Evening News, Fri 30 Jan 1885 ¹

A SHOCKING CHARGE.

    A respectable looking man named John Flynn was charged in the Central Police Court, Thursday, with having committed an abominable offence, in Hyde Park, on Thursday morning.

    Constable Proctor deposed that he witnessed the occurrence. When taxed with the offence, the prisoner said, “God forgive me all my sins.” When he was taken to the Central Police Station, the prisoner said that he was innocent. Dr Marsden gave medical testimony to the effect that the offence had been committed. The prisoner was committed to take his trial in the next Central Criminal Court, to be held on the 2nd March.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 30 Jan 1885 ²

POLICE.
———◦———

    At the CENTRAL POLICE COURT yesterday, the Charge Court was presided over by Mr J Buchanan, SM.
…
    John Flynn, charged with an unnatural offence, was committed to take his trial.

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The Daily Telegraph, Tue 17 Mar 1885 ³

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

    His Honor Sir George L Innes presided over the Central Criminal Court yesterday. When Mr Foster and Mr Gibson prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…

A GROSS OFFENCE.

    An elderly man named John Flynn was arraigned upon the charge of having committed a gross offence on the 29th January at Sydney. Evidence of the most conclusive kind was given, and, after a lengthy deliberation, the jury found the prisoner guilty of having attempted to commit the crime. His Honor considered that if ever a case had been clearly proved this had. He thought the jury had certainly taken a merciful view of the facts. He would impose the heaviest punishment by law—penal servitude for five years.

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Evening News, Tue 17 Mar 1885 ⁴

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
————
MONDAY, MARCH 16.

    The Central Criminal Court was continued before Mr Justice Innes. Mr Foster and Mr Gibson, barristers, prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…

ABOMINABLE OFFENCE.

    John Flynn was charged with having, on January 29 last, in Hyde Park, committed an abominable offence. The evidence was most conclusive. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced to five years’ penal servitude.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 17 Mar 1885 ⁵

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.—Monday.
(Before his Honor Mr Justice INNES.)

    Mr WJ Foster and Mr Gibson prosecuted on behalf of the crown.
…

UNNATURAL OFFENCE.

    John Flynn, an elderly man, was convicted of an attempt to commit an unnatural offence, and was sentenced to five years’ penal servitude.

    The Court then adjourned.

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Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 21 Mar 1885 ⁶

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
————

…
    Immediately after the Central Criminal Court opened at Darlinghurst on Wednesday, Sir James Martin, Chief Justice, took suddenly ill, and had to leave the bench. The business of the Court was proceeded with before his Honor Sir George Innes.

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John Flynn, Gaol photo sheet ⁷
 

 

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 3290
921.85

Date when Portrait was taken: 30-1-1885

Name: John Flynn

Native place: Ireland Year of birth: 1847 Arrived       Ship: Royal Standard in Colony }   Year: 1865 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Labourer Religion: R. Catholic Education, degree of: Read & write Height: 5' 8½" Weight     On committal: 156 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue Marks or special features:

Where and when tried: Sydney CC 16th March 1885 Offence: Attempt to commit buggery Sentence: 5 years P.S. Remarks:

(No. of Previous Portrait ... )  PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
				Nil

 

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1  Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Fri 30 Jan 1885, p. 6. Emphasis added.

2  The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 30 Jan 1885, p. 5.

3  The Daily Telegraph, Tue 17 Mar 1885, p. 6.

4  Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 17 Mar 1885, p. 6.

5  The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 17 Mar 1885, p. 5.

6  Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 21 Mar 1885, p. 614.

7  SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6047], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1885, No. 3290, p. 20, R5101.