Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 11 Nov 1890 1
GOULBURN POLICE COURT.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10.
BEFORE the Police Magistrate and Messrs J Clifford and EJ Ball, JsP.
…
ASSAULT WITH INTENT.
Sharaff [aka Sharaf] Dean (an Indian) was charged with assaulting Charles Harrison with intent to commit an indecent assault.
The case was heard in the magistrates’ room with closed doors.
After hearing the evidence of Constable Farrell and the prosecutor, the prisoner was remanded till the following morning with the object of procuring an interpreter, as the Bench were not satisfied that the prisoner sufficiently understands the nature of the charge, or the evidence that the witnesses had given.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11.
BEFORE the Police Magistrate and Messrs J Clifford and J Oliver, JsP.
…
INDECENT ASSAULT.
Sharaff Dean (an Indian) was brought up on remand charged with assaulting Charles Harrison with intent to commit an indecent offence upon him.
An interpreter from Sydney, who stated that he knew Hindustani and thoroughly understood the Bengal language, appeared on this occasion.
The Police Magistrate said he had requested Mr Johnson to watch the case on behalf of prisoner, as he was not convinced that he (prisoner) understood the position in which he was placed.
Further evidence was given by the prosecutor; Dr Gentle, and Nathaniel Kimber, a seaman, gave testimony; and the prisoner made a statement, alleging that Harrison attempted to commit an offence on him, and that he acted in self defence.
Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the Quarter Sessions, to be held in Goulburn on the 15th December. Bail allowed–prisoner in £100 and two sureties of £50 each.
Before Messrs J Clifford and J Oliver.
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The Goulburn Herald, Wed 12 Nov 1890 2
GOULBURN POLICE COURT.
———◦———
TUESDAY.
SITTING JUSTICES: The Police Magistrate and Messrs Clifford and Oliver.
…
ASSAULT.—Sharaff Dean (Indian hawker) was charged on remand with assaulting Charles Harrison with intent. At the request of the police Magistrate Mr Johnson (Mr Davidson’s office) watched the case on behalf of Dean.
Further evidence was given, and the accused who denied the charge was committed for trial at the quarter-sessions on 15th December next; bail allowed but not forthcoming, self in £100 and two sureties of £50 each.
The Police Magistrate here retired from the bench.
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Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 16 Dec 1890 3
GOULBURN QUARTER SESSIONS.
The sittings of this court commenced yesterday morning at 10 o’clock before his Honor Judge Murray. Mr Dawson prosecuted on behalf of the Crown; and the other legal gentlemen present were Messrs Betts, Davidson, Gannon, Johnson (Goulburn), and Bull (Sydney), solicitors. Mr W Davis, JP, acted as Deputy Sheriff and occupied a seat at the right of his Honor. Mr W Carson, CPS, officiated as Deputy Clerk of the Peace.
UNNATURAL OFFENCE.
Sharaff Dean (a Mahommedan) [sic] was placed in the dock and charged with having, at Goulburn, on the 8th November last, assaulted and attempted to commit an unnatural offence on an old man named Charles Harrison. There was a second count charging the prisoner with committing an indecent assault on the said Charles Harrison.
The prisoner (through an Indian interpreter named John Meer Hasmot) pleaded not guilty, and was undefended.
The facts of this case are that on the night of the 7th November the prosecutor, who was engaged in breaking stones on the Sydney road, camped in a tent about two miles from Goulburn, and during the night the prisoner came in and he (Harrison) allowed him to stop there. The prisoner remained about the camp all the next day, and about six o’clock on the night of the 8th November Harrison came into Goulburn for some provisions, and when he returned the prisoner was in bed. Later on Harrison turned into the same bed, which was made of leaves and straw, and during the night the offence was alleged to have been committed. The prosecutor at once went for the police, when the prisoner was overtaken on the Sydney road apparently making a retreat, and on being accused of the offence he said—“Me no good.” The prisoner put in a statement in defence, in which he alleged that the prosecutor attempted to commit a similar offence upon him, and that what he did to Harrison was purely in self defence.
The witnesses for the Crown were Charles Harrison, the prosecutor: Constable Griffith’s, who effected prisoner’s arrest; Dr Gentle, to whom prosecutor went to have his injuries attended to; and a labourer named Kimber, who was living in a tent not far from prosecutor’s.
Prisoner made a lengthy address to the jury, which was substantially the same as the statement made by him at the Police-court, which on the present occasion was read by the Crown-Prosecutor and handed in as evidence.
No witnesses were called by the prisoner for his defence.
His Honor summed up, pointing out that the evidence tended more towards the second count in the indictment than the first.
The jury, after about three-quarters of an hour’s absence, returned a verdict of not guilty, and prisoner was discharged.
1 Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 11 Nov 1890, p. 2. Emphasis added.
2 The Goulburn Herald, Wed 12 Nov 1890, p. 2.
3 Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 16 Dec 1890, p. 4. Emphasis added.