The Cooma Express, Sat 24 Nov 1883 1
COOMA QUARTER SESSIONS.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21st, 1883.
BEFORE His Honor Judge McFarland, the Police Magistrate and Mr TW Faulkner had seats on the Bench.
Legal profession present:—Messrs JD Backhouse Crown Prosecutor, and E Bennett, barrister; Messrs Dawson, Blaxland and Crang solicitors; Inspector Meares acted as sheriff.
UNLAWFUL ASSAULT.
Richard Maloney was charged with committing an unnatural offence on on [sic] one Charles Eager in the Cooma gaol on the night of the 12th of November last.
Prisoner pleaded not guilty and was undefended.
Jury: T Wilford, P Murphy, M Power, M Hilly, John Main, Wm Fergus, H Thornton, M Coffey, J Mackay, H Locker, R Crawford, Wm Seears.
Charles Eagar a boy of 15 years, a prisoner in Cooma gaol, stated:—Prisoner, Harrington, an old man, and myself were in the cell on the night of the 12th November; on Sunday night I slept with boots, trousers and shirt on, on the following morning (Here the witness described with a painful fluency the manner of the revolting assault)
Timothy Harrington and the acting gaoler, also gave evidence, but of no material value; when McCann charged the prisoner with assault, he stated: “Gracious God, I know nothing about it.”
The jury retired for 5 minutes and returned a verdict of not guilty.
The prisoner was discharged upon the count.
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The Manaro Mercury and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser, Sat 24 Nov 1883 2
COOMA QUARTER SESSIONS.
WEDNESDAY, 21st NOVEMBER.
BEFORE his Honor Judge McFarland.
Mr Backhouse, Crown Prosecutor.
Legal gentlemen present: Messrs Bennett (barrister) and H Dawson, F Blaxland, and WB Crang (attorneys).
The case against AC Llewellyn, for embezzlement, was, by request of Mr Bennett, allowed to stand over till Thursday.
…
ATTEMPTED UNNATURAL OFFENCE.
Richard Maloney was charged with having, on 12th November, feloniously assaulted Chas Eagar in Cooma Gaol.
Jury: Thomas Wilford, Patrick Murphy, senior, Matthew Power, Michael Hilly, John Main, Wm Fergus, Henry Thornton, Michael Coffey, John Mackay, Henry Locker, Robert Crawford, William Seears.
Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was undefended,
Charles Eagar, a prisoner in Cooma Gaol under sentence of three months for theft, swore that prisoner attempted to commit the offence; he complained two days afterwards. (The boy Eagar is about 15 years of age.)
Timothy Harrington said: I was in the same cell; the boy made a complaint, and I informed the gaoler; heard nothing occurring.
Francis McCann, acting gaoler at Cooma, sworn: Prisoner, the boy, Harrington, and a lunatic were in the one cell on night of 12th instant; a complaint was made to me on 14th instant; I charged prisoner, and he denied ti.
His Honor summed up.
After consideration for five minutes, the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 24 Nov 1883 3
COUNTRY NEWS.
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(By Telegraph.)
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)
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Cooma, Friday.
A lecture was given last evening by his Honor Judge McFarland, in the School of Arts. Mr A Montague occupied the chair. The hall was crowded, and the subject, “Scenes from the Maratime [sic] History of Australia,” was thoroughly appreciated by the large audience.
1 The Cooma Express, Sat 24 Nov 1883, p. 2. Emphasis added.
2 The Manaro Mercury and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser, Sat 24 Nov 1883, p. 4.
3 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 24 Nov 1883, p. 12.