Evening News, Sat 11 Oct 1890 1
A YOUNG RUFFIAN.
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A young man named Thomas Cox, who is at present undergoing a sentence of six months for assault, and is under committal on three separate charges of inflicting bodily harm, was charged before Mr Giles, DSM, at the Newtown Police Court yesterday, with assaulting Eliza Gardner. Prosecutrix was in Campbell-street, Macdonaldtown, on August 23, when she met accused, who is her son by her first husband, and without giving her any provocation he struck her a violent blow on the face, which felled her. Upon her rising he said, “I have not hit you hard enough,” and then struck her two more blows on the face. She believed that he kicked her as well. Accused then called out from the dock, “You are a liar.” “Your Worship,” he continued, “after that she would swear anything, and I might as well plead guilty.” He was then sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor.
On another charge of robbing Charles Morgan of a gold watch and chain, and using violence upon him, he was remanded until Monday next.
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Evening News, Thu 16 Oct 1890 2
HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
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Thomas Cox was charged at the Newtown Police Court yesterday with assaulting and robbing Charles Morgan of a gold watch and chain. The prosecutor was walking in Camperdown Park on the night of August 24, when a blow from the rear made him turn round and he saw Cox and others. Cox knocked him down and with assistance relieved him of his gold watch and chain. The prisoner asked for a remand to obtain witnesses. Mr Johnson was on the point of granting it, when he was informed that he had already had three remands. Prisoner had told a constable while in the cells that he knew not a soul who would go witness for him. He was committed for trial to the next [quarter] sessions of November 11.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 16 Oct 1890 3
POLICE
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Mr H Johnson, SM, presided at the NEWTOWN POLICE COURT. Thomas Burton Cox, 22, charged with having assaulted Charles Morgan, and with having robbed him of a gold chain value £5, was committed for trial at the next Court of Quarter Sessions. It appears that in August last prosecutor was walking through the Prince Alfred Park, when a band of larrikins, headed by accused, robbed him of the chain.
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Evening News, Fri 14 Nov 1890 4
THIRD EDITION.
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BREVITIES.
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at Quarter Sessions to-day Thomas Burton Cox pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with having maliciously wounded Driv Kalif Deria, at Newtown, on September 15. He was remanded for sentence.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 14 Nov 1890 5
METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
THURSDAY.
(Before his Honor Judge WILKINSON.)
JURORS FINED.
The following jurors were fined 40s each for non-attendance:—James Bridger, painter, Campbell-street, Newtown; Frederick Richard Cornelius, commercial traveller, Woolwich, Hunter’s Hill; Joseph Sindel, draper, 77 Botany-road, Waterloo.
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CASES FOR TO-DAY.
George Wilson, George Jeffries, and Thomas Burton Cox, larceny; Percy Robert Wilson, James Griffiths, George Griffiths, and Thomas Burton Cox, robbery in company; and John Russell, perjury.
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Evening News, Sat 15 Nov 1890 6
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.
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At the Quarter Sessions yesterday four youths, named Thomas Burton Cox, Percy Wilson, James Griffiths, and George Jeffries, were arraigned upon an indictment charging them with having maliciously wounded a Chinaman named Hee Hing. Cox pleaded guilty and the other three not guilty. For the Crown it was stated that the prosecutor, who is a Chinese gardener, was hawking his baskets in Fitzroy-street, Marrickville, on September 23. While serving a customer there four lads came up to him; one of them took some fruit out of his basket, while another picked up a knife and would not let him go through a gate when he desired to do so. The Chinaman endeavored to pass his assailants, and a scuffle ensued. Cox went some little distance away; and, picking up a large piece of brick, threw it, striking the prosecutor on the head and inflicting a serious wound. The four lads then ran away. Cox, who pleaded guilty, was positively identified as one of the four, but the evidence against the others was not so conclusive. For the defence evidence was called for the purpose of providing an alibi, and, after a lengthy retirement, the jury found the three accused nor guilty, and they were discharged.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 15 Nov 1890 7
The Metropolitan Quarter Sessions were resumed yesterday, before his Honor Judge Wilkinson. In the case of Thomas Ryan, charged with assault, the jury, after being locked up all night, being unable to agree, was discharged, a fresh trial being ordered for Monday next. Nearly the whole of the sitting was occupied with the hearing of various charges against several youths, of whom the leader appeared to be one Thomas Burton Cox. He pleaded guilty to a charge of maliciously wounding an Indian named Driv Kalif Devia, and to a second charge of maliciously wounding a Chinaman named Hee Hing. With him in the latter case were also charged three other boys, Percy Robert Wilson, James Griffiths, and George Jeffries, who pleaded not guilty, and were acquitted. Then Cox was charged, in company with the boys Wilson and Jeffries, with having stolen eight sets of teeth, and receiving the same knowing them to be stolen. Cox again pleaded guilty. Wilson was acquitted of the offence but Jeffries was found guilty of receiving stolen property, and was remanded for sentence with Cox, pending the hearing of a further charge against the latter of robbery with violence.
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METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
FRIDAY.
(Before his Honor Judge WILKINSON.)
JURORS FINED.
Frederick Richard Cornelius, commercial traveller, Woolwich, Hunter’s Hill, was again fined £2 for further absenting himself from service.
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MALICIOUSLY WOUNDING AND LARCENY.
Thomas Burton Cox was charged with having, on September 15, at Newtown, maliciously wounded one Driv Kalif Deria, an Indian, with intent to do him serious bodily harm.
Accused pleaded guilty, and was remanded for sentence.
Percy Robert Wilson, James Griffiths, George Jeffries, and Thomas Burton Cox were then charged with having at Marrickville, on September 23, malicious wounded a Chinaman named Hee Hing, with intent.
The accused Cox pleaded guilty, and the other accused not guilty.
Mr Cromwell appeared on behalf of the prisoner Jeffries.
In this case it was shown on behalf of the prosecution that while the prosecutor was engaged selling vegetables in Fitzroy-street, Marrickville, four boys entered the garden of the house and took a knife from his basket. He tried to get back the knife, but the garden gate was closed on him, and he was thus unable to follow the boys. The prisoner Cox then threw a piece of brick at him, hitting him on the mouth and causing blood to flow. In consequence of his injuries the Chinaman had to be taken to the hospital. He identified the four prisoners as the boys who had assaulted him, but the person to whom he was selling the vegetables could only swear to Cox.
In defence, it was stated by the mother and brother of the prisoner Jeffries that he was at home during the whole of the day on which the alleged assault was committed, and he could not have been at Marrickville. The prisoner Cox also deposed that none of the boys in court were with him at the time, and that he did not know the names of the real offenders.
The jury found a verdict of not guilty against each of the three prisoners, Wilson, Griffiths, and Jeffries.
The accused Griffiths was discharged.
George Wilson, George Jeffries, and Thomas Burton Cox were further charged on two counts with having on September 25th, at Leichhardt, stolen eight sets of teeth, the property of Joseph WE George, and with receiving the same, knowing them to have been stolen.
Mr Cromwell appeared for the prisoners Jeffries and Wilson.
The prisoner Cox pleaded guilty on the first count to stealing; the other two prisoners pleaded not guilty.
It appeared from the evidence in this case that on the night of the 25th of September the prosecutor, who is a dentist, residing at Leichhardt, heard a crash at the front of his establishment, and coming out he found that a showcase, containing a number of sets of teeth, had been broken and eight sets abstracted. He also saw a crowd of youths, including Cox and, he believed, the other prisoner. It was shown that on being arrested on another charge of assault, Jeffries was found to have a set of teeth upon him, to account for the possession of which he gave several different reasons.
The defence was that the accused Wilson and Jeffries had come up after the robbery, with which they had no connection. The teeth in the possession of Jeffries were, he alleged, obtained from someone in the crowd, and he did not know they were stolen.
The prisoners Wilson and Jeffries were each acquitted of the charge of larceny, but Jeffries was convicted on the count of receiving stolen property.
His Honor remanded the prisoner Jeffries for sentence, pending the conclusion of all the charges against the prisoner Cox. He intimated that it would be his duty to impose a very heavy sentence in the case of Cox.
Thomas Burton Cox was then charged on a further indictment with robbery from the person of Charles Morgan, of one watch, and with using violent means to effect the robbery on August 24 last.
The accused pleaded guilty to the charge of violence, but denied the robbery. The Court decided that the plea could only be accepted as one of not guilty, and that the hearing of the case should stand adjourned.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 26 Nov 1890 8
METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
TUESDAY.
(Before his Honor Judge WILKINSON.)
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SENTENCES.
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Thomas Burton Cox was sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude for inflicting grievous bodily harm, and five years each on two separate convictions for maliciously wounding and larceny, the sentences to run concurrently. George Jeffries, convicted in conjunction with Cox for maliciously wounding, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, with hard labour.
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Evening News, Thu 27 Nov 1890 9
DARING HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
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While an inoffensive Pagan named Chon Hong was hawking vegetables in Simmons-street, Enmore, on Tuesday afternoon, he was stuck up by five youths who demanded his property. This Hong naturally refused to give up, when the gang seized hold of him, and throwing him to the ground “went through” him, relieving him of a silver lever watch, valued at £4 10s. During the struggle the Chinaman was stabbed through the right hand. Information was given to the police, with the result that Senior Constables Bennet and Rex arrested James Griffiths, 16 years of age, who belonged to a gang, the leader of which was Thomas Burton Cox, a youth who on Tuesday at the Quarter Sessions was sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude. Griffiths was also committed for trial with Cox on charges of maliciously wounding, but at the sessions was acquitted by the jury. He was brought before Mr W Johnson, SM, at the Newtown Police Court yesterday, and charged in company with others with assaulting and robbing Chon Hong of a watch, and at the request of the police was remanded for seven days. The accused asked for bail, but it was refused.
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Thomas Burton Cox, Gaol photo sheet 10
![SRNSW: NRS2232, [7/13804], Goulburn Gaol photographic description book, Jul 1894-Dec 1897, No. –, p. 111, R5123.](/images/trials/1890-Cox-13804-gaol-photo-111.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2232, [7/13804], Goulburn Gaol photographic description book, Jul 1894-Dec 1897, No. –, p. 111, R5123.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. –
Date when Portrait was taken: —
Name: Thomas Burton Cox
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Native place: Melbourne Year of birth: 1872 Arrived Ship: Trade or occupation Religion: RC C of E Education, degree of: R&W Height: 5' 2" Weight On committal: 128 Colour of hair: Fair Colour of eyes: Blue Marks or special features: Scar top of head, on side, nose been broken, scar left breast, small scar 3rd finger right hand, little finger right hand crocked, scar right buttock |
Where and when tried: Sydney Q.S. Offence: Maliciously wounding (2 charges). Stealing charge. Sentence: 7 years PS 1st charge and 5 years PS 2nd charge concurrent. Remarks: Discharged from Goulburn Gaol 14-7-1897. Conduct Very Bad Vernon boy |
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(No. of previous Portrait ... ) PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS |
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| Where and When | Offence. | Sentence | |||
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Coonamble PO Redfern PO Newtown PO |
27 10 3 |
9 4 10 |
1889 1890 1890 |
Stealing Threatening language Assault in company |
4 months HL 1 years Imprisonment 6 months HL | |
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Serving this sentence when convicted as above
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1 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Sat 11 Oct 1890, p. 6.
2 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Thu 16 Oct 1890, p. 2.
3 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 16 Oct 1890, p. 7.
4 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Fri 14 Nov 1890, p. 5.
5 The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 14 Nov 1890, p. 3. Emphasis added.
6 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Sat 15 Nov 1890, p. 3. Emphasis added.
7 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 15 Nov 1890, pp. 9, 13.
8 The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 26 Nov 1890, p. 5.
9 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Thu 27 Nov 1890, p. 5. Emphasis added.
10 SRNSW: NRS2232, [7/13804], Goulburn Gaol photographic description book, Jul 1894-Dec 1897, No. –, p. 111, R5123.