John Williams, 1890

Forbes and Parkes Gazette, Fri 4 Jul 1890 1

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———
TUESDAY, JULY 1st, 1890.
(Before His Honor Judge Docker.)

    Mr Wade, Crown Prosecutor.
    Before commencing the business of the Court, Mr WS Hudson was duly sworn in as a Justice of the Peace.
…
    John Williams was charged with beastiality [sic], [with a fowl], and pleaded not guilty.
    This case was a particularly disgusting one, and His Honor ordered it to be heard with closed doors, the press representatives to remain, but not to publish the details. After a short retirement the jury returned a verdict of guilty.
    In passing sentence His Honor referred to the revolting nature of the case, which was one of the worst he had ever heard, and sentenced prisoner to 7 years imprisonment, with hard labor, and one flogging of 30 lashes, that day month.
    This concluded the business.

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Evening News, Fri 18 Jul 1890 2

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
————
THE PEAK HILL ROADS.
————
PUBLIC WORKS.
————
MORE PROGRESS.
————
MARRICKVILLE TO BURWOOD-ROAD.
————
LISMORE TO THE TWEED.
————
BOTH SENT TO COUNCIL.
————
OPPOSITION TO BYRON BAY
BREAKWATER.

    THE SPEAKER took the Chair at half past 4 o’clock.
…

JUDGE DOCKER.

    MR EDMUNDS drew attention of the Minister for Justice to a case recently tried before Judge Docker at Forbes Quarter Sessions. He pointed out that a man named John Williams had been tried for committing an unnatural offence. The case had been heard with closed doors; and the reporters, it was stated, had been directed by the judge not to report the evidence; the accused was found guilty and sentenced to the excessively heavy punishment—notwithstanding the awful nature of the crime—of seven years’ penal servitude and one flogging of thirty lashes. He asked the Minister whether the judge had power to hear a criminal case with closed doors, and also whether he (the Minister) would make enquiries with a view to a reduction of the sentence imposed.

    MR GOULD answered that he had no doubt if the court was cleared the judge had acted with the best intentions, and for excluding the public from court while a most disgusting and abominable case was being heard. As regards the punishment he had for some time been making inquiries into the case, and if he found any grounds for so doing would recommend a remission of portion of the sentence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 18 Jul 1890 3

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
———
THURSDAY, JULY 17.
———

    THE SPEAKER took the chair at half-past 4 o’clock.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

…

THE POWER OF A JUDGE.

    MR EDMUNDS said he wished to call the attention to the Minister for Justice to the fact that Judge Docker, when trying a man named John Williams for an unnatural offence, at Forbes, ordered the court to be cleared, and finding the man guilty, sentenced him to seven years’ penal servitude and one flogging of 30 strokes. He (Mr Edmunds) thought that the Judge had exceeded his powers in ordering the Court to be cleared, and had, imposed an unnecessarily severe sentence.

    MR GOULD said that if the Judge had cleared the Court he had done so in the interests of morality—(cheers) —for evidence of a most abominable and disgusting nature was given. As to the punishment, he had already commenced inquiries to see whether it was excessive.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

John Williams, Gaol photo sheet 4

SRNSW: NRS1998, [3/5957], Bathurst Gaol photographic description book, 1874-1930, No. 627, p. 133, R5084.


Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 627
Bathurst

Date when Portrait was taken: 30-7-1890

Name: John Williams

Native place: Sydney

Year of birth: 1864

Arrived       Ship: –
in Colony }   Year: –

Trade or occupation
previous to conviction  } Iron turner

Religion: CE

Education, degree of: R&W

Height: 5' 9"

Weight     On committal:
in lbs     } On discharge:

Colour of hair: Brown

Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features:

Where and when tried: Forbes Q.S.
1st July 1890

Offence: Beastiality [sic] with a fowl

Sentence: 7 years PS & 30 lashes 20-7-1890

Remarks: Flogging remitted

(No. of previous Portrait ... ) 

PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Where and When Offence. Sentence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1     Forbes and Parkes Gazette, Fri 4 Jul 1890, p. 2,

2     Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Fri 18 Jul 1890, p. 3.

3     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 18 Jul 1890, p. 3.

4     SRNSW: NRS1998, [3/5957], Bathurst Gaol photographic description book, 1874-1930, No. 627, p. 133, R5084.

 

Bestiality