Empire, Mon 2 Sep 1872 1
CENTRAL POLICE COURT.—Saturday.
————
(Before Captain Scott, PM, Messrs Smart
and Cunninghame.)
…
George Norris was charged with cutting and wounding one Thomas Baker, thereby inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Constatble Maxwell deposed about 12 o’clock last night he found the prisoner, who was drunk, lying near the corner of York and King streets, and had previously received information that he had stabbed a man named Baker. In answer to the constable prisoner said he knew nothing about having stabbed the man. In his pocket was found a sheath knife (produced), which was wet, and believed that it was wet with blood.
Thomas Baker deposed that he and the prisoner are seamen, belonging to the ship Peeress, lying at Moore’s Wharf, and are “chums.” They and three other seamen of the Peeress went about 8 o’clock last night to the United Service Hotel, and remained there until about 12 o’clock. The prisoner was then drunk, but he (witness) was sober. As he came out of the door the prisoner stabbed him with a sheath knife he wore. He was drunk or he would not have done it. Had no words or difference whatever. He told his shipmates what had happened. A policeman came up and took witness to the Infirmary, where the wound was dressed.
James Mackay, surgeon to the infirmary, deposed that he dressed a wound on Baker’s chest. It was about half an inch in length, but had not penetrated the chest bone. Such a wound as this might be made with such a knife as was produced by the constable.
The prisoner [George Norris] offered no defence, as he recollected nothing about what happened. He was committed to take his trial at the Criminal Court.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 2 Sep 1872 2
CENTRAL POLICE COURT.
Saturday.
BEFORE the Police Magistrate, with Messrs Smart, Cunninghame, Charlton, and Oatley.
…
George Norris was charged with unlawfully wounding.
Constable Maxwell deposed that about 12 o’clock last night he found the prisoner, who was drunk, lying near the corner of York-street and King-street, and he had also received information that he had stabbed a man named Baker; he said that he knew nothing about having stabbed any one; in his pocket found the sheath-knife produced, which was wet; believed that it was wet with blood.
Thomas Baker deposed that he and the prisoner are seamen belonging to the ship Peeress, lying at Moore’s wharf, and are chums; they and three other seamen of the Peeress went about 8 o’clock last evening to the United Service Hotel, and remained there until about 12 o’clock; the prisoner was then drunk, but he (witness) was sober; as he came out at the door the prisoner stabbed him with the sheath-knife he wore; he was drunk or he would not have done it; they had no word or difference whatever; he told his shipmates what had happened; a policeman came up who took witness to the Infirmary, where the wound was dressed.
James Markey, [sic] surgeon at the Infirmary, deposed that he dressed a wound on Baker’s chest; it was about half an inch in length, but had not penetrated to the chest wall; such a wound as this might be made with such a knife as was produced by the constable.
The prisoner offered no defence; he recollected nothing about it. Committed for trial at the Central Criminal Court.
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Empire, Tue 12 Nov 1872 3
CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.—Monday.
————
(Before his Honor Judge Faucett.)
Mr WJ Foster prosecuted for the Crown.
…
WOUNDING.
George Norris was charged that he did on the 30th August, 1872, at Sydney, feloniously, wilfully, and maliciously wound one Thomas Bacon, [sic–Baker] with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was undefended.
The case was one in which no provocation appeared to have been given by the wounded man to the prisoner to cause him to inflict the stab. Prisoner and prosecutor sailors and mates, were drinking on the night of the 30th August last, in the United Service Hotel. Two women were in their company. They came outside the public house, where some words took place between the two men concerning the payment for some drinks, and prisoner was heard to threaten that he would stab his mate before the night was out. In reference to paying for the drinks, Bacon said he would pay for them when he got them. Immediately he said this prisoner put his hand behind his back and drew his knife from its sheath, and stabbed prosecutor in the chest, inflicting a wound half-an-inch in length—one that was not dangerous in itself, but in a dangerous place.
Prosecutor [Thomas Barker] did not appear to give evidence, and it was proposed by Mr Foster to put in as evidence a statement made by prisoner at the police-court. The depositions showed that prisoner, on being asked if he had anything to say in answer to the charge before he should be committed for trial, said, “Nothing; pleads guilty.”
His Honor accepted it, but said he was sure it had not been correctly taken down by the deposition clerk (though it had been signed by Captain Scott), for no prisoner would use the expression “pleads guilty,” using a verb in the third person instead of the first.
Verdict: Guilty of unlawfully wounding, with a recommendation to mercy.
The prisoner was remanded for sentence.
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Evening News, Tue 12 Nov 1872 4
CRIMINAL COURT
This Day.
————
(Before his Honor Judge Faucett.)
Mr WJ Foster prosecuted for the Crown.
…
Monday.
…
WOUNDING.
George Norris was charged that he did on the 30th August, 1872, at Sydney, feloniously, wilfully, and maliciously wound one Thomas Bacon, [sic–Baker] with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was undefended.
The case was one in which no provocation appeared to have been given by the wounded man to the prisoner to cause him to inflict the stab. Prisoner and prosecutor sailors and mates, were drinking on the night of the 30th August last, in the United Service Hotel. Two women were in their company. They came outside the public house, where some words took place between the two men concerning the payment for some drinks, and prisoner was heard to threaten that he would stab his mate before the night was out. In reference to paying for the drinks, Bacon said he would pay for them when he got them. Immediately he said this prisoner put his hand behind his back and drew his knife from its sheath, and stabbed prosecutor in the chest, inflicting a wound half-an-inch in length—one that was not dangerous in itself, but in a dangerous place.
Prosecutor [Thomas Barker] did not appear to give evidence, and it was proposed by Mr Foster to put in as evidence a statement made by prisoner at the police-court. The depositions showed that prisoner, on being asked if he had anything to say in answer to the charge before he should be committed for trial, said, “Nothing; pleads guilty.”
His Honor accepted it, but said he was sure it had not been correctly taken down by the deposition clerk (though it had been signed by Captain Scott), for no prisoner would use the expression “pleads guilty,” using a verb in the third person instead of the first.
Verdict: Guilty of unlawfully wounding, with a recommendation to mercy.
The prisoner was remanded for sentence.
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Evening News, Mon 18 Nov 1872 5
CRIMINAL COURT
This Day.
————
(Before his Honor Mr Justice Faucett.)
Mr WJ Foster prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…
SENTENCES.
UNLAWFULLY WOUNDING.
…
George Norris, also found guilty of unlawfully wounding, was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment in Darlinghurst Gaol.
1 Empire, (Sydney, NSW), Mon 2 Sep 1872, p. 3. Emphasis added.
2 The Sydney Morning Herald, (NSW), Mon 2 Sep 1872, p. 2. Emphasis added.
3 Empire, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 12 Nov 1872, p. 3. Emphasis added.
4 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 12 Nov 1872, p. 2. Emphasis added.
5 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Mon 18 Nov 1872, p. 3.