Evening News, Sat 10 Feb 1877 1

AMUSEMENTS.

…

————

    This morning at the Water Police Court, a young man named William Hunt, a soldier in the Permanent Artillery, No. 1 battery, was charged with having committed a bestial offence. The prisoner was first promptly brought before a court-martial, where it was decided to hand him over to the civil authorities to be dealt with. Evidence was now given by Corporal George Gins and Bugle-Major Henry Williams, and the case being clear, prisoner was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Criminal Court.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 12 Feb 1877 2

WATER POLICE COURT.
SATURDAY.

BEFORE Messrs Hunt and Taylor.

    Two persons were fined for drunkenness.

    William Hunt, an artilleryman, brought up by detective William Camphin on a charge of committing an unnatural offence, was committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Central Criminal Court.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Evening News, Thu 15 Feb 1877 3

CRIMINAL COURT.
————
WEDNESDAY.
(Before His Honor the Chief Justice.)

…

THIS DAY
SENTENCES.

…
    William Hunt was charged with having committed an unnatural offence. The prisoner was a soldier in No. 1 Battalion Permanent Artillery, and the offence was committed at Victoria Barracks. The witnesses examined were Corporal Ginns [sic] and Bugle-Major Williams. The jury without leaving the box, acquitted the prisoner of the capital charge, but found him guilty of the attempt. His Honor passed upon prisoner the heaviest sentence the law allowed, namely, two years’ hard labour in Darlinghurst gaol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 16 Feb 1877 4

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
THURSDAY.

    Before his Honor Sir James Martin, CJ.
…

UNNATURAL OFFENCE.

    William Hunt, a gunner in the New South Wales Permanent Artillery, No. 1 Battery, was charged with having committed this offence, [bestiality with a slut ], on the 31st January, at the Victoria Barracks, Paddington. The jury found the prisoner guilty of an attempt to commit the crime, and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with hard labour, in Darlinghurst gaol, that being the heaviest sentence allowed by law.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

William Hunt, Gaol photo sheet 5

SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6041], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1876-77, No. 1652, p. 206, R5099. p.1. SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6041], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1876-77, No. 1652, p. 206, R5099. p.2. 

Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 1652
No. on Gaol Register: 805/77

Date when Portrait was taken: 8th February 1877

Prisoner's Name: William Hunt

Native place: Kilkenny, Ireland

Year of birth: 1857

Arrived        Ship: Queensland
in Colony }   Year: 1873

Trade or occupation
previous to conviction  } Soldier

Religion: R. C.

Education, degree of: R&W

Colour of hair: Brown

Colour of eyes: Blue

Height: 5' 10¼"

Weight     On committal: 160
in lbs     }  On discharge: 

Marks or Special Features: 

Where and when tried: Sydney Sup. Criminal Court
15 February 1877

Offence: 

Sentence: 

Remarks: 

 (No. of Previous Portrait ...  ) 

PRISON HISTORY
Where and When Offence. Sentence

Sydney Sup. Criminal Court

15

 2

1877

Attempt to commit bestiality

2 years HL

 

1  Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Sat 10 Feb 1877, p. 4. Emphasis added.

2  The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 12 Feb 1877, p. 3. Emphasis added.

3  Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Thu 15 Feb 1877, p. 3. Emphasis added.

4  The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 16 Feb 1877, p. 2.

5  SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6041], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1876-77, No. 1652, p. 206, R5099.

 

Bestiality