Empire, Tue 12 Mar 1861 1
WATER POLICE COURT.—
MONDAY.
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BEFORE Messrs S North and J Williams.
William Paul Vine v. Robert E McIntosh.—This was a case for the recovery of wages to the amount of ,1 10s 5d. It appears that vine engaged with McIntosh as a general servant for three months, by written agreement, dated 5th December, which agreement expired on the 5th of this month. McIntosh agreed to pay Vine 24(?), per week, out of which he had to find his own board; and when Vine asked him for his discharge and wages he refused to give either. The Court ordered him to pay the amount of wages due and costs of Court, in default of payment seven days' imprisonment.
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Empire, Fri 29 Nov 1861 2
WATER POLICE COURT.—
THURSDAY.
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BEFORE the Water Police Magistrate and JC Kettle, Esq.
...
William Paul Vine was brought before the Bench, having been apprehended by warrant, charging him with indecently assaulting a child named William Robinson, aged seven years, at Lane Cove, on or about the 15th instant. The particulars of the offence are of a most revolting nature and wholly unfit for publication. Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next Court of Quarter Sessions, to be holden on the 16th December next.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 29 Nov 1861 3
WATER POLICE COURT.
FRIDAY [sic]
BEFORE the Water Police Magistrate and Mr J Kettle.
...
William Paul Vine, a young man of twenty-one years of age, was charged with indecently assaulting one William Robinson, a boy of about seven years old. The offence was committed on the 15th instant, at Lane Cove, at the residence of Mr Whittingham, in whose employment the prisoner was. The young boy is Mr Whittingham's stepson. The details of the case show an amount of depraved bestiality such as is seldom the lot even of a police magistrate to listen to, and of course utterly unfit to so much as hint at, still least to account. The case was heard with closed doors, and the prisoner was fully committed to take his trial.
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Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle, Sat 30 Nov 1861 4
POLICE.
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THE ILLS OF ELICIT LOVE.—A practical illustration of the above was shown on Tuesday last, at the Central Police Court, the "subject" being a dashing though sincere believer in the tiny boy of bow and arrow notoriety—commonly called cupid—the "subject" referred to was of the fair and gentle sex, and claimed the name amidst a succession of blushes, which only made her look more lovely of Mary Murphy. Mary was neither above nor below the middle height; she stood exactly five feet three in her stockings, (that is if she had any), a matter exceedingly problematical, and which we had too much gallantry to attempt to solve. Mary's hair was of an oily red colour, let us not be misunderstood. Mary was a devout student by the midnight lamp, she affected most the study of geography, and thus a remarkable circumstance occurred, instead of being whitened by her midnight vigils her tresses became darker and darker as her knowledge of Greece increased. Mary's eyes were, (now reader we confess ourselves completely puzzled to describe the peculiar colour and "tone" of Mary's eyes: they were neither black nor blue, nor brown nor grey, nor hazel, they were extraordinary eyes of no decided colour, but of a most decided expression, and were possessed of a melting softness that sunk at once into the heart. Mary's lips—but no, we will not attempt a description, suffice it they were what our small boy terms "a picture." Mary was a woman of sense—stays were her aversion; she loved to give her limbs play—so she said, and therefore appeared in court without anything like a bodice, an admission which at once accounted for her expansive waste. If Mary hated stays, she admired crinoline, a statement amply verified by the extent of ground she occupied while standing in the dock. Mary, why should we refuse to tell the whole sad truth, was in trouble; poor thing, she like many more of her sex was a victim to her affections. We trust our friend will refrain from weeping while we give the details of her most distressing narrative. It was a beautiful night though warm, the moon and stars shone brightly. Mary thought she would take a walk, and after some difficulty, wrung a reluctant consent from her too complaint guardian, she went as far as the Queen's Wharf, where she encountered her heart's wishes—"sich a duck of a young man"—her temperament was so ardent that to see was to love. The fates were propitious, her advances were returned, and ere long she was invited by her newly found swain, rejoicing in the name of George Parsons—to take a glass of something short at Charlton's Hotel. The offer was accepted—and the twain forthwith regaled themselves with sundry nobblers. George was rather "happy" when he left the hostelry, but his happiness soon took flight. Mary accompanied the "young man fro the country" to Struth's Wharf, at this place she was accused by him of taking from his vest pocket, eleven £1 notes, and a gold piece of the value of ten shillings. Of course she was innocent of the act imputed to her, and indignantly and with tears denied the charge, but George, the brut, was not to be softened by her sorrows, and he at once acted the part of a "bobby," and escorted Mary, who refused to be comforted to the lock-up, where she was kept the remainder of the night, on being searched only 3s 6d was found upon her. Their Worships, Messrs Hogg, Day, Cook, Peden, Kettle, and Cohen, proved themselves to be flinty-beafted, for despite the anguish of poor Mary, despite her sobe and tears, they ruthlessly decided to send her for trial (greatly to George's satisfaction) at the next District Court of Quarter Sessions.
INDECENT ASSAULT.—On Friday last a young man of the name of William Paul Vine was brought before the water police magistrate on the disgusting charge of indecently assaulting a boy of seven years of age. The horrible offence, the commission of which was fully proven, took place at Lane Cove on the 15th instant, in the house of Mr Whittingham, the employer of the prisoner. The boy, William Robinson, is a step-son of Whittingham. The evidence given as to the perpetration of the crime is necessarily of a nature to render it wholly unfit for publication; the details are loathsome in the extreme, and the beastiality [sic] displayed by the prisoner shows a depravity of mind rarely found even in the worst class of offenders. The examination was conducted with close doors, and the prisoner was fully committed for trial.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 17 Dec 1861 5
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT GENERAL SESSIONS.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 16th.
Before Judge Dowling.
The Crown Prosecutor conducted the following cases:—
George Howe Skoiles was indicted for embezzling, on the 30th September last, the sum of £7. 10s, money belonging to Mr James Macgregor; a second count charged the defendant with embezzling £1. 14; a third count charged the defendant with embezzling 15s 2d, on the 21st October, the money being the property of the said James Macgregor. The jury having retired for nearly three hours, returned a verdict of not guilty. Counsel for the prisoner, Mr Windeyer; attorney, Mr Yeomans.
Catherine Lane was indicted for having wilfully committed perjury by falsely swearing, at the Police Office, that constable Carroll, while taking the prisoner to the watchhouse for drunkenness had stolen one shilling and threepence from her person. The perjury alleged took place on the 26th October last. Acquitted and discharged. Mr Moffat defended the prisoner.
William Curtayne was indicted for stealing one mare, on the 2nd October last, at Appin, the property of James McGrath. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to be imprisoned in Parramatta gaol, with hard labour, for two years.
William J Morris pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing two coats, two waistcoats, and other articles, on the 2nd December instant. Sentenced to be imprisoned in Parramatta gaol, with hard labour, for twelve months.
William Paul Vine was indicted for committing an indecent assault on a little boy, named William Robinson, residing at Lane Cove, on the 8th October last. Verdict, guilty. Sentenced to be imprisoned in Parramatta Gaol with hard labour, for eighteen months. Mr Moffat defended the prisoner.
The Court adjourned at twenty minutes before seven pm, until ten o'clock am, to-morrow (this day).
The following jurors were fined for non-attendance, in the sum of £2 each: Messrs William Ryan, Robert P Richardson, George Richardson, and Peter Rooney.
1 Empire, Tue 12 Mar 1861, p. 5.
2 Empire, Fri 29 Nov 1861, p. 8.
3 The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 29 Nov 1861, p. 2.
4 Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle, Sat 30 Nov 1861 p. 2. Emphasis added.
5 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 17 Dec 1861, p. 4. Emphasis added.