Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser, Tue 10 Jul 1866 1
GRAFTON POLICE COURT.
SAURDAY.
BEFORE Police Magistrate.
REFUSING TO PAY PASSAGE MONEY
John Collins was brought before the Court, charged with having taken a passage from the Clarence Heads to Grafton, on Board the Agnes Irving, for which he refused to pay his fare. The prisoner, who pleaded guilty, was fined 20s in addition to the fare or in default, seven days’ imprisonment in Grafton gaol. The prisoner went to gaol.
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Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser, Tue 21 Aug 1866 2
GRAFTON POLICE COURT.
TUESDAY.
BEFORE Captain Hill, PM, and MT Bawden, JP.
UTTERING FORGED CHEQUES.
William Henry Watson, alias Geary, and Christopher Morton, apprehended on Monday (as mentioned in our last issue) was brought before the Court, in custody, charged with obtaining goods by means of forged cheques. Constable Carney stated that he apprehended the prisoners on Monday on the charge of obtaining goods and money under false pretences; the prisoners, when told the nature of the charge upon which they were arrested, made no reply; he first apprehended Watson for drunkenness, but when he became sober, he (witness) informed him that he preferred another charge of obtaining money under false pretences; Watson made no reply to the charge, but asked the constable to let his children, who were camped a short distance out of South Grafton, know; the prisoners came into South Grafton on Thursday last; they were strangers in South Grafton, but not to him; he accosted Morton who he saw standing under Mr McLennan’s verandah, and in conversation with him, the prisoner Morton stated that he had come down from New England, where he had earned over £100 and that he had come down here especially to marry the old man’s (meaning Watson’s) daughter; he produced some of the cheques passed by the prisoners, also some butts and blank cheques found on the prisoner, which corresponded with those passed by the prisoners.—At this stage Mr Sub Inspector Keegan applied for a remand, as he expected in the course of a few days to have other charges against prisoners, but owing to the line being done he did not wish to go further into the case at present. The prisoners were then remanded to Grafton gaol until Friday.
…
SATURDAY.
Before Captain Hill, PM, and Mr T Bawden, JP.
UTTERING FORGED CHEQUES.
William Tyler, formerly of Smith’s Flat, arrested on Friday, on the charge of being associated with William Watson alias Geary, and Christopher Norton [sic], in issuing and passing forged cheques, was brought before the Court, and after a lengthy examination was remanded until Friday next. Bail being refused.
MONDAY.
Before the Police Magistrate, Mr T Fisher, Mr T Bawden, and Mr W Small, JP’s.
PROTECTION.
William McIntyre was brought before the Court for protection. The defendant came from Queensland and was on his way to the hospital, when he was seized with a fit in the street, and fell down. The party was discharged, the Mayor giving an order for his admission to the Grafton Hospital.
INDECENT ASSAULT.
John Collins was brought before the Court, charged with having committed an indecent assault upon a child named Bridget Stevenson, whose parents reside in Alice-street; and after hearing the evidence of the apprehending constable, the mother, the child, and Drs Kelly and Belinfante, the prisoner remanded until 10 am, to-morrow, (this) morning.
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Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser, Tue 28 Aug 1866 3
GRAFTON POLICE COURT.
TUESDAY.
BEFORE Captain Hill, PM, and Mr T Fisher, JP.
INDECENT ASSAULT.
John Collins, charged with an indecent assault upon a child of tender years was brought before the Court, pursuant to remand, and after reviewing the evidence taken the previous day, which was of a disgusting nature, the Bench sentenced the prisoner to one month’s imprisonment in Grafton gaol with hard labour.
BURGLARY.
John William Lewis was brought before the Court pursuant to remand, having been given into the custody of constable Langworthy by Mr C Law, on Sunday evening, on the charge of breaking into his dwelling house, and stealing therefrom, a pair of boots, two vests, one crimean shirt, a silver watch, and purse, the whole of which articles, the constable took from the prisoner. The apprehending constable, in answer to the Bench, stated that the prisoner was in Mr Law’s employ, and that the robbery took place on Sunday afternoon, whilst Mr Law was attending divine service. Charles Law, a farmer, residing at Ulmarra, deposed: the prisoner had been in his employ as a hired farm labourer, about a month; last Sunday afternoon, he left home with his family and a man working for him to attend chapel, the prisoner being left at home; before leaving home, he locked up his dwelling house; the prisoner was left behind to mind the cattle, and see that they did not go on the wheat; he returned about half-past four; when he entered the house he missed his boots, pair of new trousers, and old waistcoat, and the chest he kept his clothes in was turned upside down; he identified the articles produced as his property; finding the prisoner absent when he returned, and from information received, he went into pursuit of the prisoner and found him at Buchanan’s farm; when he found the prisoner, he had a bundle in his possession, and also a watch, which Law believed to be the one stolen from his house, as it corresponded with the number of the watch, which he had obtained from the watchmaker, who has the same to clean; the watch belonged to his brother William Law, of Lawrence; the prisoner gave up the watch to witness, also a purse; the prisoner was then taken back to the house, when the bundle was examined and some of the articles named found; the boots and trousers the prisoner had on when taken. The prisoner declined to ask any questions. Cross-examined by the Bench: the prisoner was his hired servant, and had right of access to his house; he is in the habit of talking very foolishly, and he can be made to believe anything; he could not say that he was perfectly sane; he believed the prisoner to be regular schemer. Remanded to Friday next.
FRIDAY.
Before Captain Hill, PM, and Mr W Small, JP.
John William Lewis was brought before the court, in custody, pursuant to remand, on the charge of burglary.—Simon Belinfante, 4 MD, deposed: He was a duly qualified medical practitioner, residing at Grafton; he had examined the prisoner before the Court, and he believed him to be a person of sound mind and quite capable of distinguishing between right and wrong.—Charles Law re-called, stated that he valued the things stolen by the prisoner from his dwelling, at more than £3.—James Williamson, a farm labourer, in the employ of Mr Law, corroborated the statement by Mr Law, on Tuesday, as to searching for and finding the prisoner at Mr Buchanan’s farm, with the articles produced in his possession, which he identified as the property of Mr Law. The prisoner who offered no defence was then committed for trial at the next Court of Quarter Sessions to be holden at Grafton of Tuesday next, the 28th instant.
WEDNESDAY.
Before Captain Hill, PM.
UUTTERING A FORGED CHEQUE.
William Tyler, remanded from Saturday last was brought up in custody; when the evidence of Mr Thomas Fisher, to whom the prisoner passed the cheque in payment of certain goods purchased by himself and the prisoner Watson, jointly, at the store. After hearing Mr Fisher’s evidence, Tyler was further remanded until Friday, on another charge.
FRIDAY.
Before Captain Hill, PM, and Mr W Small, JP.
STEALING.
John Harrison was brought before the Court, having been arrested by senior-constable Bassmann, who deposed: that on Thursday afternoon, he accompanied Mr Thomas Hewitt to his slaughterhouse, to search the premises, for some candles supposed to be made on the premises, from tallow the property of Mr Hewitt, and contrary to his knowledge; the prisoner produced a box from his premises containing about twenty-five lbs of candles; Mr Hewitt not feeling satisfied at the prisoner having so large a number of candles by him, gave him in charge, for making the said candles, from tallow his property, and without his knowledge; the prisoner said he only made them for his own use; he produced the box of candles, and the mould for making the same, given to him by the prisoner. Thomas Hewitt deposed: he was a butcher residing at Grafton; the prisoner before the Court was in his employ; he was employed at his boiling-down at Baker’s Swamp; he had some months back suspected that his tallow was being stolen; the prisoner had no authority to use the tallow on the establishment for any purpose; from information received, he proceeded to the slaughtering house, in company with senior-constable Bassmann, when the prisoner produced the candles and mould, and did not deny that he had made them from his tallow, but said that “he did not know that he was doing wrong;” if he had made candles for the use of the establishment, he should consider the quantity too large; Harrison was not in charge of the premises, nor did he authorise the party who was to give the prisoner permission to use his tallow. Cross-examined by the Bench: The mould was not his property; he supplied the men, with what they required, including lights. The prisoner said he was often up late looking after the coppers, and that he made the candles, because they were more convenient than fat lamps. The Bench told Harrison that he was soon beginning his old practices; and that the sentence of the Court was that he be imprisoned in Grafton gaol for two months’ with hard labour.
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Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser, Tue 25 Sep 1866 5
GRAFTON POLICE COURT.
WEDNESDAY.
BEFORE Captain Hill, PM, and Mr T Bawden, JP.
…
FRIDAY.
Before Captain Hill, PM.
John Collins was brought before the Court, in the custody of Constable Carnes, charged with drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and obscene language. The prisoner was given in charge by Mr W Cowan, having gone into his public-house, and called for drink, which he refused to pay for; on his way to the lock-up, the prisoner had to be handcuffed, when he made use of obscene language. The Bench fined the prisoner 40s, or in default, seven days’ imprisonment in Grafton gaol.
1 Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser, Tue 10 Jul 1866, p. 2.
2 Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser, Tue 21 Aug 1866, p. 2. Emphasis added.
3 Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser, Tue 28 Aug 1866, p. 2. Emphasis added.
4 For details about Dr Belinfante’s drowning see: The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 17 Jul 1874, p. 4; The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Sat 18 Jul 1874, p. 2; The Argus, Tue 21 Jul 1874, p. 7.
5 Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser, Tue 25 Sep 1866, p. 2.