The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 13 May 1869 1
WATER POLICE COURT.
WEDNESDAY.
BEFORE the Water Police Magistrate, with Messrs Josephson and Spence.
…
William Croker was summoned for wilfully and obscenely exposing his person in George-street, but as he did not appear when called upon, a warrant was issued for his apprehension. Warren Epps, charged with suffering a horse to be tethered in a public place off Phillip-street, was fine 1s, and 3s 6d costs, defendant stating that he did not know he was violating the law.
John Mulvey, Robert Armstrong, Matthew Corbett, Michael Doyle, and George Huxley, charged with furious driving, were found guilty, and fined, the three former 40s each, and the two latter 20s, with 3s 6d costs in each case.
Clara Thompson, licensee of the Royal Albert Hotel, was fined 20s, and 6s 6d costs, for selling liquor at prohibited hours on Sunday, the 2nd instant.
William Bates was fined 40s for furiously riding; and for assaulting the person who complained of the offence he was further fined in the sum of £3, with the alternative of twenty-one days’ imprisonment.
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Empire, Tue 6 Jul 1869 2
WATER POLICE COURT.—MONDAY.
(Before the Water Police Magistrate, and Messrs Rattray, Williams, Hall, and A Thompson.)
…
William Croker was charged with indecency and using obscene language in George street in April last. This man, who had been summoned for the offence had evaded the summons. A warrant had been issued for his apprehension, but a discovery of his whereabouts was not made until his apprehension at Broken Bay, on Tuesday last, upon a charge of rape. He was sentenced to three months’ hard labour for his obscene language.
William Croker (the before mentioned) was now brought up charged with a rape upon a child named Isabella or Lizzie Guy, a girl under the age of twelve years, on Tuesday last, at Broken Bay. The particulars of this case are unfit, of course, for publication. It appeared that the prisoner was living as a labourer with he [sic] mother of prosecutrix, at Broken Bay. On Tuesday last he went to a well to fetch water for the house. The little girl accompanied him. On the way he took her into the bush, and committed the offence with which he was charged. The medical testimony, as given by Drs Shaw and Brown, went to show that an assault had been committed. The prisoner made a long rambling statement, and was fully committed for trial.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 6 Jul 1869 3
WATER POLICE COURT.
MONDAY.
Before the Water Police Magistrate, and Messrs A Thompson, T Hale, Chapman, Rattray, and Williams.
Henry Davey was brought up on warrant, charged with suffering from a derangement of the mind, and was ordered to be imprisonment for two days.
Antonio Tassi and Frederick McDonald were fined 10s each, in default two days’ gaol, for conducting themselves in a riotous manner on the Flagstaff Hill.
Fifteen drunkards were severally fined, with the alternative of short terms of imprisonment.
George Wilson appeared on summons, charged with assaulting George Pightling, by striking him on the head with his fist. Defendant was fined 10s and 8s 4d costs of court.
John Daly appeared on the information of his step-mother, Sarah Daly, charged with indulging in abusive language towards her, for which offence he was mulcted in the sum of 5s and 5s 6d costs.
William Croker was sent to gaol for three months for wilfully and obscenely exposing his person in George-street. The same prisoner was also charged with committing a rape upon Isabella Guy, aged 10 years. The offence was alleged to have taken place on the 29th ultimo, at Brisbane Water. Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next Court of gaol delivery, to be held on Monday, the 9th of August.
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Empire, Tue 31 Aug 1869 4
QUARTER SESSIONS.—Monday.
————
(Before his Honor Mr District Court Judge Simpson.)
…
INDECENT ASSAULT.
William Croker was indicted for having, on the 29th June at Pitt Water, indecently assaulted a female child, named Isabella Guy, of the age of ten years. Prisoner, who pleaded not guilty, was undefended. Mr Butler prosecuted for the Crown. The witnesses called were Senior-constable Garten, stationed at Manly Beach; Mrs Guy, Isabella Guy, Dr Shaw, and Dr Brown. Prisoner, it appears, was in the employ of the girl’s father at Pitt Water. On the 29th June the little girl went with the prisoner to get water, and while on the way the prisoner took the girl off the road and committed the alleged offence, the particulars of which are unfit for publication. The jury [sic] The prisoner’s defence was that he had not committed the offence charged against him. In his cross-examination of the witnesses, he elicited the facts, that a day or two before the little girl had been with Frank, a black man, to a Chinaman’s place to get some candles, and that the black man had given the child a shilling. The affair was not discovered for some days after it was alleged to have been committed. The jury, after some deliberation, returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was therefore discharged.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 31 Aug 1869 5
SYDNEY QUARTER SESSIONS.
MONDAY, 30th AUGUST.
BEFORE Mr District Court Judge Simpson.
…
INDECENT ASSAULT ON A CHILD.
William Croker was indicted for having, at Pittwater, on the 29th of June last, unlawfully and indecently assaulted a female child under the age of 10 years. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. The case for the Crown was conducted by Mr Butler. The prisoner was undefended. Senior-constable John Carton had arrested the accused on the charge preferred by the mother of the child. The particulars of the case are unfit for publication. Verdict: Not guilty.
The Judge ordered the prisoner to be discharged. He would express no opinion on this particular case; but he nevertheless, desired to say that in the event of any conviction being had before him on such a charge, he should give the offender at least three years.
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 13 May 1869, p. 2. Emphasis added.
2 Empire, Tue 6 Jul 1869, p. 4. Emphasis added.
3 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 6 Jul 1869, p. 2. Emphasis added.
4 Empire, Tue 31 Aug 1869, p. 4. Emphasis added.
5 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 31 Aug 1869, p. 2.