Below also see: Arthur Decouter, 1894,
James May, 1895
Evening News, Fri 7 Oct 1892 1
YESTERDAY’S BREVITIES.
————
…
Constable Sheridan, of Coonabarabran, captured a young fellow named William [sic] May for stealing a horse from a drover’s camp. May was in the drover’s employ. Information was laid on Wednesday night at Baradine, and Constable Sheridan effected the capture this morning within a couple of miles of Coonabarabran.
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The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Thu 27 Oct 1892 2
COONABARABRAN [QUARTER SESSIONS].
Wednesday.
…
The Sessions concluded to-day. Judge Docker presided. Everson, for uttering, received a sentence of two years; [James] Moy [aka James May], horse stealing, two years. Messrs Nicholson and Nelson were sworn in as magistrates. In a civil case, Casey v. Montgomery, a verdict was returned for the complaint.
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James May, Gaol photo sheet 3
![SRNSW: NRS1998, [3/5956], Bathurst Gaol photographic description book, 17 Nov 1880-2 Jul 1883, No. 291, p. 5, R5084.](../../images/trials/1892-May-5959-gaol-photo-891.jpg "SRNSW: NRS1998, [3/5956], Bathurst Gaol photographic description book, 17 Nov 1880-2 Jul 1883, No. 291, p. 5, R5084.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 891
Bathurst
Date when Portrait was taken: 16-1-1894
Name: James May
|
Native place: San Francisco Year of birth: 1865 Arrived Ship: Behal Trade or occupation Religion: R Catholic Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 2½" Weight On committal: Colour of hair: Dark Colour of eyes: Hazel Marks or special features: Right arm clasped hands, heart & wreath |
Where and when tried: Coonabarabran Q.S. Offence: Horse-stealing & Larceny of a Saddle & bridle Sentence: 2 years H.L.
Remarks:— |
|
(No. of previous Portrait ... ) PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS |
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| Where and When | Offence. | Sentence | |||
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|
|
|
Nil |
|
|
Arthur Decouter, 1894
The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, Sat 28 Jul 1894 4
DUBBO POLICE COURT.
————
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25.
(Before T Baird, Esq, JP.)
ARTHUR DECOUTER [aka James May] was remanded for eight days on a charge of stealing from a dwelling.
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The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, Wed 1 Aug 1894 5
DUBBO POLICE COURT.
————
MONDAY, JULY 30.
(Before the PM.)
ARTHUR DECOUTER was charged with stealing from a dwelling. It appeared that prisoner, during the night of Tuesday, July 24, entered the dwelling house of Mr Emmett, coachbuilder, residing in Roper-street, and stole a watch, the property of Hilton Emmett. The latter, who had only recently had the watch engraved by Mr F Nicholl, of Talbragar-street, gave Mr Nicholl information of the robbery, and on the prisoner presenting the watch for sale Mr Nicholl detained him and sent for the police. On his way to the lock-up prisoner slipped the handcuffs and made off, but was cleverly recaptured opposite the Court House by Constable Lenehan. Prisoner was sentenced to six months’ hard labour in Dubbo gaol.
James May, 1895
The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Mon 29 Jul 1895 6
BATHURST QUARTER SESSIONS.
———✦———
MONDAY, JULY 29th, 1895.
———
(Before Judge Docker.)
Mr Shand acted as Crown Prosecutor, Mr JB Dulhunty as Deputy Sheriff, and Mr WG Burton Smith as Judge’s Associate.
The barristers present were: Messrs R Butterworth and AB Piddington. Messrs L McPhillamy, and JH McIntosh represented the legal profession.
…
AN ALLEGED ABOMINABLE CRIME.
James May, was indicted, for that he, on the 20th day of April 1895, at Hartley Vale, did commit as abominable offence, [bestiality].
Plea: Not Guilty.
Prisoner was undefended.
The constable was the only witness.
Prisoner [James May] gave evidence in his own defence. He denied the charge entirely. The statement given which was given at the Police Court and signed by him, was, he said untrue. The charge was a fabrication on the part of the constable. If the constable had told him what the charge was he certainly would have made a run for it as he was in the bush and could easily have got away. He had twice been convicted previously for horse stealing and larceny. He was a sailor by occupation but was on the tramp when the police arrested him.
Having cross-examined the witness at great length prisoner sought to question his Hon[or], but he told him that he had nothing to do with his questions. He was somewhat insolent in his manner.
The prisoner [James May], in his address to the jury, said that this charge was brought against him because he was a tramp and he would leave them to decide between the evidence given by the police and himself.
His Honor summed up. Before deciding the jury would weigh the evidence and consider the position of both parties. If they thought that prisoner could resist the temptation of committing perjury in order to get out of this abominable crime. He had already served two sentences in gaol, and he would ask if his evidence should be taken in preference to that of the police man. He had also stated that the police man had brought this crime in order to gain promotion and he would leave the jury to say which witness they believed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Evening News, Tue 30 Jul 1895 7
BATHURST SESSIONS.
The Quarter Sessions were opened yesterday before Judge Docker. The following prisoners were convicted and remanded for sentence:—
…
James May, a serious offence, near Mount Victoria;
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The National Advocate, Tue 30 Jul 1895 8
BATHURST QUARTER SESSIONS.
———✦———
MONDAY, JULY 29th, 1895.
(Before His Honor Judge Docker.)
Mr A Shand prosecuted for the Crown, and Messrs AR Butterworth and AB Piddington, barristers, and Messrs J McPhillamy, JH McIntosh, FB Kenny (Bathurst), and s Kearney (Orange) were also in attendance. Mr JB Dulhunty acted as Deputy-Sheriff.
…
A REVOLTING CHARGE.
A young man named James May was charged with having, on the 20th April, at Hartley Vale, committed a bestial offence.
Prisoner was found guilty of attempting to commit the crime charged against him, and was remanded for sentence.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Thu 1 Aug 1895 9
BATHURST QUARTER SESSIONS.
———✦———
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31st.
———
(Before Judge Docker.)
(His Honor took his seat on the Bench at 9 o’clock.)
Mr Shand acted as Crown Prosecutor, Mr JB Dulhunty as Deputy Sheriff, and Mr WG Burton Smith as Judge’s Associate.
The barristers present were: Messrs R Butterworth and AB Piddington. Messrs J McPhillamy, and JH McIntosh represented the legal profession.
SENTENCES.
…
James May, found guilty of bestiality.— The police records showed that prisoner had served several sentences in gaol, chiefly for horse stealing and larceny. His Honor saw no reason to dissent from the verdict of the jury. They took the safest course of convicting him of the lesser offence or he must have been sentenced for life. His Honor was always ready to pass light sentences on first offenders. On a previous occasion he had sentenced prisoner to two years for what he might had got ten years. Now he came before him on a much more serious charge, rendering him liable to a sentence of five years. He would sentence him to penal servitude for three years.
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The National Advocate, Thu 1 Aug 1895 10
BATHURST QUARTER SESSIONS.
———✦———
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31st, 1895.
(Before His Honor Judge Docker.)
Mr Shand prosecuted on behalf of the Crown; Messrs AR Butterworth and Mr AB Piddington (barristers), and AG Thompson, FB Kenny, J McPhillamy, and WH Parker (Bathurst), and S Kearney (Orange), solicitors, were also in attendance.
…
SENTENCES.
The convicted prisoners were brought up for sentence.
…
James May, found guilty of bestiality was sentenced to penal servitude for 3 years.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
James May ((aka Arthur Decouter), Gaol photo sheet 11
![SRNSW: NRS1998, [3/5959], Bathurst Gaol photographic description book, 1874-1930, No. 1034, p. 172, R5085.](../../images/trials/1892-May-5959-gaol-photo-1034.jpg "SRNSW: NRS1998, [3/5959], Bathurst Gaol photographic description book, 1874-1930, No. 1034, p. 172, R5085.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 1043
Bathurst
Date when Portrait was taken: 25 June 1895
Name: James May
(aka Arthur Decouter)
|
Native place: San Francisco |
Where and when tried: Coonabarabran Q.S. Offence: Horse-stealing & Larceny of a Saddle & bridle Sentence: 2 years H.L.
Remarks:— |
|
(No. of previous Portrait .. 891 Bathurst) PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS |
|||||
| Where and When | Offence. | Sentence | |||
|
Coonabarabran Q.S Dubbo PO Bathurst Q.S |
26 30 29 |
10 7 7 |
1892 1894 1895 |
Horse stealing & larceny of a saddle Stealing Attempt to commit buggery... |
2 years H.L. 6 months L 3 years PS |
1 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Fri 7 Oct 1892, p. 6.
2 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Thu 27 Oct 1892, p. 5. Emphasis added.
3 SRNSW: NRS1998, [3/5956], Bathurst Gaol photographic description book, 17 Nov 1880-2 Jul 1883, No. 291, p. 5, R5084.
4 The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, Sat 28 Jul 1894, p. 3.
5 The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, Wed 1 Aug 1894, p. 2.
6 The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Mon 29 Jul 1895, pp. 2, 3. Emphasis added.
7 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 30 Jul 1895, p. 4.
8 The National Advocate, Tue 30 Jul 1895, p. 2.
9 The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, Thu 1 Aug 1895, p. 3.
10 The National Advocate, Thu 1 Aug 1895, p. 2.
11 SRNSW: NRS1998, [3/5959], Bathurst Gaol photographic description book, 1874-1930, No. 1034, p. 172, R5085.