The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Tue 5 Feb 1884 1
TENTERFIELD.
(Abridged from the Star.)
PHILIP HEDLEY, an employee in the Tenterfield Post Office, was charged on Monday with stealing a sum of money from a letter in the office. The postmaster, R[ichard] H[enry] Hipsley, 2 gave evidence to the effect that the accused was employed as a letter carrier at a salary of about £50 a year, and had access to the letters in the office.
Image: NSW State Library collection, c. 1910.
Reproduction: Peter de Waal
In consequence of some information that came to the knowledge of the police, a marked half-sovereign was placed in a letter addressed to “Mr Timothy Burke, Lawrence,” and posted by the police, with the knowledge of the postmaster. The letter was sorted into its proper box and left. Shortly afterwards, in the absence of the postmaster, the letter was abstracted. The accused was searched, and the marked half-sovereign was found in his purse. In consequence of his previous good character, the Bench allowed the prisoner to elect to be summarily dealt with, and sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour in Armidale gaol.
The following cases were disposed of at the Quarter Sessions:—John Murphy, obtaining money from Paul Maynes by valueless cheques, two years and nine months’ imprisonment.
Ah Chung, [aka Ah Chong], unnatural offence, twelve months’ imprisonment, with 25 lashes three months hence, and another 25 lashes three months later —50 in all.
Thompson, Fitzpatrick, and Thompson, burglary at Bolivia Hill, three years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Richard Clarkson, robbery from the person, 5 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
John Driscoll, perjury, two years and six months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
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The Sydney Mail and NSW Advertiser, Sat 16 Feb 1884 3
TENTERFIELD.
February 6.
The Quarter Sessions, which begun and closed on Monday last were chiefly remarkable for the seriousness of the charges preferred against the prisoners. In every case a conviction was obtained, and Judge Murray, in sentencing the prisoners, evidently intended that they should not trouble him. again by their presence for some time to come.
Among the principal cases was that in which a Chinaman, [Ah Chong], was charged with an unnatural offence. The evidence was of revolting character, and totally unfit for publication. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of attempt to commit the offence. The prisoner was sentenced to12 months in Armidale gaol and to be twice flogged, 25 lashes in three months and 25 three months afterwards. This is the first tuns, under the new Act, that the application of the lash has been the penalty for an offence in Tenterfield, and I sincerely trust that it will be the last. Fortunately we are not troubled with the plague of larrikinism so common in most towns, so that it is very improbable we shall be called upon to witness that peculiar clause put in force save in very exceptional cases.
For obtaining money by means of valueless cheques, J Murphy was sentenced to two years and nine months in Armidale gaol.
R Clarkson, for stealing £6 from, the person of B Quinn, received five years in Armidale gaol.
J Driscoll (on bail) was arraigned for perjury, and found guilty; but on account of his family was recommended to mercy. His Honor, in passing sentence, stated he had taken into consideration the recommendation of the jury. Sentenced to two years and a half in Armidale gaol.
At the police-court on the same day P Hedley appeared on bail to answer a charge of larceny from the post-office. The evidence tendered by Mr Hipsley and Sergeant Daly was conclusive; and the charge having been read to the accused the Bench gave him the option of being dealt with summarily or otherwise. The accused pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to six months in Armidale gaol.
1 The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, (NSW), Tue 5 Feb 1884, p. 2. Emphasis added.
2 The Sydney Morning Herald, (NSW), Thu 18 Jan 1917, p. 10. Emphasis added.
“DEATH OF MR RH HIPSLEY.
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DOYEN OF THE POSTMASTERS.
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The death occurred yesterday, at his residence, Watsonia, Birrell Street, Waverley, of Mr Richard Henry Hipsley, who for some years past had the distinction of being the oldest living official connected with tho Postmaster-General’s Department in this State. The deceased was born in London in 1835, and came to New South Wales in 1854. Four years later he joined the telegraph service under Captain Martindale, and retained his connection with the Post and Telegraph Department until 1896. He was the first postmaster at Bathurst, receiving his appointment in 1860. At the time the cost of sending a ten-word telegram was 3s. The telegraph system did not then extend beyond Bathurst, and Parramatta was the terminus of the western railway system. Bush rangers were numerous in the Bathurst district in those days, and the deceased had a fund of information with reference to their doings. In 1875 he was moved to Tenterfield as postmaster, and he remained there till 18S7, when he came to Sydney to take up the position of Assistant Manager of Telegraphs, from which he retired in 1896. In the latter position, the late Mr Hipsley was closely in touch with a very large staff of officials, many of whom still appreciate the kindness and consideration with which he treated then. The deceased leaves a widow, three sons, and two daughters. The sons are Mr EG Hipsley, assistant engineer in the Postmaster-General’s Department; Mr WB Hipsley, of Messrs Hipsley and Waddell; and Dr PL Hipsley, of Waverley. Miss A Hipsley and Mrs JC Kershaw are the daughters. The funeral will leave the late residence of the deceased this morning, at 10.15, for Waverley Cemetery.”
3 The Sydney Mail and NSW Advertiser, (NSW), Sat 16 Feb 1884, p. 310. Emphasis added.