The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wed 6 Oct 1897 1
OUR MUSWELLBROOK
LETTER.
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(From Our Local Representative.)
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POLICE COURT.—At the police court yesterday, before Messrs E Bowman, JC White, and T Spencer, J’sP, William Evans was charged with having committed a dreadful vile offence. The accused had been arrested by Senior-Sergeant Forrest and Senior-Constable Harrison on last Saturday night at half-past 11 o’clock. The accused committed for trial to the Maitland Quarter Sessions to be held on Monday, December 13th.
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The Maitland Daily Mercury, Mon 13 Dec 1897 2
MAITLAND QUARTER SESSIONS.
The December sittings of the Quarter Sessions commenced at East Maitland this morning before his Honor Judge Backhouse. Mr Dawson was Crown Prosecutor. Mr GF Scott, PM, acted as Deputy Sheriff. Among the legal profession were: – Barristers: Messrs R Windeyer, A Tighe. Solicitors: Messrs RW Thompson, CF Solling, JHF Waller, and JR Carlton.
Albert Stack Bolton was sworn in as a justice of the peace.
Mr Thompson asked that Mr William Edward Sparke, auctioneer, should be excused from attendance for the day, as he had a cattle sale to attend. His Honor expressed himself as averse to excusing anyone owing to business, but ultimately he excused Mr Sparke till twelve o’clock.
INDECENT ASSAULT ON A MALE.
William Evans was charged with having indecently assaulted Arthur Aisbett, a male person, on 2nd October at Muswellbrook.
William Evans, a sailor, deposed that he was in Muswellbrook on 2nd October, and went to get some water at the waterworks near. He heard laughter and conversation in a shed there, and on looking inside he saw accused and two boys. He saw certain acts which he described. He also saw accused instructing one of the boys to commit an offence with the other. Witness consulted his mate, and decided to inform the police. Accused was a stranger to him, though of the same name.
Arthur Aisbett, 11 years of age, deposed that with a boy named John Monaghan he used to visit accused’s place of abode near the waterworks. On the last occasion accused committed an offence. In answer to accused, witness said the boys had laid on accused’s bed, and he (accused) did not do anything till they commenced to pull him about.
John Monaghan, 10 years of age, was called, and instead of being sworn, gave the promise to tell the truth. His evidence supported that of the last witness.
Senior Sergeant [Thomas] Forrest, stationed at Muswellbrook, deposed that the first witness (Evans) had made a statement to him. He repeated it in the presence of the accused, who made no reply. Accused was perfectly sober.
This was the evidence for the prosecution. Accused in reply said he had had drink. The boys “humbugged” about with him, so that his feelings got the better of him. He merely exposed his person, and was guilty of no such offence as indecent assault or anything of that kind.
His Honor briefly summed up, and told the jury to dismiss from their minds any idea of consent. If the evidence of Evans was believed the case was an exceedingly clear one.
The jury without leaving the box returned a verdict of guilty, and accused was remanded for sentence.
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Evening News, Tue 14 Dec 1897 3
MAITLAND SESSIONS.
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WEST MAITLAND, Tuesday.—The quarter sessions commenced at East Maitland yesterday, before his Honor Judge Backhouse. William Evans was found guilty of assaulting a boy.
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All prisoners were remanded for sentence till Wednesday morning, when the district court opens.
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The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wed 15 Dec 1897 4
PRISONERS SENTENCED.
The prisoners convicted at the Quarter Sessions East Maitland on Monday were brought up for sentence before his Honor Judge Backhouse this morning.
Indecent Assault on a Male.
William Evans, found guilty of indecent assault on a male at Muswellbrook, was brought up.
Prisoner said he could not say how much he had suffered while he had been in gaol during the past ten weeks. It was a position he had never been in before.
His Honor said he gathered from the evidence this was not the first time the same offence had occurred. It was a most gross offence, and no one knew what harm had been done to the boys. The sentence was that prisoner be kept in penal servitude for four years.
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William Evans, Gaol photo sheet 5
![SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6010], Parramatta photographic description book, 1880-1930, No. 609, p. 24.](../../images/trials/1897-Evans-6010-gaol-photo-609.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6010], Parramatta photographic description book, 1880-1930, No. 609, p. 24.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 609
Parramatta
Date when Portrait was taken: 24-3-1898
Name: William Evans
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Native place: England Year of birth: 1865 Arrived Ship: Duncraig Trade or occupation Religion: Ch of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 7¼" Weight On committal: 153 Colour of hair: Fair Colour of eyes: Grey |
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(No. of previous Portrait ... ) CONVICTIONS |
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| Where and When | Offence. | Sentence | |||
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Orange PO Maitland PO Maitland Q.S |
- 17 13 |
12 9 12 |
1896 1897 1897 |
Drunk Malicious injury property Indecent assault on a male person |
2/6 or 24 Hours C 24 Hours C 4 years P.S |
1 The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wed 6 Oct 1897, p. 6.
2 The Maitland Daily Mercury, Mon 13 Dec 1897, p. 2. Emphasis added.
3 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 14 Dec 1897, p. 2.
4 The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wed 15 Dec 1897, p. 6.
5 SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6010], Parramatta photographic description book, 1880-1930, No. 609, p. 24.