The Australian Star, Thu 25 Oct 1894 1
A SHOCKING CASE.
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A young Celestial named Ah See 2 was charged at Newtown court yesterday with having been guilty of gross indecency in New Canterbury-road on October 9. He was also charged with having acted in a similarly indecent manner in the same locality on September 29.
Six months’ gaol was imposed in each case, the sentences to be cumulative.
Mr Giles commented strongly on the shocking nature of the case.
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 Newtown courthouse under construction duriing 1880s.Photo ID: SRNSW 4481_a026_000509.jpg. Reproduction: Peter de Waal |
 Newtown courthouse, opened 9 Jun 1885. Photo ID: SRNSW 4481_a026_000510.jpg. Reproduction: Peter de Waal |
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The Daily Telegraph, Thu 25 Oct 1894 3
THE POLICE COURTS.
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DISOBEDIENCE OF A CREW.
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FIFTEEN MEN IMPRISONED FOR A MONTH.
In the Summons division of the Water Police Court yesterday, before Mr F Edwards, DSM, the crew of the steamer Craiglee, 15 in number, were charged with having, on Tuesday, 23rd inst., combined to disobey the lawful commands of the master.
Captain Leslie, master of the vessel, deposed that on Monday evening the defendants refused duty, and said they wished to be discharged, and re-engaged under colonial articles. They had signed articles for a foreign-going ship. He read an entry in the log to that effect over to the crew on Tuesday morning, and they still refused duty. He had been compelled to engage other men to do their work in connection with discharging. He produced the articles and the ship’s log. Other evidence was given showing that the ship was a colonially registered vessel.
It was sought to be shown for the defence that the men were working under articles that did not apply in these waters. They were engaged at Sunderland, England, in May last, on articles for a foreign-going vessel. These articles provided for a certain rate of wages, and it was for the deep sea voyage. The vessel arrived here in September, and has since been in the coastal trade. As the men engaged on steamers in this trade get £7 a month, instead of £4, which the crew of the Craiglee were drawing, the men became dissatisfied, and thought they were entitled to be re-engaged on the colonial terms instead of working out the three years of their articles.
Mr Edwards asked the men at the conclusion of the case if they were willing to go back to the ship. The men declined to do this unless they were engaged on the colonial articles, and he sent them all to gaol for a month, with hard labor.
The names of the defendants, who were seamen and firemen, were:—Michael Scott, William McCann, James McEvoy, William Brown, William Agnew, Joseph Arcicovich, Angelo Roggero, Walter Brown, Jas. Adamson, A Johnson, Robert Webb, Patrick Prior, W Milsnbrick, Frank Cronoiz, and A Carnegie.
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TWELVE MONTHS’ HARD LABOR.
Yesterday, at the Newtown Court, Ah See (26), a Chinese fruit and vegetable hawker, was charged with, on two separate occasions, in Old Canterbury-road, Ashfield, on 9th inst., and Victoria-street, Ashfield, on 16th., committing an act of indecency in the presence of school girls.
Accused was sentenced to six months’ hard labor on each charge, the sentences to be cumulative.
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Evening News, Thu 25 Oct 1894 4
NEWTOWN POLICE COURT.
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Annie Lewis, 45, married, indecent language, 20s, or 14 days.
George Marsh, 35, and Alice Marsh, 28, riotous conduct, 2s 6d each.
Thomas Hollins, 43, on remand, charged with having stolen some timber, the property of Charles Wood Bros, was fined £5, or two months.
William Sullivan, alias Lloyd, 24, was fined 40s, or 21 days, for having assaulted Constable Brown.
A Chinaman, Ah See, on remand, charged with having willfully committed an act of gross indecency, was sentenced to six months’ hard labor on two charges; the sentences to be cumulative.
Arthur Guinnery, 45, on remand, charged with embezzlement, was discharged.
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PRESENTATION.—Mr Hugh Taylor was on Tuesday evening made the recipient of a trinket, subscribed for by a number of his friends, in recognition of the service rendered by him to the townsfolk in getting the penny postal system extended to Parramatta in 1883. On that occasion a gold enamelled penny postage stamp was presented to Mr Taylor, which some months ago was lost, and it was to console him for that loss the presentation was made.
The trinket was presented by the Mayor, Alderman JW Withers, on behalf of the subscribers.
1 The Australian Star, (Sydney, NSW), Thu 25 Oct 1894, p. 3.
2 There is a gaol photograph avail be for Ah See from: SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6057], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1894-1895, No. 6153, p. 194, R5105.
3 The Daily Telegraph, (Sydney, NSW), Thu 25 Oct 1894, p. 4. Emphasis added.
4 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Thu 25 Oct 1894, p. 6. Emphasis added.