Evening News, Mon 8 Oct 1883 ¹

AN UNNATURAL OFFENCE.

    At the Water Police Court to-day R Matthews, 46, Royal Marines, and Joseph Harris, 20, a blue jacket, both of HMS Nelson, were brought up pn a charge of attempting to commit an abominable offence in a police cell on Saturday. It appeared that the prisoners were arrested as stragglers, in company with a third (since sent on board his vessel) and were placed in a cell together. A constable happened to look into the cell, saw what gave rise to suspicions, and upon entering immediately afterwards he witnessed something, upon which the present charge was founded, the strongest evidence appearing to be against the seaman Harris. Mr Cook appeared for Matthews. The case was heard with closed doors. The evidence of two constables was taken, and Dr Egan, medical officer to the police force, was also examined. Mr Cook pleaded for his client Matthews, that no evidence had been given against him on which a jury would convict on such a charge, and contended that he should be set at liberty. Mr Marsh could not see his way to do that as he viewed the case at present, but consented to postpone the case till next day, and Mr Cook might bring any additional evidence if he had such in the meantime. The prisoners were then removed.

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Evening News, Tue 9 Oct 1883 ²

BREVITIES.
————

…
    The man Matthews and Harris, a marine and seaman, respectively, belonging to HMS Nelson, were brought up on remand at the Water police court this morning, and were committed to take their trial at the Central Criminal Court, to be holden on the 5th proximo.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 10 Oct 1883 3

POLICE.
———◦———
CENTRAL POLICE COURT.

    Mr Crane, SM, presided on the Bench in the Charge Court yesterday.
…

WATER POLICE COURT.

    Messrs Marsh and Buchanan, SMs, presided at the Water Police Court yesterday.
…
    Raper Matthews [aka Rapier Mathews] and Joseph Harris were charged with having attempted to commit an offence against decency, and evidence having been heard in the case, they were committed for trial at the Criminal Court [sic–Quarter Sessions] to be held on the 5th November next.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 1 Nov 1883 ⁴

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
WEDNESDAY.
(Before Mr District Court Judge DOWLING.)

    Mr PJ Healy prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.

THE CASE OF BIGAMY.

    HIS HONOR directed the attention of the Crown Prosecutor to the case of the woman Marony, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy, and had on Tuesday morning been sentenced for that offence. He, when sentencing the woman, did not recommend her so-called second husband at the expiration of her term of punishment to take her home, but looking at him in the court, and knowing that she was the mother of two children by him, he (his Honor) expressed a hope that at the end of that time he would be kind to her, at the same time adding that it was not for him to lecture the man on the morality of the case. He never intended to say that the man should take the woman home, and he never said or implied that. He did not know what the clergyman would say of him if he recommended people to live in adultery.
…

AN INFAMOUS OFFENCE.

    Joseph Harris, a seaman of the Royal Navy, and Rapier Matthews, [aka Mathews], a mariner, were charged with having attempted to commit an infamous offence on the 6th October. The jury found the prisoner Harris guilty, and the other prisoner not guilty. Harris was remanded for sentence.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 2 Nov 1883 ⁵

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
THURSDAY.
(Before Mr District Court Judge DOWLING.)

    Mr PJ Healy prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.

JURORS FINED.

    The following jurors were fined 40s each for non-attendance:—Ballard T Bryant, jun, Glebe; Charles Henry Casey, Newtown; John Kimmins, 108 Riley-street; George Arthur, Alexander-street [sic], Hunter’s Hill.

The Case of Joseph Harris.

    Joseph Harris, a seaman of the Royal Navy, who on Wednesday was found guilty of having attempted to commit an offence of an infamous nature, was sentenced to be kept at hard labour for two years. 

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Evening News, Sat 3 Nov 1883 ⁶

QUARTER SESSIONS.
————
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31.

    The following cases were disposed of to-day by his Honor Mr District Court Judge Dowling: Mr PJ Healey prosecuting for the Crown:—
…
    Joseph Harris, a seaman of the Royal Navy, was found guilty of attempting to commit an abominable offence, and remanded for sentence; Rapier Matthews, charged along with the last-mentioned prisoner, was found not guilty and discharged.
…
    The seaman Joseph Harris, who had been found guilty of an attempt to commit an abominable offence, was sentenced to two years’ hard labour.

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Joseph Harris, Gaol photo sheet ⁷

 

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 2909
7786.83

Date when Portrait taken: 10th October 1883

Name: Joseph Harris

Native place: England Year of birth: 1864 Arrived        Ship: HMS Nelson in Colony }   Year: 1881  Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Seaman Religion: Wesleyan Education, degree of: R&Write Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue Height: 5' 4" Weight     On committal: 124 in lbs     }  On discharge:   Marks or Special Features:

Where and when tried: Sydney Q.S. 31st October 1883 Offence: Attempt to commit Sodomy Sentence: 2 years HL Sydney Gaol Remarks: Guilty

(No. of Previous Portrait ... )  PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
				Nil

   

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¹  Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Mon 8 Oct 1883, p. 3.

²  Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 9 Oct 1883, p. 3.

³  The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 10 Oct 1883, p. 5.

⁴  The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 1 Nov 1883, p. 7. Emphasis added.

⁵  The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 2 Nov 1883, p. 3.

⁶  Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Sat 3 Nov 1883, p. 6.

⁷  SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6045], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1883-1884, No. 2909, p. 129, R5101.

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