Evening News, Thu 4 Sep 1890 1
YESTERDAY’S COURTS.
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WATER.
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Denis Hockey, 42, was charged with having, as a special constable employed in the Centennial Park, extorted from Joseph Duffy, on September 2, £1, under a threat that he would get a warrant for him for offending against decency in the park on August 30 last. Remanded to Friday.
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Barrier Miner, Fri 5 Sep 1890 2
(By Telegraph.)
From Our Own Correspondents.
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THE SITUATION IN SYDNEY.
Sydney, Friday Afternoon.
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Later.
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A special constable, named Hockey, was also committed for trial for levying blackmail. Up to 2 pm to-day 1000 special constables have been enrolled in the city.
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Evening News, Sat 6 Sep 1890 3
A SPECIAL CONSTABLE IN
TROUBLE.
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Denis Hockey was brought up on remand at the Water Police Court yesterday, before Mr Abbott, SM, charged with having extorted £1 from Joseph Duffy under a threat that he would get a warrant for him for offending against decency in the Centennial Park on the 30th ultimo, he (prisoner) being then employed as a special constable.
Senior-constable Gorman deposed that, in consequence of complaints which had been made, he on September 2 marked a £1 not in presence of the man Duffy, and watched Hockey ib the park till he saw Duffy give him something. Duffy afterwards gave Hockey in charge, saying that he (prisoner) threatened that, if he did not meet him that night, and give him £1, he would get a warrant for him. Duffy also said he gave prisoner the marked note. The prisoner said, “I have been looking for this man for three days to give him in charge. I was taking him to be identified by a young fellow. I did not intend to keep it.” He afterwards he never got the note; but witness pushed him away, and found it under one of his feet, partly covered by sand. In prisoner’s possession was found his authority to act as night watchman in the park, signed by the Inspector-General of Police.
Joseph Duffy, cabman, generally corroborated what had fallen from the previous witness, adding that he had been in company with a woman in the park on August 30, and that the prisoner had threatened to lay a certain information against him unless he was “squared.”
Elizabeth Roache deposed that while she was in the park with Duffy on the night referred to, the prisoner and another man came up to her. The prisoner said they were detectives, and took down her address, saying he would consider whether he would or would not take her to the police station. He also told the second man to look after Duffy. Witness was very much frightened, and the prisoner had connection with her under the threat that if he did not he would tell her father and mother all about it. He afterwards took her home, and did not tell her parents anything about what took place.
In cross-examination the witness said that since the occurrence she had had a conversation with Duffy, and had compared noted with him.
By the advice of Mr Bull, the prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the ensuing Quarter Sessions. Bail was allowed, the prisoner in his own recognisances of £100, and two sureties for £50, or one for £100.
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Singleton Argus, Sat 6 Sep 1890 4
TELEGRAMS.
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(From Greville’s Telegram Co.)
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Sydney, Friday.
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A BASE FELLOW.
Denis Hockey, a special constable at the Centennial Park was committed for trial on a charge of extorting £1 from a man under threat of procuring a warrant against him for offending against decency in the park.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 6 Sep 1890 5
CHARGE AGAINST A PARK SPECIAL
CONSTABLE.
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In the Charge Division of the Water Police Court yesterday, before Mr TK Abbott, SM, Denis Hockey was charged that, being a special constable in the Centennial Park, he did on the 2nd instant extract from Joseph Duffy £1 under a threat that he would get a warrant for the arrest of Duffy for offending against decency in the Centennial Park on the 30th ultimo.
Senior-constable Gorman stated that on September 2, in consequence of information received, he marked a £1-note in the presence of Duffy; on the same date he watched the accused in the Centennial Park, and saw Duffy give the accused something; Duffy then gave the accused into witness’s custody, saying “He threatened that if I did not meet him to-night and gave him a pound he would get a warrant for me for indecency; I gave him a marked £1-note;” accused said, “I have been looking for this man for three days to give him in charge; I was taking him to be identified by a young fellow; I did not intend to keep the £1'” the accused, when asked for the note, said, “I never had it, I have not got it;” prisoner then began moving his feet about; pushed him away and found the pound note lying on the ground partly covered with sand; it was the marked note which the witness had given to Duffy; the prisoner said, “This is what a man gets for doing his duty;” prisoner was a special constable employed at night watchman in the Centennial Park; the special constable’s authority was found upon him, and it bore the signature of the Inspector-General of Police; produced a notebook found upon the prisoner; it contained the name and address of Duffy, and the name, address, and occupation of a female.
Joseph Duffy, cabdriver, said that on Saturday night he was in the Centennial Park, near the Randwick tram sheds, in company with a young woman; the prisoner spoke to him, and saw him again later on at the corner of Cleveland and Dowling streets; prisoner said that witness would have to square it, and they arranged to meet on the following night; they did so, and the prisoner then said that unless witness met him on the following night and gave him £1 he would lay an information on the Tuesday morning; gave him the marked £1-note as described by Senior-constable Gorman.
Elizabeth Roache stated that she was in company with Duffy on the evening in question; after Duffy left, the accused obtained from her both their names and addresses, and under a threat that he would give certain information to her parents she consented to certain proposals.
The prisoner made no statement and reserved his defence. He was committed for trial to the next Quarter Sessions, bail being allowed in his own recognisance of £100 and two sureties of £50 each.
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The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Tue 9 Sep 1890 6
CHARGE OF BLACKMAILING.
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(From Friday’s Echo.)
In the charge Division of the Water Police Court to-day, before Mr TK Abbott, SM, Dennis Hockey was charged that, being a special constable in the Centennial Park, he did on the 2nd instant extract fro Joseph Duffy £1 under a threat that he would get a warrant for the arrest of Duffy for offending against decency in the Centennial Park on the 30th ultimo.
Senior-constable Gorman stated that on September 2, in consequence of information received, he marked a £1-note in the presence of Duffy; on the same date he watched the accused in the Centennial Park, and saw Duffy give the accused something; Duffy then gave the accused into witness’s custody, saying “He threatened that if I did not meet him to-night and give him a pound he would get a warrant for me for indecency;” I gave him a marked £1-note;” accused said, “I have been looking for this man for three days to give him in charge; I was taking him to be identified by a young fellow; I did not intend to keep the £1;” the accused when asked for the note said, “I never had it, I have not got it;” prisoner then began moving his feet about; pushed him away and found the pound note lying on the ground partly covered with sand; it was the marked note which the witness had given to Duffy; the prisoner said, “This is what a man gets for doing his duty;” prisoner was a special constable employed as night watchman in the Centennial Park; the special constable’s authority was found upon him, and it bore the signature of the Inspector-General of Police; produced a notebook found upon the prisoner; it contained the name and address of Duffy, and the name, address, and occupation of a female.
Joseph Duffy, cabdriver, said that on Saturday night he was in the Centennial Park, near the Randwick tram sheds, in company with a young woman; the prisoner spoke to him, and saw him again later on at the corner of Cleveland and Dowling streets; prisoner said that witness would have to square it; and they arranged to meet on the following night; they did so, and the prisoner then said that unless witness met him on the following night and gave him £1 he would lay an information on the Tuesday morning; gave him the marked £1-note as described by Senior-constable Gorman.
Elizabeth Roache stated that she was in company with Duffy on the evening in question; after Duffy left the accused obtained from her both their names and addresses, and threatened to giver certain information to her parents unless she consented to certain improper proposals.
The prisoner made no statement and reserved his defence. He was committed for trial to the next Quarter Sessions, bail being allowed in his own recognisance of £100 and two sureties of £50 each.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 20 Sep 1890 7
LIST OF CASES FOR QUARTER SESSIONS.
The following is the list of cases for the Quarter Sessions, to commence in Sydney on Monday:
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Denis [aka Dennis] Hockey, threatening to accuse of a crime.
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The Daily Telegraph, Tue 14 Oct 1890 8
QUARTER SESSIONS.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18.
(Before Judge Murray.)
Mr WL Merewether prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
ALLEGED BLACKMAILING.
Dennis Hockey was charged with having on September 2 last threatened to accuse Joseph Duffy of having committed an offence against decency in a public place with intent thereby to extort and gain money from the said Joseph Duffy. Mr Passmore (instructed by Mr JW Abigail) appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. The evidence for the prosecution was that on August 30, between the hours of 11 and 12 o’clock at night, a cab was driven into the Centennial Park, containing the proprietor of the cab, Duffy (the present prosecutor) and a young girl, the vehicle being driven by a stranger. Duffy and the girl alighted in the park, and soon afterwards the accused, who is a watchman connected with the park, came upon the scene and Duffy ran away. Accused told the girl that unless Duffy paid him £2 by a certain date he would lay an information charging both with indecency. Duffy subsequently, on September 2 saw the accused and gave him a marked £1 note, and promised to give him another. A constable was in attendance and the accused was arrested, however. For the defence it was submitted that the accused accepted the £1 so as to be better able to identify Duffy and ultimately secure his arrest and conviction for indecency. The parties were in fact simply setting a trap for each other. The jury retired at 4.25 pm.
After about an hour’s consideration they returned into court with a verdict of not guilty and the accused was discharged.
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Evening News, Tue 14 Oct 1890 9
SETTING A TRAP.
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At the Quarter Sessions yesterday Dennis Hockey pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with having threatened to accuse Joseph Duffy of having committed an act of indecency in a public place with intent to extort money from him. He was defended by Mr Passmore, instructed by Mr JW Abigail. For the Crown it was stated on the night of August 30 the prosecutor took a young woman in the Centennial Park. The prisoner approached them and said he was a special constable, and if he was not squared would take out a warrant for Duffy’s arrest on a charge of committing an offence against decency. The prosecutor saw the prisoner a day or two subsequently, and acting on the advice of a constable he gave Hockey as “hush money” a £1 note, which had been previously marked, and this was found in his possession when he was arrested shortly after. For the defence it was submitted that the accused accepted the £1 so as to be better able to identify Duffey [sic] and ultimately secure his arrest and conviction for indecency. The parties were in fact simply setting a trap for each other. The jury found the accused not guilty, and he was discharged.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 14 Oct 1890 10
METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
MONDAY.
(Before his Honor Judge MURRAY.)
Denis [aka Dennis] Hockey was charged with having, on September 2, 1890, threatened to accuse Joseph Duffy of having committed an offence against decency in a public place, with intent thereby to extort money from him.
Mr Passmore , instructed by Mr JW Abigail, appeared for the prisoner.
The facts in this case briefly were that the accused, who is a special constable or watchman, had extorted money from the prosecutor as a payment for his neglecting to inform the authorities of an immoral act committed by the prosecutor in the Centennial Park. The prosecutor had handed to him a £1 note, which had previously been marked in the presence of a detective, and was found in Hockey’s possession when arrested.
For the defence it was stated that, though the £1 was undoubtedly received from the prosecutor, it was only with a view to more easily identifying him later on. Evidence was called to show that, that previous to this charge being laid, the accused had borne a very high character.
The jury, after a brief retirement, found a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was discharged.
1 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Thu 4 Sep 1890, p. 2.
2 Barrier Miner, Fri 5 Sep 1890, p. 3.
3 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Sat 6 Sep 1890, p. 4. Emphasis added.
4 Singleton Argus, Sat 6 Sep 1890, p. 2.
5 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 6 Sep 1890, p. 12. Emphasis added.
6 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Tue 9 Sep 1890, p. 7. Emphasis added.
7 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 20 Sep 1890, p. 12.
8 The Daily Telegraph, Tue 14 Oct 1890, p. 3.
9 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 14 Oct 1890, p. 3.
10 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 14 Oct 1890, p. 3.