Nautical School Ship Vernon, Entrance Book, Phillip Mead, 1886-1889 1
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Name: Phillip Mead |
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Warrant. |
For that he is at Condobolin in the Colony of New South Wales a child under the age of 16 years to wit the age of 13 years & found wandering about the streets in no ostensible lawful occupation |
Boy’s statement |
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Bench and date of committal |
Condobolin 27th July 1887 |
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Name, date, and place of birth, and religion |
Phillip Mead, April 1874, Condobolin, Church of England |
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Nature of evidence as to foregoing |
Stepfather’s evidence |
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Education. School attended |
Read & write Public School at Condobolin |
Boy’s appearance on arrival |
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Character. State if previously before a Bench of Magistrates. How many times. Nature of offences. How dealt with. Police report as to antecedents, companions, &c. |
Not good. Yes, twice: Threatening a dog – fined; Larceny – discharged |
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State if he has been an inmate of any orphanage, asylum, reformatory, or any institution, or in any way under State control |
No inmate of any Asylum |
Education |
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Handwriting on Arrival: Phillip Mead |
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Do. on Departure |
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Circumstances leading to child being sent to Industrial School |
On account of his parents having no control over him & found wandering about the streets |
Left Ship |
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Apprenticed to |
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Parents’ names in full, occupation, earnings. Number of children. Have any been inmates of any institution. |
William Charles Henry (Gerksonberg ?), Stepfather Butcher. Invalid not earning anything 8 children. Sophia (Gerksonberg ?) never been an inmate of any institutions |
Term |
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Profession |
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Full particulars as to parents’ general character as known to police. Police to state if boy has been arrested on present occasion by parents’ desire or independently |
The character of parents general character good was arrested independently of parents |
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Wages (banked) |
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Do. (pocket-money) |
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Précis of evidence, dwelling more particularly upon any important features in connection with the case |
The boy was arrested by the Police on a charge of stealing jewellery from a dwelling house to the value of £10 & discharged he was subsequently rearrested by police for being a child under the age of 16 years to wit of the age of 13 years & found wandering about the streets in no ostensible lawful occupation his stepfather stated he had lost control over him since he (stepfather) became invalid the boy would sleep away from home at night and go wandering about the (birth ?) parents unable to contribute towards his maintenance. |
After Career |
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State of health |
Good |
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Name Committing Magistrate |
Greg Innes, JP., Stephenson, JP. |
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Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Sat 19 Apr 1890 2
TARALGA.
(From our Correspondent.)
POLICE COURT.—At the sittings of the Police Court yesterday a youth named Phillip Mead was charged with the commission of an unnatural offence. The accused was employed by Mr JT Dillon, and I believe it was at the instance of Mr Dillon the present prosecution took place. After hearing a quantity of evidence the Bench committed the accused for trial at the coming Circuit Court in Goulburn. Mead is, I understand, 17 years of age.
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Depositions for Phillip Mead 23 Apr 1890 Goulburn trial 3
[Received at] Attorney General’s Department, Sydney 16 April 1890, No. 560
Court House
Taralga 14th April 1890
Regina v. Phillip Mead – Sodomy
Sir
I have the honor to state in regard to this case that in my opinion the crime was in reality committed on the child Frederick Dillon. The evidence although meagre, is of such a character that it compels me to commit the accused to the next Circuit Court holden at Goulburn on the 21st May.
It is a matter of regret that the mother of the child did not at once have the Police informed as 1st Class Constable Colyer could have taken steps to have had the child examined by a Medical Man at Goulburn. The offence was committed on the 6th inst & the Police were not informed till 12th inst, too late in my opinion for a medical man to detect any violation of the child. The boy’s clothes were washed on the day after.
The offender is in his sixteenth year and is a NSS Vernon apprentice.
Mrs Dillon suppressed giving information to the Police as her husband was away from home.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servant
[Signed] W[illiam] H[enry] Whiting, JP.
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(M., 11 and 12 Vict., Cap. 42.)
Depositions of Witnesses.
TO WIT.
The examination of Lewis JH Colyer of Taralga in the Colony of New South Wales, 1st class Constable of Police, Rebecca Dillon of Strathaird and May Roberts of Strathaird and James J Dillon of Strathaird in the said Colony, taken on Monday this fourteenth day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty ninety at Taralga in the Colony aforesaid, before the undersigned, one of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said Colony, in the presence and hearing of Phillip Mead who is charged this day before me for that he the said Phillip Mead did on the sixth day of April instant at Strathaird in the said Colony, assault Frederick Dillon and then wickedly and against the order of nature carnally knew the said Frederick Dillon, and did commit with the said Frederick Dillon the abominable crime of buggery.
[Signed] WH Whiting, JP.
Lewis James Henry Colyer on oath states:– I am a First Class Constable of Police stationed at Taralga. On Sunday 13th April 1890 I was in company with Mr James J Dillon, his two sons Frederick & Gordon Dillon and the accused, Phillip Mead now before the Court at Mr James J Dillon’s residence at Strathaird. I said to Frederick Dillon in the presence of accused and Mr James J Dillon, “Do you know who that is?”, pointing to the accused. Frederick Dillon replied “Yes.” I said “Who is it?” He replied “Phillip”. I said “What did he do to you,” he replied “He put his mickey into my bottom. I said “When?,” he replied “On Sunday in the shed.” I said “Did it hurt you?” He replied “Yes”. I said “Did you feel anything wet on your bottom?,” he replied “Yes.” I said “Did you tell your mother about it?” He replied “Yes”. I said to the accused “Do you hear what Freddy says?” He replied “Yes.” I then arrested the accused and charged him with committing the crime of sodomy on Frederick Dillon at Strathaird on the 6th April 1890, in reply to which he said “I am not guilty.” The accused is an apprentice to Mr James J Dillon of Strathaird from the Nautical School Ship Vernon and as far as my knowledge goes he was a well conducted boy. The accused informed me that he will be sixteen years of age on 27th April instant. Frederick and Gordon Dillon are children.
[Signed] Lewis JH Colyer, 1st cl P Const.
Taken and sworn before me at Taralga this 14th day of April 1890.
[Signed] WH Whiting, JP.
James John Dillon being duly sworn states:– I am a farmer residing at Strathaird. I remember Saturday 15th inst. I returned the evening before from Sydney. On returning my wife informed me that the accused had Fredk Dillon my son in the barn and took down his trousers and committed the crime of sodomy on him. I spoke to the accused on the 12th instant about his conduct. I said to accused “This is nice conduct you have been going on with the children.” The accused commenced to cry and said “I did nothing.” I said to him “I will send for the police and have you arrested.” I then sent him on horseback into a back paddock. He was longer away than he should be and I sent two boys after him & they found the horse he was riding in the paddock but accused was gone. I then sent information to the police. I did not examine the boy’s person. I remember Sunday 13th inst. I was in company with Const Colyer, the accused and my two little boys, Gordon and Fredk. I heard my son Fredk describe the offence to the court in the presence of the accused. I remember the Const ask Fredk what the accused did to him & he replied that “The accused had him took me into the garden barn & took down my trousers and put his Mickey into my bottom & that my bottom was wet after it.” The Court asked Fredk if it hurt him and he replied “Yes.” The Court asked Phillip the accused if he heard what Fredk said & he replied “Yes.”
[Signed] James J Dillon.
Taken and sworn att Taralga the 14th April 1890 before me.
[Signed] WH Whiting, JP.
Rebecca Dillon being duly sworn states:– I am the wife of JJ Dillon of Strathaird. I remember Tuesday last 6th Inst. I heard a conversation between my two boys Fredk and Gordon. Fredk is four years old on 27th April and Gordon is 5 years old 27th of March past. From the conversation I heard I learnt of an offence of an abominable nature being committed on my children Fredk and Gordon. I afterwards heard a conversation between the accused and my two boys. Gordon said “I told my mother what you did to me” and Phillip (the accused) replied “Why did you tell your mother? What did she say?” Gordon answered “Mother says you deserved a horse-whipping.” The accused replied “I will do it to you again.” The conversation referred to what the accused did to Fredk. May Roberts The conversation occurred in the kitchen. May Roberts a servant of mine was passing in & out of the kitchen during the conversation. I did examine Fredk. He did not appear to have been tampered with I did not observe any thing about his person to lead me to think he had been tampered with. May Roberts said to me that she heard part of the conversation between the accused and my two boys.
[Signed] Rebecca Dillon.
Taken and sworn at Taralga this 14th day of April 1890 before me.
[Signed] WH Whiting, JP.
May Roberts being duly sworn states:– I reside with Mr Dillon at Strathaird as a domestic servant. I remember Sunday 6th instant. I remember the accused Gordon & Fredk being in the kitchen, and the accused also. I heard Gordon say to the accused “I told mother what you done Phillip.” The accused replied “Did you?” Gordon then said “Mother said she would get the buggy whip to you.” The conversation referred to an offence committed by the accused on Fredk Dillon. The accused and myself are on good terms & I have no ill feeling towards him. I know the conversation referred to an offence because I heard Gordon tell his mother of the offence being committed on his brother Fredk.
[Signed] MP Roberts
Taken and sworn at Taralga this 14th day of April 1890 before me.
[Signed] WH Whiting, JP.
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(N., 11 & 12 Vic., Cap. 42.)
Statement of the Accused.
New South Wales,
TO WIT. }
Phillip Mead stands charged before the undersigned, one of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace in and for the Colony aforesaid, this fourteenth day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety for that he, the said Phillip Mead on the sixth day of April instant at Strathaird in the said Colony, did assault Frederick Dillon and then wickedly and against the order of nature carnally knew the said Frederick Dillon and did commit with the said Frederick Dillon the abominable crime of buggery and the examinations of all the witnesses on the part of the prosecution having been completed, and the depositions taken against the accuse having been caused to be read to him by me, the said Justice, (by/or) before whom such examination has been so completed; and I, the said Justice, having also stated to the accused and given him clearly to understand that he has nothing to hope from any promise of favour, and nothing to fear from any threat which may have been holden out to him to induce him to make any admission or confession of his guilt, but that whatever he shall say may be given in evidence against him upon his trial, notwithstanding such promise or threat; and the said charge being read to the said Phillip Mead and the witnesses for the prosecution Lewis JH Colyer, James J Dillon, Rebecca Dillon and May Roberts being severally examined in his presence, the said Phillip Mead is now addressed by me as follows:– “Having heard the evidence, do you wish to say anything in answer to the charge? You are not obliged to say anything unless you desire to do so; but whatever you say will be taken down in writing and may be given in evidence against you upon your trial;” whereupon the said Phillip Mead saith as follows:– “I have nothing to say”
Taken before me, at Taralga in the said Colony, the day and year first above mentioned.
[Signed] WH Whiting, JP.
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G. 190.
REGINA.
versus
Phillip Mead
Offence,— Sodomy
The accused stands committed to take his trial at the next Court of Circuit Court to be holden at Goulburn, on the twenty first day of April 1890. Bail allowed the accused in £ and two sureties in £ each, or one in £
[Signed] WH Whiting, JP.
Dated at Taralga Police
Office,
this fourteenth
day of April
AD 1890
4g 416 - 88
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(O. 1, 11 & 12 Vic., Cap. 42.)
Recognizance to give Evidence.
New South Wales,
TO WIT. }
Be it remembered, that on the fourteenth day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty ninety Lewis JH Colyer a Constable of the Police Force, James J Dillon of Strathaird in the Colony of New South Wales, Rebecca Dillon of Strathaird in the said Colony, personally came before the undersigned one of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the Colony of New South Wales, and acknowledged themselves to owe Our Sovereign Lady the Queen the sum of
FORTY POUNDS EACH,
of good and lawful money of Great Britain, to be made and levied on their Goods and Chattels, Lands and Tenements, to the use of our said Lady the Queen, her Heirs and Successors, if they the said before mentioned persons shall fail in the Condition indorsed.
[Signed] Lewis JH Colyer 1st C Const, James J Dillon, Rebecca Dillon, MP Roberts.
Taken and acknowledged, the day and year first above mentioned, at Taralga in the said Colony, before me,
[Signed] WH Whiting, JP.
The Condition of the within-written Recognizance is such, that whereas Phillip Mead was this day charged before William Henry Whiting Esquire, one of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said Colony, with on the sixth day of April instant at st with that he did assault Frederick Dillon and then wickedly and against the order of nature carnally knew the said Frederick Dillon and did commit with the said Frederick Dillon the abominable crime of buggery.
If therefore, they the before-mentioned persons shall appear at the next Circuit Court to be holden at Goulburn in and for the Colony of New South Wales, on the twenty first day of April next, at nine of the clock in the forenoon, and then and there give such evidence as they know, upon an Information to be then and there preferred against the said Phillip Mead for the offence aforesaid, to the Jurors who shall pass upon the trial of the said Phillip Mead. Then the said Recognizance to be void, or else to stand in full force and virtue.
[Signed] WH Whiting, JP.
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[On the depositions’ cover sheet is the following]
Circuit Court,
Goulburn
21st April 1890
No. 113
Depositions.
Regina
v.
Phillip Mead
Sodomy
See within [initialled] G[eorge] B[owen] S[impson] AG 16/4/90
Committed at: Taralga
on: 14th April1890
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Cor [MH] Stephen J
Apr 23
Pleads guilty to indecent assault.
Sentence. 12 mths imprisonment in Goulburn gaol.
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1. Buggery
2. Indecent assault upon a male person
[signed] GB Simpson AG
See section 374.
The boys Gordon and Frederick Dillon should be (?) at the Court and then evidence taken if the Judge will (recommend ?) it. See section 343 and 40 (?) (?) 8 section 3.
[Initialled] GBS [AG] 16/4/90
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Not stated in what Gaol accused is confined, memo sent to (H ?) (S ?) Just.
16.4.90
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Urgent
Necessary steps to be taken
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Justice MH Stephen’s notebook 4
77
[Goulburn, Wednesday 23 April 1890]
Phillip Mead
1. Unnatural offence
2. Indecent assault
Plea Guilty to 2nd count.
John Dillon. Called as to character – Prisoner in my service for 12 months from Vernon.
78
Could not be a better boy.
Collier. 5 Constable. Has been frequently under my observation – well conducted – best boy Dillon says he ever had.
12 months Imprisonment, hard labour, Goulburn Gaol. Separate treatment.
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The Goulburn Herald, Thu 24 Apr 1890 6
GOULBURN ASSIZES.
The business of this court was resumed before his Honor Mr Justice [MH] Stephen at half-past nine on Thursday morning.
JURORS FINED.
Patrick Byrne, who failed to attend as a juror on Monday and Tuesday, was fined 40/- for each day’s absence.
…
UNNATURAL OFFENCE AT STRATHAIRD.
Phillip Mead, sixteen, an apprentice from the Vernon, was charged with committing at Strathaird near Taralga, an unnatural offence. There was a second count for indecent assault.
Prisoner, who was defended by Mr Moriarty, instructed by Mr Betts, pleaded guilty to the second count.
The Crown-prosecutor accepted this plea.
Mr Moriarty called [James] John Dillon, father of the boy upon whom the assault was committed, who gave prisoner as excellent character generally.
Constable [Lewis James Henry] Colyer, stationed at Taralga, also gave prisoner a good character.
Mr Moriarty addressed his Honor in mitigation of sentence, urging prisoner’s previous good character.
His Honor said the least punishment he could inflict would be twelve months’ hard labour. If it were not for the good character given to prisoner he would have ordered him a flogging. The offence with which he was charged appeared to becoming frequent, as he had heard like cases at the last three courts at which he had sat, and at Yass a boy from the Vernon stated the offence was frequent on board that ship. He (his Honor) had been since told that a watch is kept on board the Vernon, but he should make it his business to make a representation of the statement to the authorities. He then sentenced prisoner to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour in Goulburn gaol.
This concluded the criminal business.
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Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 26 Apr 1890 7
GOULBURN.
April 22.
…
THE CIRCUIT COURT, before his Honor Mr Justice Stephen, was opened yesterday. Mr W Edgar acted as associate. Mr E Field prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, assisted by Mr J Williams, jun, of the Crown Solicitor’s Office. The legal profession was represented by Messrs Moriarty and Colonna Close (barristers), Betts, Gannon, Davidson, O’Brien, Howard, and F Brennan, of Yass (solicitors).
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Phillip Mead, Gaol photo sheet 8
![SRNSW: NRS2232, [3/5969a], Goulburn Gaol photographic description book, Dec 1884-May 1880, No. 712, p. 278, R5119.](../../images/trials/1890-Mead-3_5969a-gaol-photo-712.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2232, [3/5969a], Goulburn Gaol photographic description book, Dec 1884-May 1880, No. 712, p. 278, R5119.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 712
Goulburn
Date when Portrait was taken: 20th May 1890
Name: Phillip Mead
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Native place: Condobolin NSW Year of birth: 1874 |
Where and when tried: Goulburn CC 21st April 1890 |
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(No. of previous Portrait ... ) PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS |
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None recorded |
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1 SRNSW: NRS3906, [8/1743], Vernon entrance book, 1886-89, p. 246, R2885. Emphasis added.
2 Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Sat 19 Apr 1890, p. 7.
3 SRNSW: NRS880, [9/6793], Supreme Court, Papers and depositions, Goulburn, 1890, No. 113. Emphasis added.
4 SRNSW: NRS7710, [2/7233], Judiciary, MH Stephen, J. Notebooks Circuit Courts, 1876-1903, pp. 77-8. Emphasis added.
5 Colyer in transcript of depositions.
6 The Goulburn Herald, Thu 24 Apr 1890, p. 2. Emphasis added.
7 Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 26 Apr 1890, p. 14.
8 SRNSW: NRS2232, [3/5969a], Goulburn Gaol photographic description book, Dec 1884-May 1880, No. 712, p. 278, R5119.