Alphonso Sanchez, et al, 1903

Below also see: Alfonso Sanchez, 1908 – Indecent assault
Alfonso Sanchey, 1926 – Lewdness

 

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 29 May 1903 ¹

ALLEGED COINING PLANT.
———◦———
THREE PERSONS COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

    At the Redfern Police Court yesterday, before Mr Payten, SM, a Spaniard named Alfonzo [aka Alphonso] Sanchez, aged 38, by occupation a bootmaker; a Syrian named Peter George Farris, aged 32, by occupation a hawker; and his son, George Farris, aged 15, by occupation a shop assistant, were charged with having in their possession without lawful authority moulds upon which was impressed the apparent resemblance of both sides of the King’s silver coins known as a half-crown, a florin, and a shilling, at Redfern, on May 23. Mr RWW McCoy appeared for Peter Farris and his son George Farris.

    Plain-clothes Constable Moore stated that about 11.45 pm on May 22, along with Constables Whitehair and Johnson, he went to a house in Elizabeth-street, Redfern. It was a four-roomed cottage with a small confectionary shop in front. Witness sent Constable Johnson to the rear of the house, and then knocked at the front door. The accused Peter Farris opened it, and admitted witness and Constable Whitehair. A daughter of Farris was present, and witness told her to tell her father that they were police officers, and had called in consequence of certain information they had received. The lad George Farris then came into the shop from an inner room, and he, in reply to a question said that his father could not speak English, but spoke the French language, although they were not French people. Witness then addressed his conversation to them in French. He inquired from Peter Farris if any French people were staying in the house, and he said “No; not just now;” but he added, “they were here—two men and a woman—but they had gone to Melbourne.” He also said they had not left anything behind them, or taken any parcels with them. The accused Sanchez then came into the shop with the other two constables. In reply to a question as to where he came from witness was told by George Farris that Sanchez was a Spaniard, who had come from Melbourne that morning, and had taken a room from Mrs Farris at 2s per week. Beyond that Farris said they did not know Sanchez. Constable Johnson then entered the shop, bringing from the back part of the house a bag containing a kerosene lamp and stove, a tin dish, and three or four flower pots stained with plaster of paris. Witness asked the three accused if they knew anything about these things. George Farris said he and his family did not know anything about them. Subsequently Sanchez said they were his. Constable Whitehair then brought in some moulds made from plaster of paris. Witness then noticed that Sanchez was trying to hide something in a handkerchief. He took it from him and found that it was a letter written in French, but which witness afterwards translated into English. The letter was written by George Farris to Sanchez when the latter was in Melbourne urging him to come over to Sydney, and it showed also that the parties were on most friendly terms with each other. Witness then arrested the three accused and took them to the police station. After charging them in the French language witness and the other constables went back to the house and found in a tin trunk a number of French official papers in the name of Alfonzo Sanchez, issued at New Caledonia, also two bottles of chemicals, one containing nitric acid and the other cyanide of potassium. Upon returning to the police station witness saw George Farris, and asked him how it was, in the face of the letter taken from Sanchez, that he had said Sanchez was a stranger to the family. Farris replied that he made a mistake, and that they know Sanchez eight years ago in New Caledonia. At that time he visited the Farris family. Sanchez admitted that the chemicals and the other things found in his room were his.

    Constable Johnson said whilst he was standing at the back gate of the premises and the other constables were inside he saw George Farris come outside into the yard and say something in a foreign language to Sanchez, who was then in a room at the rear of the main part of the house. Witness could not understand what he said, but he heard something about police, and Sanchez at once came out of his room and ran over to an outhouse. He ran back to the room and got a dish and poured something down a sink and knocked the dish to clean in. Constable Whitehair then came into the yard from the interior. Witness jumped over the fence into the yard and told Whitehair what he had seen. They examined the outhouse and found in a pan four plaster of paris moulds, which upon being opened were found to contain impressions of coins of the realm. Sanchez’s room was next examined, and there Constable Whitehair found plaster of paris wet on the floor and on a small table, also sand in the corner of the room and flowerpots stained with plaster of paris.

    Henry B[ertie] Gritton, assistant assayer at the Royal Mint, Sydney, gave expert evidence to the effect that the moulds bore impressions of coining having been attempted, and that the material found in Sanchez’s room was used in the manufacture of coins, medals, &c.

    The magistrate considered that a prima facie case had been made out against the three accused, and committed them to take their trial at the next Court of Quarter Sessions at Darlinghurst. Bail was allowed.

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Singleton Argus, Sat 30 May 1903 ²

ALLEGED COINING PLANT.
———◦———
ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.
————

AT the Redfern Police Court on Thursday afternoon, three foreigners named Alfonzo Sanchez (33), bootmaker; Peter Farris (32), hawker; and George Farris (15), shop assistant, were charged with having in their possession moulds upon which were impressed the apparent resemblance of both sides of the King’s silver coins known as a half-crown, a shilling, and a florin.

    Senior-Constable Moore deposed that, in company with Constables Whitehair and Johnson, he went to a four roomed cottage, 181 Elizabeth-street, Redfern, the front room of which was used as a confectioner’s shop. Constable Johnson came into the shop, shortly after Peter Farris, George Farris, and a Spaniard named Sanchey [sic] were seen, and Constable Johnston [sic] brought with him a tin dish, also a kerosene stove, and three slower pots containing plaster of Paris. The accused then stated they knew nothing about these articles. Further search revealed bottles believed to contain nitric acid, and cyanide of potassium.

    Henry B Gritton, assistant assayer at the Sydney Mint, said that the mauld [sic] produced were similar to moulds used for counterfeiting coins. Nitric acid was a solvent for silver, and cyanide might be used for electroplating. The moulds, he considered, were made from plaster of Paris. They were not complete. The impressions resembled a half-crown, a two-shilling piece, and a shilling, but he would not like to swear that they were impressions of coins of the Realm.

    The accused, who reserved their defence, were committed for trial.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 24 Jun 1903 ³

LAW NOTICES.
SUPREME COURT.—Wednesday June 24.

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.—

    August Goerling, breach of the Bankruptcy Act; John Bennett, making a false entry; Edgar Byrne; house breaking; Alphonso Sanchez, Peter Farris, and George Farris, having moulds in their possession.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 25 Jun 1903 ⁴

LAW NOTICES.
SUPREME COURT.—Thursday June 25.

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.

    John Brierley, larceny; Eric Frank Emerson, assault; Frederick Zanuelli, stealing; Alphonso Sanchez, Peter Farris, and George Farris, having moulds in their possession. Appeals against magistrates’ decisions will be heard on Friday.

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The Daily Telegraph, Fri 26 Jun 1903 ⁵

METROPOLITAN QUARTER
SESSIONS.
————
(Before Judge Murray and Juries.)

    Mr JHP Murray prosecuted for the Crown.
…

ALLEGED COINING MOULDS.

    Alphonso Sanchez, Peter Farris, and George Farris pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawfully having in their possession four moulds on which were impressed figures resembling the obverse and reverse of a half-crown, a florin, and a shilling, respectively. Mr J Garland, instructed by Mr WW McCoy, appeared for the Farrises [sic] (father and son), and Mr ER Abigail for Sanchez.

    The case for the Crown was that the moulds were discovered in a house situated in Elizabeth-street, Redfern, where confectionary was manufactured. Bottles were also found in the same house containing chemicals, as well as plaster of paris. When the police entered the place Sanchez rushed outside, and the moulds were in an outhouse he was seen to enter.

    The accused Sanchez, deposed that, finding he was unable to obtain work, he turn his attention to industrial chemistry, and also to making lollies. The moulds he intended using for the latter purpose.

    His Honor directed that there was not sufficient evidence to convict the Farrises, and the jury acquitted them. Sanchez they found guilty.

    The recorder said that, from some papers found on the prisoner at the time of the arrest, it appeared that he was sentenced to 10 years in 1896, in France, for stabbing a man, and was sent to New Caledonia. He was released from prison after serving seven years, but was to serve the balance in New Caledonia as a ticket-of-leave man. How he got to Australia was a matter upon which the police were not quite clear, and inquiries were being made.

    In reply to his Honor, the accused said that he had no desire to be extradited to New Caledonia. A sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment was inflicted.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 26 Jun 1903 ⁶

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Murray and juries.)

    Mr JHP Murray, Crown Prosecutor.
…

ALLEGED POSSESSION OF COINING
MOULDS.

    Alphonso Sanchez, a Spaniard, Peter Farris, and George Farris, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having, on May 22 last, at Redfern, without lawful authority or excuse, had in their possession four moulds on which were impressed figures resembling the obverse and reverse of a half-crown, a florin, and a shilling respectively. Mr J Garland, instructed by Mr WW McCoy, appeared for Peter and George Farris, and Mr ER Abigail for Sanchez. The accused named Farris were father and son, both Syrians. The jury acquitted Peter and George Farris after his Honor had pointed out the paucity of evidence of criminality against them. The two Syrians were then discharged. In this case the moulds were found in a house rented by Sanchez, and used apparently by him for the manufacture of confectionery. Bottles of chemicals were also found in the house. Sanchez endeavoured to escape when the police entered the house. Accused’s story was that he had turned to confectionery mould-making because he could not get work as a bootmaker. The jury found Sanchez guilty. Papers found on the prisoner showed that he had been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for stabbing a man in France. He was sent to Noumea and discharged after serving seven years, and was unlawfully at large in this State. Nothing was known of him here. A sentence of imprisonment with hard labour for 18 months was imposed.

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Alphonso Sanchez, Gaol photo sheet ⁷

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 9039
E Book 03-2465

Date when Portrait was taken: 26-6-1903

Name: Alphonso Sanchez

Native place: Spain Year of birth: 1865 Arrived       Ship: unknown in Colony }   Year: – Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Bootmaker Religion: RC Education, degree of: R & W (2) Height: 5' 3⅝" Weight     On committal: 157 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Black Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Mole left upper arm; 2 faint (?) wrist right upper arm; moles right upper arm; black moles under left eye; 2 moles one above & one upon nose. Scar below left shoulder blade back.

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S	25	6	1903	Have in his possession without lawful excuse moulds for coining	18 months H.L.
Prisoner served 7 years in New Caledonia, discharged on the 6th March 1903.

 

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Alfonso Sanchez, 1908

The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 5 May 1908 ⁸

LAW NOTICES.
———◦———
Tuesday, May 5.
———

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.

    Michael Corby, uttering counterfeit coin; Henry Drewell Moore, malicious wounding; John James Evans, breaking and entering and stealing; Alfonso Sanchez, assault.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 2 Jun 1908 ⁹

LAW NOTICES.
———
Tuesday, June 2.
———

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.

…
    The following cases are for trial at the Court of Quarter Sessions, before Judge Rogers:—
…
    Alfonso Sanchez, assault;

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Daily Telegraph, Fri 5 Jun 1908 ¹⁰

QUARTER SESSIONS.
————
(Before Acting-Judge Hamilton.)

…

NOT GUILTY.

    Alfonso Sanchez, a Spaniard, pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecently assaulting a girl 12 years of age, at Redfern, on March 10 last. Mr PK White (instructed by Mr JW Abigail) appeared for the defence.

    The jury, without leaving the box, found a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was discharged.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 5 Jun 1908 ¹¹

METROPOLITAN QUARTER
SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Rogers and a jury.)

    Mr Herbert Harris, Crown Prosecutor.

ACQUITTAL.

    Alfonso Sanchez, who was defended by Mr PK White, instructed by Mr JW Abigail, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault upon a girl, aged 12 years, at Redfern, on March 10 last
    the jury, without leaving the box, returned a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was discharged.

 

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Alfonso Sanchey, 1926

 

The Daily Telegraph, Fri 3 Dec 1926 ¹²

LAW NOTICES
———◦———
TO-DAY’S LIST.
———

…

SYDNEY QUARTER SESSIONS.

    Garnet Alfred Skelton, Ernest Arthur McGregor, and William John Robert Blackler, break, enter, and steal; Alfonso Sanchez [aka Alfonso Sanchey], lewdness; Frank Johnson, assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Evening News, Fri 3 Dec 1926 ¹³

THE APACHE WAY
————
STORY OF CUT EAR
————

ALPHONSO SANCHEZ, 71, charged at Darlinghurst Sessions to-day with having behaved in an offensive manner, said, under cross-examination, that he came to Sydney 28 years ago from New Caledonia.

    He added that he had served five years there for having cut a man’s ear off in an Apache battle in France.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 3 Dec 1926 ¹⁴

LAW NOTICES.
———
Friday, December 3.
———

…

SYDNEY QUARTER SESSIONS.

    Garnet Alfred Skelton, Ernest Arthur McGregor, and William Robert Blackler, break, enter, and steal; Alfonzo [aka Alfonso] Sanchez, lewdness; Frank Johnson, assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 4 Dec 1926 ¹⁵

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Scholes.)

    Crown Prosecutor: Mr LJ McKean.
…

OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR.

    Alfonso Sanchez, an elderly man, was charged with offensive behaviour at Sydney on November 3. Mr Sherwood (instructed by Messrs CL Sheehy and Co), appeared for the accused, who was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour in Maitland gaol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Alfonso Sanchey, Gaol photo sheet ¹⁶

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 21978

Date when Portrait was taken: 4-12-1926

Name: Alfonso Sanchey

Native place: Spain Year of birth: 1865 Arrived       Ship: Not known in Colony }   Year: – Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Bootmaker Religion: R. C. Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 3" Weight     On committal: 116 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Black Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Mole on left upper arm. Moles on right upper arm. Mole under left eye. Moles above & below navel. Scar below left shoulder blade.

(No. of previous Portrait .. 9039) CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S ditto	25   3	6 12	1903 1926	Have in his possession without  lawful excuse moulds for coining Lewdness	18 months HL. 6 months HL.
Admits serving 7 years in New Caledonia, Discharged 6-3-1903.

 

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¹     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 29 May 1903, p. 8. Emphasis added.

²     Singleton Argus, Sat 30 May 1903, p. 4. Emphasis added.

³     The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 24 1903, p. 4. Emphasis added.

⁴     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 25 1903, p. 3. Emphasis added.

⁵     The Daily Telegraph, Fri 26 Jun 1903, p. 8.

⁶     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 26 1903, p. 8. Emphasis added.

⁷     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6068], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1902-1903, No. 9039, p. 275, R5110.

⁸     The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 5 May 1908, p. 5. Emphasis added.

⁹     The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 2 Jun 1908, p. 4.

¹⁰   The Daily Telegraph, Fri 5 Jun 1908, p. 10.

¹¹   The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 5 Jun 1908, p. 5.

¹²   The Daily Telegraph, Fri 3 Dec 1926, p. 2. Emphasis added.

¹³   Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Fri 3 Dec 1926, p. 12.

¹⁴   The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 3 Dec 1926, p. 10. Emphasis added.

¹⁵   The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 4 Dec 1926, p. 14.

¹⁶   SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6118] State Penitentiary photographic description book, 19 Nov 1926-5 May 1927, No. 21978, p. 24.

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