The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 13 Dec 1883 1
POLICE.
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CENTRAL POLICE COURT.
In the Charge Court the bench was occupied by Mr W Crane, yesterday.
John G Brennan was charged, on suspicion, with having stolen a gold chain, the property of Thomas Carter. Constable Sproule deposed that he arrested prisoner, and when he charged him with the offence he said that he had found the chain in Hyde Park. He also charged prisoner with having stolen a diamond ring, also the property of Carter. On the night of the 4th instant, at the Central Police Station, he heard prisoner state that he had gone to pawn a chain at a broker’s shop in Castlereagh-street, and that the pawnbroker had detained it. Thomas Carter, a publican at the corner of George and Park streets, said that the chain now produced was his property, and was of the value of £20. Prisoner had been in his employ, but had left him about nine weeks ago, and then bore a good character. One Sunday evening he placed the chain and a locket and a diamond ring, which he valued at £52, on his dressing table, that his wife might put them away. When he looked for them again he could not find them. S Symonds, a pawnbroker in Castlereagh-street, said that prisoner took the chain to him and solicited an advance of £8 upon it. When asked whose property it was he affirmed that it was his sister’s, and that she wore it as a necklet. Witness informed him that he would detain the article until a policeman or prisoner’s sister came, or prisoner brought a letter from his sister intimating that it was her property. Prisoner went away, but returned with a letter purporting to have been written by his sister, but having no signature attached to it; afterwards, however, he stated that he had found the chain. The magistrate considered that a prima facie case had been established against the prisoner, and he committed him for trial at the Quarter Sessions.
Patrick Savage was ordered to contribute towards the support of his child.
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WATER POLICE COURT.
Mr Buchanan, SM, presided in the Charge Court, and Mr Marsh, SM, in the Small Debts Court, yesterday.
Jane Hall, Margaret Stuart, and George Oxley were each fined £5, in default three months’ imprisonment for having made use of obscene language in a public place.
George Smith, a seaman of the Maanoar (s.), was sent to gaol for one month for having stolen some articles, valued at 32s 6d, from the vessel. John Robert Jacques, an assistant cook on board the vessel, was fined 40s, in default one months’ imprisonment, for having assaulted William Hill, head cook on board.
Rose Waters was charged with having offended against decency in a public place, and the offence having been proved, she was sent to gaol of six months.
William Dwyer, on a charge of vagrancy, was sentenced to be imprisoned for one month.
Alexander Winton was fined 40s, in default 14 days imprisonment, for having assaulted Senior-sergeant Higgins whilst in the execution of his duty.
Frederick Connor and John Mahony, two characters well known to the police, were ordered to gaol for three months, for having used a horse without the consent of the owner.
William Waddington, a lad, 13 years of age, was charged with having been found wandering in the streets without any ostensible purpose. The boy told the Bench that he had only been in this colony for a short time, having arrived here with his father. His mother was dead, and his father died recently. The only relatives and friends he had were in England. Mr Buchanan said he had no alternative but to send the boy to the Vernon; but he would endeavour to arrange for his passage to England, so that he might be looked after by his relatives.
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 13 Dec 1883, p. 5. Emphasis added.