Empire, Tue 6 Feb 1855 1
LAW INTELLIGENCE.
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CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
Monday, February 5, 1855.
(Before His Honor Mr Justice Dickinson.)
…
UNNATURAL OFFENCE.
James Blackland was arraigned on an information, which charged him with having, on the 8th January, at Liverpool, committed an unnatural offence.
The prisoner, who was apparently about 14 years of age, and whose conduct while in the dock was marked by unusual self-possession, considering the nature of the crime and its penalty, was undefended.
The evidence taken was conclusively against him. Of course it is unfit for publication.
The jury, after a short absence from Court, returned a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy on account of youth.
HIS HONOR, without making any observations ordered that the sentence of death be recorded. The prisoner was then removed.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 6 Feb 1855 2
CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
Monday.
BEFORE His Honor Mr Justice [John Nodes] Dickinson.
…
OFFENCE AGAINST NATURE.
James Blackland, a youth of fourteen, was indicted for having, at Liverpool, on the 8th of January last, committed an offence against nature with a dog.
The offence was clearly established, but its details were too disgusting to bear even the most distant allusion. It was, in fact, one of the most revolting cases we ever heard of.
The Jury found the prisoner guilty, but recommended him to mercy on account of his youth.
HIS HONOR directed sentence of death to be recorded against the prisoner.
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The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Wed 7 Feb 1855 3
SYDNEY NEWS.
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(From our correspondent.)
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(From another correspondent.)
Sydney, Monday Evening.
The sessions of the Supreme Court in its criminal jurisdiction commenced this morning, before his Honor Mr Justice Dickinson.
…
James Blackland, a boy of fourteen years of age, was indicted for having committed an offence against nature. The charge was fully proved, but the details are too horrible even to glance at on paper.
His Honor, in an address of the most painful interest, directed that sentence of death should be recorded against the prisoner. The jury offered a recommendation to mercy on the ground of the prisoner’s youth.
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Freeman’s Journal, Sat 10 Feb 1855 4
CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
Monday.
(Before His Honor Mr Justice Dickinson.)
…
James Blackland, a youth of 14, was indicted for having at Liverpool, on the 8th January last, committed an unnatural offence. The offence was clearly established, and the jury found the prisoner guilty, but recommended [sic] him to mercy on account of his youth.
His Honor recommended sentence of death to be recorded against him.
1 Empire, (Syd, NSW), Tue 6 Feb 1855, p. 4.
2 The Sydney Morning Herald, (NSW), Tue 6 Feb 1855, p. 4.
3 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, (NSW), Wed 7 Feb 1855, p. 2.
4 Freeman’s Journal, (Syd, NSW), Sat 10 Feb 1855, p. 10.