Below also see: James Williams, 1907

 

The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Fri 26 Jan 1900 ¹

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
Thursday, Jan. 25.—(Before Mr Acting District Court Judge Wade.)

    Mr WF Parker, PM, also occupied a seat on the bench, and Mr RH Browning acted as Crown Prosecutor.
…

ALLEGED UNNATURAL OFFENCE.

    James Williams was arraigned on a charge of having on Nov. 22nd last, at Armidale, committed an unnatural offence upon a boy named William Miller , and, on a second count, with having committed an indecent assault.

    Accused pleaded not guilty.

    Constable Thomas gave evidence to the effect that, on the date in question, he saw the accused and asked where he was camping. Accused pointed in the direction of Trim’s old store, saying he was camping in an old room there. Arrested accused on suspicion and made a definite charge next morning.

    William Miller, a boy of 13 years, gave evidence as to the alleged unnatural offence with which accused stood charged.

    Mary Jane Jonson and Mrs Rose Edwards also gave evidence.

    His honor having summed up, the jury retired to consider their verdict.

    Prisoner was found guilty by the jury on the second count of having committed an indecent assault, and was remanded for sentence.

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The Armidale Argus, Sat 27 Jan 1900 ²

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

…
    ARMIDALE Quarter Sessions.—On Thursday last the Armidale Quarter Sessions were opened before Mr Acting Judge Wade, when the full list—five cases—were disposed of before the Court rose the same night. Mr WF Parker occupied a seat on the bench as acting deputy sheriff, and Mr J Browning was Crown Prosecutor. The following were the cases disposed of:—Henry Trim pleaded guilty to forging a cheque for £6 on John Blanch and was sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour, but was liberated under the First Offenders’ Act. Collins Beaufort pleaded guilty to uttering a forged cheque on Thomas Ford for £6, at Armidale, and was sentenced to three years’ hard labour. Frank Flocke and William H Murray were found guilty of sending a threatening letter to Augustus Hooke, of Tia Station, with a view to extorting money, and Flocke was sentenced to three years and Murray to two years and a half hard labour. James Williams, an old man, was found guilty of indecent assault at Armidale, and was sentenced to two years hard labour. Frederick Stanley, charged with stealing £8, the property of Mrs Piercy, at Hillgrove, was found not guilty and discharged. This concluded the list.

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The Armidale Chronicle, Sat 27 Jan 1900 ³

ARMIDALE QUARTER SESSIONS.
————
Thursday, 25th January.
————

    The Quarter Sessions Court opened at the local Courthouse on Thursday, before His Honor Mr Acting-Judge Wade.

    Mr WF Parker, PM, occupied a seat on the Bench.

    Mr Browning acted as Crown Prosecutor, and Messrs R Windeyer and WH Mocatta were also present.

    The following gentlemen were sworn in as Justices of the Peace:—Messrs JB Fitzgerald, PJ Snape, and JS Marks (Armidale), D Williams (Boorolong), and A Menzies and John Hutton (Black Mountain).
…

SENTENCES.

…
    Jas Williams, found guilty of an unnatural offence, was sentenced to two years’ hard labour in Armidale Gaol.

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The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Tue 30 Jan 1900 ⁴

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
Thursday, Jan. 25.—(Before Mr Acting District Court Judge Wade.)

…
    SENTENCES.—
…
    James Williams, found guilty of an indecent assault, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in Armidale Gaol.

    This closed the business of the court.

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James Williams, Gaol photo sheet ⁵

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 62
Armidale

Date when Portrait was taken: 2nd February 1900

Name: James Williams

Native place: Sydney NS Wales Year of birth: 1841 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Labourer Religion: Roman Catholic Education, degree of: Read & Write Height: 5' 8¼" Weight     On committal: in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Dark brown Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: 5 moles on back of left shoulder

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Armidale Q.S	25	1	1900	Attempted buggery	2 years HL Armidale

 

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James Williams, 1907

The Namoi Independent and Advertiser, Thu 14 Feb 1907 ⁶

GUNNEDAH QUARTER SESSIONS.
———

    The half yearly Criminal Sessions commenced at the Court House this morning before His Honor Mr Justice Gibson presided. Mr Walter Bevan prosecuted for the Crown. Mr NSC Berry acted as Sheriff. The legal profession was represented by Mr Hubert Reilly of Sydney and Messrs Hogarth, ( ?), Byrne and Rowling of Gunnedah.

    Of the jury panel Messrs W Keys, A Tindall, THH Goodwin, Wilkins were excused from attendance.

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Gunnedah Advertiser, Mon 18 Feb 1907 ⁷

GUNNEDAH QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
Thursday, 14th.
(Before His Honor Judge Gibson.)

    James Williams, an elderly man, was indicted for having attempted to commit an abominable offence [with Harold Stevens], to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The jury was empanelled. The evidence taken was revolting, and is therefore withheld. The jury’s verdict was guilty, and his Honor sentenced the prisoner to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

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The Namoi Independent and Advertiser, Mon 18 Feb 1907 ⁸

GUNNEDAH QUARTER SESSIONS.
———

…

INDECENT ASSAULT.

    James Williams was found guilty of indecent assault on a boy, and sentenced to 2 years hard labour in Grafton Gaol.

    He pleaded hard for leniency, but His Honor said that he felt a severe punishment must be inflicted in such cases. He had tried no less than eleven cases for indecent assault during the last month. He wondered what the country was coming to.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 18 Feb 1907 ⁹

COUNTRY NEWS.
———◦———

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———

…

Gunnedah, Saturday.

    At the Quarter Sessions yesterday before Judge Gibson, Mary Stowe, midwife, was charged with having caused the death of a married woman, named Finch, by neglect. A verdict of not guilty was returned. An elderly man named John Williams was sentenced to two years with hard labour for attempting to commit an offence. Albert Samuel Baker, charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm was acquitted. Thomas William Taylor, charged with assault, was acquitted.

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James Williams, Gaol photo sheet ¹⁰

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 143
9/1907 Grafton

Date when Portrait was taken: 7-3-1907

Name: James Williams

Native place: Sydney NSW Year of birth: 18-12-1840 Arrived       Ship: – in Colony }   Year: – Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: Roman Catholic Education, degree of: R&W Height: 5' 7½" Weight     On committal: 140 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown to Grey Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: Brown spot on right temples. Long scar left fore-arm point. Left middle finger bent. Scar front-right fore-arm. Moles on back. Varicose Veins inside right shin. Dark complexion

(No. of previous Portrait .. 62 Armidale) CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Armidale Q.S Gunnedah Q.S	25 14	1 2	1900 1907	Attempted buggery Indecent assault on a male person	2 years HL 2 years HL Grafton Gaol

 

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¹     The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Fri 26 Jan 1900, p. 5.

²     The Armidale Argus, Sat 27 Jan 1900, p. 4. Emphasis added.

³     The Armidale Chronicle, Sat 27 Jan 1900, p. 4.

⁴     The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Tue 30 Jan 1900, p. 4.

⁵     SRNSW: NRS1989, [3/6003], Armidale Gaol photographic description book, 1894-1915, No. 62, p. 65, R5083.

⁶     The Namoi Independent and Advertiser, Thu 14 Feb 1907, p. 4.

⁷     Gunnedah Advertiser, Mon 18 Feb 1907, p. 2.

⁸     The Namoi Independent and Advertiser, Mon 18 Feb 1907, p. 5.

9     The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 18 Feb 1907, p. 8. Emphasis added.

¹⁰   SRNSW: NRS2258, [3/5993], Grafton Gaol photographic description book, Nov 1894- Jun 1910, No. 143, p. 145, R5125.

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