George Runicus, 1879

Below also see: Charles Ashton, 1884,
George Ashton, 1888,
George Ashton, 1893,
John Earnshaw and George Henry Runnicus, 1898 – Indecent assault

 

The Argus, Fri 16 May 1879 ¹

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
———◦———
Thursday, May 15.
(Before His Honour Mr Justice Molesworth.)

    Mr JTT Smith prosecuted for the Crown.
…

STEALING.

    George Runicus, alias George Turner, was charged with stealing a watch and chain, valued at £5, the property of Miss B Sims, machinist and dressmaker, of Barkly-street, St Kilda. The watch and chain were missed from the prosecutrix’s dressing-room on the 3rd inst, and on the same day the prisoner pawned the watch at Mr Harris’s shop in Elizabeth-street. On the 5th he redeemed the pledge, and on the 8th inst he was arrested by Detective Lovie with the watch and chain in his possession. His defence was that he bought the pawn ticket from a man named Richard Howard, who, however, denied having any knowledge of the transaction.

    The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoner was remanded for sentence.

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The Argus, Sat 17 May 1879 ²

    The sittings of the Central Criminal Court were continued yesterday before his Honour Mr Justice Molesworth. The following sentences were passed:—
…
     George Runicus, two years’ hard labour for stealing from a dwelling;

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Bendigo Advertiser, Sat 17 May 1879 ³

MELBOURNE.
———◦———
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Friday, 16th May.

…
    The following sentences were passed at the Criminal Court this morning:—
…
     George Runclus, receiving, two years’.

 

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Charles Ashton, 1884
 

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 3 Apr 1884 ⁴

POLICE.
———◦———
CENTRAL POLICE COURT.

    Mr Crane, SM, sat in the Charge Court yesterday.
…
     Thomas Fitzroy and George Ashton alias Runnicus were charged with having stolen 29 pairs of boots, valued at £10, the property of JP Wright and Co, boot manufacturers, Elizabeth-street South. Detective Andrews deposed: At about 10 o’clock on Thursday morning last, Detective Greaves and witness saw the prisoner Ashton in George-street; he was carrying the carpet bag produced; they followed him to a pawn office, conducted by one Benjamin, in Market–street; he entered the pawn office, and they followed him into it, and ascertained something about him; the prisoner after leaving the office went along Pitt-street to Park-street; on his way witness noticed him tear pieces of paper; witness picked up one of the pieces and saw that it was part of a pawnticket; witness and detective Greaves then went up to him and asked him what he had in the bag which he was carrying; he replied that he had some boots, and in answer to a further inquiry by witness he said that he bought them at Dunn’s auction room, and that altogether he purchased six pairs at 4s per pair; witness and Detective Greaves brought the prisoner to the Central Police Station, and opened the bag; they found in it three pairs of boots, and they took the prisoner to Dunn’s auction room and asked him too point out the man whom he had bought them from, which he could not do; they then returned with him to the Police Station, and they asked him to show them where he lived; he at first agreed to do so, but afterwards he refused; having previously seen the prisoner entering a house at No. 24, Howard-street, witness and Detective Greaves went to the place, and, acting on the receipt of certain information, they searched a room which they ascertained had been occupied by Ashton; the prisoner Fitzroy was in the house; they found 24 pairs of new boots, which were in the bag; they removed them to the Central Police Station, and also took Ashton with them; the prisoner Fitzroy accompanied them; they then charged both of the prisoners with having stolen 29 pairs of boots, the property of JP Wright and Co; they made no reply. Phillip Josephs, a pawnbroker, carrying on business in Pitt-street, deposed: A person named Ashton pawned two pairs of boots (produced) at his establishment, one pair in the month of January last, and the other in the month of February; he could not swear that the prisoner Ashton was the same person. Bernard McCray, manager for Henry Benjamin, pawnbroker, carrying on business in Market-street, deposed: The prisoner Ashton pawned a pair of shoes (produced) at his establishment on the 27th March last. John P Wright deposed: He was a boot manufacturer, carrying on business in the name of JP Wright and Co; he identified the boots produced as his property; during the last few weeks he had missed boots from his factory; he had seen the prisoner Ashton at his establishment on one or two occasions, and when locking up the factory at night time he had noticed him in close vicinity to it. Both prisoners were committed for trial, and the Bench complimented Detectives Greaves and Andrews on the way in which they had worked up the case.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 8 Apr 1884 ⁵

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.—
Monday.
(Before Mr District Court Judge WILKINSON.)

    Mr PJ Healy prosecuted for the Crown.
…
     Thomas Fitzroy and Charles [aka George] Ashton were charged with having stolen 39 pairs of boots, valued at £10, from the factory of Messrs JP Wright and Co, Elizabeth-street South. The circumstances of this case were that the prisoner Ashton was seen walking along George-street on one occasion by Detectives Greaves and Andrews in a manner that aroused their suspicion. They in consequence followed him for some distance, and ultimately arrested him. He was carrying a carpet bag, in which three pairs of new boots were found. Subsequently the detectives visited a house in Howard-street occupied by the prisoner Fitzroy. They saw Fitzroy, and acting on the receipt of certain information they asked to be shown to a room which had been occupied by Ashton. In this room they discovered 24 pair of boots, and they also recovered some other boots from pawnbrokers. All these boots were identified by Mr JP Wright as the property of Messrs JP Wright and Co. Evidence was given to the effect that Ashton had been seen on previous occasions in the vicinity of the factory, and that he had at other times called at the establishment ostensibly for the purpose of obtaining employment. The jury found Ashton guilty, and brought in a verdict of not guilty against Fitzroy. His Honor then sentenced Ashton to five years’ imprisonment.

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George Ashton, Gaol photo sheet ⁶ 

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 3030
2996-84

Date when Portrait was taken: 3-4-1884

Name: George Ashton
(aka George Rennicus)

Native place: London Year of birth: 1844 Arrived       Ship: Whampoa in Colony }   Year: 1875 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Engineer Religion: R. Catholic Education, degree of: R & Write Height: 5' 8" Weight     On committal: 169 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Grey Colour of eyes: Grey Marks or special features: Hair thin to bald

Where and when tried: Sydney Q.S. 7 April 1884 Offence: Receiving stolen property Sentence: 5 years P.S. Remarks: Guilty

(No. of Previous Portrait ... )  PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Melbourne ditto Melbourne C Sessions	20 15 15	8 8  5	1877 1878  1879	Receiving stolen goods	6 months & 3 months Cumulative 6 months & 1 previous 2 years H.L.

 

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George Ashton, 1888

 

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 14 Dec 1887 ⁷

POLICE.
———◦———

    Mr Clarke, SM, dealt with the charge cases at the CENTRAL POLICE COURT yesterday.
…
    Mr TK Abbott, SM, presided at the REDFERN POLICE COURT. Geo Ashton, 46, on remand, charged with breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Thomas Lopez, Elizabeth-street, Redfern, and stealing therefrom a quantity of jewellery, some clothing, and £5 in cash, was committed to take his trial at the Court of Quarter Sessions, bail being allowed him in two sureties of £100 each, and one of self in £200.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 2 Feb 1888 ⁸

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
Wednesday.
(Before His Honor Judge FORBES.)

    Mr GH Fitzhardinge prosecuted for the Crown.
…

BREAKING AND ENTERING AND STEALING.

    George Ashton was charged with having, on the 3rd December last, broken into the dwelling-house of Thomas Lopez, at Redfern, and stolen some wearing apparel, watches, and jewellery, and £5 in money. Evidence was given to the effect that the prosecutor’s house was broken into during the absence of the family at market in the morning, and the articles were stolen; that the prisoner pawned two of the watches on the same night, and was wearing some of the clothing when arrested. The prisoner made a long statement, to the effect that he had been hunted down by the detectives on trumped-up charges, and he denied any knowledge of the theft.

    The jury found the prisoner guilty, and a sentence of five years’ penal servitude was passed upon him. The prisoner had just left gaol after serving a sentence of five years’ imprisonment for receiving stolen property.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

George Ashton, Gaol photo sheet ⁹ 

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 4066
2996-84

 Date when Portrait was taken: 17-12-1887

Name: George Ashton
(aka George Rennicus)

Native place: England Year of birth: 1842 Arrived       Ship: Whampoa in Colony }  Year: Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Machinist or Engineer Religion: C of E Education, degree of: RW Height: 5' 8½" Weight     On committal: 165 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Grey Colour of eyes: Grey Marks or special features: Hair thin to bald

Where and when tried: Sydney Q.S. 1 Feb 1888 Offence: Break, Enter & Steal Sentence: 5 years PS Remarks:

(No. of Previous Portrait ... 3030 )  PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS

Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Syd Q.S. Redfern PC	7 15	4 10	1884 1887	Receiving stolen property Having supposed stolen property	5 years P.S. Exam to Police
Melbourne History
Melbourne ditto Melbourne C Sessions	20 15 15	8 8  5	1877 1878  1879	Receiving stolen goods	6 months & 3 months Cumulative 6 months & 1 previous 2 years H.L.

 

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George Ashton, 1893
 

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 5 Jan 1893 ¹⁰

POLICE.
———◦———

    Mr Cornelius Delohery, SM, presided in the Central Police Court on Tuesday.
…
    Mr Smithers, DSM, presided at the Water Police Court on Tuesday,
…
    Yesterday, before Mr GH Smithers, DSM,
…
    George Ashton, an old man, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on John Keller. The case for the prosecution was that the men were camped together in Moore Park, and as the outcome of a quarrel the accused struck Keller with a piece of iron piping and injured him about the head so severely that the had to be taken to the hospital. Ashton said that he was suffering from an injury to his head, but he attacked the prosecutor in self-defence. He was, however, committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 1 Feb 1893 ¹¹

SYDNEY QUARTER SESSIONS.—
TUESDAY.
(Before his Honor FITZHARDINGE and juries.)

    Mr Merewether prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…

ALLEGED GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM.

    George Ashton, an old man, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm oh John Heller, at Randwick, on the 28th December last. It was stated that the accused and Keller were camping together in a tent at Moore Park, and on the day in question accused, who had been drinking, struck his companion on the head with a piece of iron piping and injured him so severely that he had to be taken to the hospital. The defence was that Keller first assaulted Ashton, and the latter in self-defence, and after he had been thrown out of the tent, picked up the piece of iron piping. The jury found accused not guilty, and he was discharged.

 

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John Earnshaw and George Henry Runnicus, 1898
 

The Daily Telegraph, Wed 6 Apr 1898 ¹²

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
(Before judge Murray.)
(Mr WL Merewether, Crown Prosecutor.)

  John Earnshaw a middle-aged man, and George Henry Runnicus, an elderly man of venerable appearance, pleaded “not guilty” to having committed a serious offence on March 4. The jury returned a verdict of guilty against both the accused. They recommended Earnshaw to mercy, on the ground that at the time of the offence he was under the influence of liquor, and they also asked the judge to deal leniently with Runnicus, as they did not consider him fully responsible for his actions. His Honor remarked that he would give due consideration to the recommendations of the jury, and he then remanded the accused for sentence.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 6 Apr 1898 ¹³

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before his Honor Judge Murray.)

    Mr WL Merewether was Crown Prosecutor.

ASSAULT.

    John Earnshaw, a middle-aged man, and George Henry Runnicus, an old man, pleaded not guilty to having committed a serious offence on March 4. The jury retired to consider their verdict at 11.15 am, and returned at 3.30 pm with a verdict of guilty against both accused. They recommended the former to mercy on the ground that at the time of the offence he was under the influence of liquor; whilst Runnicus they did not consider fully responsible for his actions, and also asked that he be dealt with leniently. The Judge said he would give consideration to the jury’s recommendations, and he remanded them for sentence.

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The Daily Telegraph, Wed 13 Apr 1898 ¹⁴

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
(Before judge Murray.)

    Mr WL Merewether, Crown prosecutor.
…

SENTENCES.

…
    John Earnshaw and George Runnicus, for a criminal offence, were each sentenced to three years’ penal servitude.
…

PATENTS AND INVENTIONS.
———

    The following list of applications for letters patent and certificates of provisional protection (the latter denoted by an asterisk) have been filed during the week ending April 7:—

    An automatic roof dirt collector and water cleaner, for preventing the first rainfall upon the roofs of buildings from entering the storage tanks until the same is perfectly pure and fit for drinking purposes.—Robert Potts, Arthur-street, Woolloongabba, South Brisbane, Queensland. No. 8262.

    Improvements in two-wheeled vehicles such as sulkies, dogcarts, and the like.—William Joseph Butler, Sydney, NSW. No. 8263. *

    An improved clothes washing machine.—Charles Benford Sumsion, Drummond-street, Oakleigh, Victoria. No. 8264.

    An improved apparatus for the treatment of slimes and tailings to extract the precious metals therefrom.—Thomas James Denny, 29 Great George-street, Westminster, England. No. 8265.

    Pneumatic wheel tire.—George Henry Clark, Brighton-avenue, Boston, State of Massachusetts, USA. No. 8266.

    Improvements in ploughs.—William Duff Ritchie, Clyde-street, Granville, NSW. No. 8267. *

    A water heater for baths.—Charles Henry Matthews, 3 Leichhardt-street, Waverley, NSW. No. 8268 *

    The continuous and automatic elevating of water by its own weight.—Frank Montague Hillyard Gibson, Leichhardt, near Sydney, NSW. No. 8269. *

    Means for preventing the fraudulent refilling of bottles.—William Joseph Hoyle Richards, Lewisham, NSW. No. 8270. *

    Am improved beater for grain-stripping machines and the like.—Frederick Chapple, Sydney, NSW. No. 8271.

    Bicycle riding gallery.—William Henry Gowers, 2 Bizzle-street, Brunswick, Victoria. No. 8272. *

    An improved screen and draught increaser for fire grates.—William Hellibone Birch, 87 Cowper-street, Footscray, Victoria. No. 8273. *

    Improvements in and relating to self-feeding apparatus for ruling, printing, rolling, lithographic, and like machines.—Frederick William Vickery, 14 Newcastle-street, London, England. No. 8274.

    Improvements in or relating to the treatment of ores and in apparatus therefor.—Elizabeth Barnston Parnell, West-street, Carshalton, Surrey, England. No. 8275.

    An improved elastic viscous composition, principally useful for automatically closing and sealing punctures in pneumatic tires.—George John Betts, 44 Beaconsfield-parade, and Frederick Theodore Bower, 13 Grey-street, both of St Kilda, Victoria. No. 8276.

    A method and apparatus for separating diamonds from earthy matters.—George Labram, Kimberley, Cape of Good Hope. No. 8277.

    Improvements relating to pneumatic valves.—George Edwin Grimwood, Christchurch, NZ. No. 8278. *

    Process of preserving organic substances.—Henri Auguste Lacroix, 21 Boulevard Poissonniere, Paris, and Alfred Carles de Caudemberg, Nice, both of France. No. 8279. *

    An improved machine for shearing or clipping sheep or other animals.—Joseph Alders,1 Bannaby-road, Taralga, NSW. No. 8280.

    Improvements in making white lead.—John Stewart Macarthur, 589 Shields-road, Glasgow, Scotland. No. 8281.

    An improved ventilator.—Tom Smart, Hawera, NZ. No. 8282.

    An improved nail.—Hedley Livingstone Waddell Button, Launceston, Tasmania. No. 8135.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 13 Apr 1898 ¹⁵

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Murray.)

    Mr WL Merewether was Crown Prosecutor.

SENTENCES.

…
    John Earnshaw and George Runnicus, convicted of assault, were each sentenced to three years’ penal servitude

 

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George Henry Runnicus, Gaol photo sheet ¹⁶ 

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 7365
E[ntry] book 1067/98

 Date when Portrait was taken: 6-4-1898

Name: George Henry Runnicus

Native place: London Year of birth: 1820 Arrived       Ship: Whampoa in Colony }   Year: 1875 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Engineer Religion: C of E Education, degree of: Read & write Height: 5' 7⅛" Weight     On committal: 171. in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Grey Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Scar on back edge of left forearm, and on back of right middle finger

(No. of Previous Portrait ... 4066, 3030 )  CONVICTIONS

Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Melbourne PC ditto Melbourne Q.S. Sydney Q.S. Sydney Q.S. Central PC Sydney Q.S. ditto Padington PC	20 15 15   7   1 20 31   5 21	8 8  5 4 2 4 1 4 3	1877 1878  1879 1884 1888 1892 1893 1898 1901	Receiving stolen goods Receiving stolen property Break, Enter & Steal Vagrancy Inflict grievous bodily harm Accessory after the fact to an indecent assault on a male person Stealing	6 months & 3 months Cumulative 6 months & 1 previous 2 years H.L. 5 years P.S. 5 years P.S. (?) to police 21.4.1892 Acquitted 3 years P.S. £1 or 7 days HL

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

John Earnshaw, Gaol photo sheet ¹⁷ 

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details         

No. 7366
E[ntry] book 1068-98  

 Date when Portrait was taken: 6-4-1898

Name: John Earnshaw 

Native place: England Year of birth: 1854 Arrived       Ship: Austral in Colony }   Year: 1883 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Stonecutter Religion: C of England Education, degree of: R&W Height: 5' 8¾" Weight     On committal: 154 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Tips of left 2nd + 3rd fingers jammed + nails of both fingers deformed. Scars on right cheek, over left eye, and along side right eye

(No. of Previous Portrait ...  )  CONVICTIONS

Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Water PC ditto ditto Sydney Q.S.	25 16 21   5	10   3    1   4	1890 1893 1895 1898	Drunk & disorderly ditto Drunk Indecent assault on a male	20/- or 7 days C. Biloela [gaol] 20/- or 7 days C. 5/- or 24 hours C. 3 years PS

 

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¹     The Argus, Fri 16 May 1879, p. 3.

²     The Argus,  Sat 17 May 1879, p. 7.

³     Bendigo Advertiser (Vic), Sat 17 May 1879, p. 3.

⁴     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 3 Apr 1884, p. 5. Emphasis added.

⁵     The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 8 Apr 1884, p. 5. Emphasis added.

⁶     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6046], Darlinghurst Photograph description books, 1884, No. 3030, p. 5, R5101.

⁷     The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 14 Dec 1887, p. 6.

⁸     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 2 Feb 1888, p. 6.

⁹     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6049], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1887-1888, No. 4066, p. 63, R5102.

¹⁰   The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 5 Jan 1893, p. 3.

¹¹   The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 1 Feb 1893, p. 4.

¹²   The Daily Telegraph, Wed 6 Apr 1898, p. 4.

¹³   The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 6 Apr 1898, p. 5.

¹⁴   The Daily Telegraph, Wed 13 Apr 1898, pp. 5, 10.

¹⁵   The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 13 Apr 1898, p. 4.

¹⁶   SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6062], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1897-1898, No. 7365, p. 189, R5107.

¹⁷   SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6062], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1897-1898, No. 7366, p. 190, R5107.

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