a parcel, saying be would call and pay for them in a few minutes. He had a bundle with him and asked where he should find a laundress. He was directed to a place, and went away—but did not return. Soon after he was gone the articles mentioned in the information were missed.
Mary Ann Bayley, McNab’s sister-in-law, who attended in the shop, identified the prisoner.
Jane Marlin also identified the prisoner, and said she saw him put the cigar-case in his breast-coat pocket; that he afterwards took a cigar out of a box; but as he moved to take it, the cigar-case fell out of his pocket upon the ground; he picked it up; but she did not see what became of it afterwards.
The prisoner, [John Lingway], in a bullying tone told the girls Bayley and Martin that they were mistaken, for he was in Parramatta at the time in question.
George Clarke, restaurant keeper, of King-street, said he had known the defendant, as a very bad character for about three years; about the time mentioned he (witness) saw the prisoner walking, with a bundle under his arm, up and down on the opposite side of the street; in the evening he heard of the robbery.
An interpreter was called in aid, who, before the case was completed, told the bench that the prisoner was a disgraceful rascal, and deserved to be severely punished; and said, he hoped their Worships would send him to Cockatoo Island, and have him kept there.
The case was summarily disposed of, and the prisoner sentenced to be imprisoned for three months with hard labour.
John Lingway, 1858
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 27 Apr 1858 2
SYDNEY QUARTER SESSIONS.
Monday, April, 26.
BEFORE the Chairman.
The Crown Prosecutor conducted the following cases.
…
John Lingway (a Chinaman) was indicted for stealing from the premises of Mr Lawrence Bergin, on the 15th January last, one ball of opium, containing about four lbs. weight, and valued over £5, the property of the said Lawrence Bergin.
Verdict, guilty.
Sentenced to be imprisoned in Parramatta gaol, with hard labour, for twelve months.
Ah Pin, 1864
Empire, Mon 19 Sep 1864 3
CENTRAL POLICE COURT.—Saturday.
BEFORE the Police Magistrate with Messrs Chapman and Caldwell.
…
James Pin alias Ah Pin, a Chinaman, was brought up for an assault upon John Lingway, another Chinese, with intent to commit an abominable offence.
Image: NSW State Library collection. Reproduction: Peter de Waal
Senior constable Johnson apprehended the prisoner at a Chinese, boarding-house, in Goulburn-street, yesterday morning, under warrant produced.
Police Magistrate, to prosecutor: Are you a Christian?
Witness: Yes, me Roman Catholic.
Prisoner: No, no; it am lie, him no Christian; him no understand that book.
Witness: Him lie; me understands heaven, hell, book, and all about them.
Prisoner: Him great thief—been in gaol.
Witness: No de matter if I be in de gaol a thousan’ times, it am no matter with this abominable offence of forgery! and I’m hope you get seven years for doing it.
Witness: Then proceeded to describe the commission of the offence on the night of the 9th September. The minuteness of detail, the want of compunction, and the frightfully brazen front with which the witness related the particulars, evinced a horrible and disgusting state of Chinese character.
The prisoner stoutly denied the charge, and throughout the examination showed more decorum and a greater sense of modesty than the prosecutor.
No actual offence appeared to have been committed, and there were other circumstances which induced the magistrates to dismiss the case.
1 Empire, (Sydney, NSW), Wed 14 May 1856, pp. 4, 5. Emphasis added.
2 The Sydney Morning Herald, (NSW), Tue 27 Apr 1858, p. 2.
3 Empire, (Sydney, NSW), Mon 19 Sep 1864, p. 4. Emphasis added and transcribed as found in the original text.