The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Thu 17 Dec 1863 1
INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS.
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POLICE BUSINESS.—Seven cases were disposed of by the bench at East Maitland on Tuesday—At the Morpeth police court, yesterday, ten cases were disposed of by Messrs ED Day, CW Croaker, and JBR Robertson. At the same court, on Friday, two cases were disposed of; on Saturday, two more cases were heard, and on Tuesday one case was heard—all by Mr JBR Robertson.
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UNNATURAL OFFENCE.—Yesterday Alexander Gordon, aged seventeen years, was brought before Mr Henry Vindin, JP, at the Police Court, West Maitland, having been arrested on a warrant charging him with commission of an unnatural offence, last Monday. He was remanded until Friday, at East Maitland.
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The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Sat 19 Dec 1863 2
INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS.
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POLICE BUSINESS.—Five cases were disposed of yesterday, by Mr ED Day, at East Maitland police court.
ILLEGAL DETENTION OF PROPERTY.—Richard Haslem v Hugh Gawley.—This case was called on at the East Maitland police court, yesterday, but there was no appearance of parties.
CARELESS DRIVING.—At the West Maitland Police Court, on Thursday, Alfred Kelly, of Wallabadah, was fined 10s and 2s 6d costs for, by negligent driving, obstructing the passage on the Morpeth Road, of Mr ED Day.
UNNATURAL OFFENCE.—At the police court, East Maitland, yesterday, Alexander Gordon was brought up on remand, charged with having committed an unnatural offence. In consequence of the absence of sergeant Conway Mr Day remanded the prisoner until Tuesday.
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The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Thu 24 Dec 1863 3
INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS.
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UNNATURAL OFFENCE.—At the East Maitland police court, on Tuesday, Alexander Gordon, in custody, was brought up on remand, charge with the commission of an unnatural offence of the 14th December last. Mr Mullen appeared for the prisoner. The case was heard with closed doors. From the depositions, we gathered that the offence was alleged to have been committed at McDonald’s Point, by the accused, at half-past three on the day above named—George Hill and Charles Woodthorpe giving evidence (which was unfit for publication) to that effect. The witnesses for the defence contradicted those for the prosecution very materially. The employer of the accused, Mr Smith, swore that he was in his shop at a quarter-past three, when he sent him on an errand to Dr Douglas’s; the prisoner returned from this errand in twenty minutes, and did not appear to be out of breath or to have been running. A fellow shop-man, John Kerr, gave similar testimony. John Gordon, father of the accused, said that Woodthorpe had come to him at three o’clock on the same day and informed him of the occurrence, stating that it took place between one and two o’clock, and offering to say nothing of the affair if witness would give him £20. This, however, Woodthorpe denied, stating that he had never asked any money whatever from Dr Gordon. After consultation the bench decided, as the witnesses contradicted each other on material points, they would not assume the responsibility of deciding who spoke the truth, but would send the case to the grand jury of the colony. The prisoner was then committed to take his trial at the next Circuit Court to be holden in Maitland. Bail was allowed in his own recognizances of £50.
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The Newcastle Chronicle and Hunter River District Sat 26 Dec 1863 4
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
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Alexander Gordon, of West Maitland, was committed for trial, on Monday last, for committing an unnatural offence.
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The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Thu 3 Mar 1864 5
INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS.
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THE LATE CHARGE OF UNNATURAL OFFENCE.—We are informed that the Attorney General does not intend placing on trial Alexander Gordon, who was recently committed for trial, charged with an unnatural offence.
1 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Thu 17 Dec 1863, p. 2. Emphasis added.
2 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Sat 19 Dec 1863, p. 2. Emphasis added.
3 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Thu 24 Dec 1863, p. 2. Emphasis added.
4 The Newcastle Chronicle and Hunter River District News, Sat 26 Dec 1863, p. 3.
5 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Thu 3 Mar 1864, pp. 2, 3.