The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Tue 7 Apr 1874 1
TAMWORTH CIRCUIT COURT.
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(Abridged from the Tamworth Weekly News.)
This Court opened on Thursday last before Mr Justice Hargrave, Mr WJ Foster prosecuting for the Crown.
James Clarke, charged with bestiality [with a mare ], was convicted of an attempt, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with hard labour, in Maitland gaol.
John Chesney, indicted for stealing a horse at Boggabilla, on the 19th January, 1874, the property of William Barton, pleaded not guilty. He was also indicted for stealing a saddle, saddle-bags, &c, the property of William Barton. Barton and the prisoner had been together at Boggabilla on the 18th January, and had drinks at the public-house there. Prisoner rode his horse to the public-house, after having in company with Barton, caught the horse and Barton’s. They parted after having drinks, and prisoner rode towards Yallaroi. Next day, Barton missed his horse, saddle, and a variety of other articles, and subsequently saw the horse and his other property in the custody of constable O’Brien, of Queensland. Prisoner was also in charge of O’Brien, having been arrested at Goondiwindi, with the stolen property in his possession. Prisoner, when arrested, had claimed the horse, &c, as his own; but he afterwards said, but not in answer to any remark of the constable, “It was a cowardly act of mine, and I deserve all I get.” The jury convicted the prisoner, who was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour in Berrima gaol. Prisoner thereupon charged the arresting constable with having sworn falsely, and, as he as being removed from the court, threatened vengeance “if ever he got out.”
Mick, an aboriginal, was convicted of an attempt at rape upon one Eleanor Long. He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with hard labour, in Maitland gaol.
Cobby, another aboriginal, who pleaded guilty to stealing a saddle, the property of John Cahill, was remanded for sentence.
1 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Tue 7 Apr 1874, p. 3. Emphasis added.