The Sydney Daily Telegraph, Fri 16 Feb 1883 1
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Three lads named Harry Williams, George Anderson, and Benjamin Whiffin were brought up charged with indecent conduct, by standing unclothed on some rocks at Coogee, in view of persons in Beach-street. They were each fined £2, or in default 14 days.
An Irishman named William Murphy was brought before Mr Marsh, SM, at the Water Police Court on Wednesday, charged with having wilfully impeded a tram guard named C Gilberthorp in the execution of his duty. The prisoner having failed to answer a summons for the offence, was arrested on a warrant. From the evidence adduced it appears that on October 4th last the prisoner was in the Randwick tram, smoking in the lower compartment, and that when the prosecutor told him to stop he became abusive. On being put out of the tram at College-street by the prosecutor he picked up stones and mud, with which he struck the prosecutor and a passenger named John Tait. He was ultimately secured and handed over to two policemen, from whose custody he succeeded in making good his escape. The tram while this scene was being enacted, was detained over five minutes . At the time the offence was committed the prisoner wore a beard which he had since shaved of with a view, doubtless, of eluding detection. The prisoner stoutly denied the charge, which, however , Mr Marsh considered had been clearly proved and inflicted a fine of £5, with 8s-4d costs in default one month’s imprisonment.
1 The Sydney Daily Telegraph, (NSW), Fri 16 Fev 1883, p. 2. Emphasis added.