Empire, Wed 14 Nov 1866 1
CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.—TUESDAY.
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(Before his Honor Justice Cheeke.)
...
INDECENT ASSAULT
John Iscer was indicted for that he did, on the 7th day of November, 1866, at Cook’s River, unlawfully and indecently assault a female child, named Augustus Sleath, under the age of twelve years, to wit the age of six years. The prisoner, who was undefended, pleaded not guilty.
Harriet Barrett, who resides at Mr Sleath’s Cook’s River, deposed that she knew the prisoner, he lived at Mr Sleath’s. On last Wednesday her attention was called to the stable, where she saw the prisoner, and Augustus Sleath. She (witness) saw prisoner commit the offence on the little girl.
Prisoner made no defence.
His Honor summed up, and the jury, after an absence of about fifteen minutes, returned a verdict of guilty. The prisoner was sentenced to be kept to hard labour on the roads, or other public works of the colony. For the period of three years.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 14 Nov 1866 2
CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
TUESDAY.
BEFORE his Honor Mr Justice Cheeke.
INDECENT ASSAULT.
John Iscer was indicted, for having, on the 7th November last, indecently assaulted one Augusta Sleath, a child under the age of twelve years.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was undefended. Mr Isaacs prosecuted for the Crown.
The evidence against the prisoner was to the following effect. About half-past two o’clock on the 7th instant, a Mrs Barrett, residing at Sleath’s house, at Cook’s River, happening to look through some slabs, into a stable on the premises, saw the prisoner and the little girl Augusta Sleath together. Several other children were playing together at the other end of the stable which was about thirteen feet long. The prisoner pulled the little girl down, and Mrs Barrett saw him commit the assault complained of, which she described. She immediately opened the stable door, and accused the prisoner of the offence, which he denied. Frewin Sleath, the father of the child, swore that she was only six years old.
The prisoner made no defence, and his Honor having summed up, the jury, after a brief consultation, returned a verdict of guilty.
His Honor sentenced the prisoner to three years’ hard labour on the road or other public works of the colony.
1 Empire, Wed 14 Nov 1866, p. 4. Emphasis added.
2 The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 14 Nov 1866, p. 2. Emphasis added.