The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Sat 20 Apr 1872 1
MAITLAND CIRCUIT COURT.
The April sittings of this court opened on Thursday morning, at East Maitland, before his Honor Mr Justice Hargrave. Mr WJ Foster prosecuted for the Crown, and the other barristers present were Mr Wisdom, and Mr PJ Healy. The Crown Solicitor, Mr John Williams, was in attendance.
Mr James Smith, Police Magistrate of the Hunter, acted as deputy for the Sheriff.
The Clerk of Arraigns read the usual proclamation against vice and immorality, and the jury were then called.
The Crown Prosecutor addressed the Court and stated that as he believed the majority of the persons in attendance at the Court, were desirous that it should be adjourned till Friday morning, and as he believed the cases could be readily disposed of before the beginning of the Civil business, he would suggest that his Honor should adjourn the Court accordingly. The Crown was ready to proceed with some cases, but would consent to an adjournment.
His Honor said that as the Crown Prosecutor informed him that the administration of justice would not be interfered with, and that the eighteen or nineteen cases for trial might readily be disposed of before Wednesday, when the Civil business commenced, he had great pleasure in acceding to Mr Foster’s suggestion, and the Court would stand adjourned till Friday morning at ten o’clock. At the same time he desired to remark that he was glad to see that all the jurymen, except two, had answered to their names, and must say that this was very creditable to them.
The Court was then adjourned accordingly.
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FRIDAY, APRIL 19.
The Court opened at ten o’clock.
The barristers present were Mr WJ Foster, who prosecuted for the Crown, Messrs Wisdom, Healy, and O’Keeffe.
…
BESTIALITY.
Edward Cord [aka Corr], alias Bruce, was indicted for having at Scone on the 18th February, committed an act of bestiality with a mare. Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was undefended, but it is understood that counsel will be assigned to him.
The case was not proceeded with yesterday.
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The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Tue 23 Apr 1872 2
MAITLAND CIRCUIT COURT.
SATURDAY, APRIL 20.
The Court re-opened at ten o’clock.
BESTIALITY.
Edward Cord, alias Brooks, [aka Bruce] who had pleaded not guilty on the previous day to a charge of bestiality, was placed upon his trial. Mr O’Keeffe, instructed by Mr RW Thompson, undertook the defence at the request of his Honor.
The Crown Prosecutor briefly opened the case, as one in which the jury might find, if they were not satisfied that prisoner had committed the capital offence, that he had been guilty of the attempt to commit it. The witnesses for the Crown were senior-Sergeant Oliver Hinde, and constable Joseph McCully.
The details are unfit for publication. The prisoner had been seen in the bush by senior-sergeant Hinde, under suspicious circumstances, but there was no direct evidence of the commission of the capital offence. Prisoner, at his police court examination, had admitted having attempted the crime.
Mr O’Keeffe urged that the evidence failed to support the capital charge, and the ends of justice would be met, if the jury found the prisoner guilty of the attempt.
His Honor summed up.
The jury without retiring found a verdict of guilty of an attempt, and prisoner was sentenced to hard labour in Maitland gaol for eighteen months.
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The Newcastle Chronicle, Tue 23 Apr 1872 3
MAITLAND CIRCUIT COURT.
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Abridged from the Mercury.
FRIDAY, APRIL 19.
The Court re-opened at ten o’clock.
The barristers present were Mr WJ Foster, who prosecuted for the Crown, Messrs Wisdom, Healey, and O’Keeffe.
…
BESTIALITY.
Edward Cord, alias Bruce, was indicted for having at Scone on the 18th February, committed an act of bestiality with a mare. Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was undefended, but it is understood that counsel will be assigned to him.
The case was not proceeded with.
1 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Sat 20 Apr 1872, p. 3.
2 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Tue 23 Apr 1872, p. 4. Emphasis added.
3 The Newcastle Chronicle, Tue 23 Apr 1872, p. 4.