Edward McKee and John Rimmer, 1897

Below also see: John Rimmer, 1897,
John Rimmer and Arthur Thompson, 1899

 

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 16 Jan 1897 ¹

RYDE POLICE COURT.
————
Tuesday, January 12.
(Before Messrs TE MacNevin, PM, HE
Jordan, and H D’Ardier, J’sP.)

DRUNK.

    Edward McKee and John Rimmer, for drunkenness on New Year’s Day were each fined 5s and 4s 10d costs, in default to be imprisoned until the rising of the court.

 

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John Rimmer, 1897

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 15 May 1897 ²

RYDE POLICE COURT.
————
Tuesday, May 11.
(Before Messrs TE MacNevin, PM, Henry
E Jordan, and George Wicks, J’sP.)

…

COWARDLY CONDUCT.

    John Rimmer, a strong, healthy-looking young man, pleaded guilty to unlawfully assaulting Gideon Cranston at Meadow Bank on the 8th inst.

    Gideon Cranston, an elderly and rather frail looking man, stated that the accused came into his tent at Meadow Bank, lit the candle, and commenced ill-using him by way of pulling the clothes off him and burning them, dragging him out of bed, and bumping his head on the floor. As soon as witness was able to get away from the accused and waited outside until all was quiet, when he returned to the tent. He was not there long, however, before the accused returned and again commenced ill-treating him. The accused was suffering from the effects of drink. Witness never gave accused—whom he had known for some years—any provocation.

    Accused said he didn’t know what he was doing.

    The Bench considered the assault a most unprovoked and cowardly one, and fined Rimmer £3, in default two months’ hard labor.

    Rimmer pleaded guilty to a further charge of maliciously injuring one bed quilt and one blanket valued at 14s, the property of Gideon Cranston. This arose out of the former case, and accused was fined 20s, and the value of the clothes, 14s; in default, 21 days, sentences to be cumulative.

 

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John Rimmer and Arthur Thompson, 1899
 

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Wed 28 Jun 1899 ³

A MIDNIGHT ARREST
AT RYDE.
————

    John Rimmer, who is well-known in Ryde, and Arthur Thompson were seen leaving the Railway Hotel, Ryde, together soon after 11 o’clock on Saturday night, and were followed at a distance by Senior-constable Ross, who arrested them on a serious charge. Both were brought up at the Ryde Police Court on Monday and formally remanded till Tuesday, the ordinary court day.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 1 Jul 1899 ⁴

A COMMITTAL AT RYDE.

    At the Ryde Police Court on Tuesday, before Mr TE MacNevin, PM, and Messrs R Hilliard and G Lovell, JsP, John Rimmer, stone mason, and Arthur Thompson, labourer, were brought up on remand charged with having at Ryde, on Saturday last, committed an indictable offence.

    Senior-Constable Ross conducted the prosecution, and Mr Mark Williamson appeared for the accused Thompson.

    Senior-Constable Ross, re-called, deposed that from something he was told, he followed accused and arrested them. Said “What’s the matter?” Witness replied, “You well know what is the matter. Come out Rimmer, and if you interfere or put your hand on me I will shoot you.” He (Rimmer) came out of the tree and said, “Well, what are you going to do?” He was then about five yards from witness. Witness said, “I’m going to arrest you.” Accused Rimmer used bad language, at the same time making a dive at him to catch hold of him. Witness dodged him and brought his revolver in line with him and cautioned him several times to keep his hands off him or he would fire. Rimmer made another dart at him. This time witness struck him with the point of the resolver on the shoulder and narrowly escaped being clutched by him. The accused at this time was very angry, and witness called out for help. The accused said, “You cowardly –— why don’t you arrest me?” Witness replied, “I’m not able to struggle with you.” Accused then commenced imitating witness’ calls for help. While this was going on Thompson got out of the tree and went away in the direction of the railway line. After witness called out Rimmer started on the track towards home. In a few minutes John Barry came up, followed afterwards by Brown and Green. Witness told them something and asked them to accompany him. Witness then went to the residence of Rimmer’s mother, Meadowbank station. Saw a light in the kitchen; saw the accused standing on the floor undressed except for his shirt. Tried the door and finding it barred said. “Let me in.” The accused said, “Who’s there?” Witness replied, “Senior Constable Ross, let me in.” He replied, “Don’t burst that door in. Wait a bit.” He afterwards opened the door the door and witness walked in and said, “I arrest you Rimmer.” He said, “What for,” and witness explained, and Rimmer said, “You’ll have to prove it.” Put the handcuffs on him and he said, “You are —– cur, you weren’t game to arrest me.” On the road to the lockup he said, “This is my —– dream come.” Witness said, “What was the dream?” He said, “I dreamt this affair happened.” Witness said, “When did you dream that, last night?” He said, “No, it was about two months ago.”

    About 1 am on the 25th, witness in company with Constable Wilson arrested Thompson.

    Corroborative evidence was given by Constable Wilson and Thomas Barry.

    Rimmer had nothing to say in answer to the charge, and in reply to the usual question Thompson said, “I’ve said all I can say to Senior-Constable Ross.

    Both were then committed to stand their trial ay the quarter sessions to be holden at Parramatta on August 28th.

    Mr Williamson who had left before this, made formal application that the Bench had decided not to grant bail in either case.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 26 Jul 1899 ⁵

PARRAMATTA DISTRICT.
———◦———
RYDE POLICE COURT.
———

    Yesterday, before Mr TE McNevin, PM, and Mr HE Jordan, JP, Albert Jupp pleaded guilty to being drunk at Ryde on Sunday last, and was find 20s, 4s 10d costs, or seven days. John Rimmer was committed to take his trial at the next Quarter Sessions on two serious charges.

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The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 29 Jul 1899 ⁶

RYDE POLICE COURT.
————

    At the Ryde Police Court on Tuesday, before Mr TE MacNevin, PM, and Mr HE Jordan, JP.
…
    John Rimmer, who is under committal for the alleged commission of an indictable offence, was brought up under a write of habeus [sic] corpus, charged with having, at Meadowbank, on the 23rd June last, committed an indecent assault, and was committed to stand his trial at the next court of Quarter Sessions, to be held on the 28th August.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 10 Aug 1899 ⁷

LAW NOTICES.

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.
Thursday, August 10.

    Francis Hamilton, assault; Arthur Thompson and John Rimmer, serious offence; John Rimmer, assault.

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The Daily Telegraph, Fri 11 Aug 1899 ⁸

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
(Before Judge Backhouse and juries.)

    Mr Herbert Harris, Crown Prosecutor.

ALLEGED SERIOUS OFFENCE.

    John Rimmer was charged with having at Meadow Bank on June 24 committed a serious offence. Arthur Thompson was charged with unlawfully consenting.
    Mr Mark Williamson appeared for Thompson. Both of the accused pleaded not guilty.
    The jury, after a brief consultation, found Rimmer guilty of an attempt to commit the offence, and Thompson of consenting.
    They were remanded for sentence.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 11 Aug 1899 ⁹

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Backhouse and a jury of 12.)

    Mr Harris was the Crown Prosecutor.

ASSAULT.

…
    John Rimner [aka Rimmer] and Arthur Thompson, who were charged with assault, were both found guilty, and were remanded for sentence.

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The Daily Telegraph, Sat 12 Aug 1899 ¹⁰

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
(Before Judge Backhouse and juries.)

    Mr Herbert Harris, Crown Prosecutor.
…

SENTENCES.

    John Rimmer, found guilty of attempting to commit a serious offence, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with hard labor, in Darlinghurst Gaol. Arthur Thompson, convicted of being a consenting party, was sentenced to 12 month’s imprisonment, with hard labor, in Darlinghurst Gaol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 12 Aug 1899 ¹¹

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Backhouse and a jury of 12.)

    Mr Harris was the Crown Prosecutor.
…

SENTENCES.

    Arthur Thompson and John Rimmer, who had been found guilty of assault, were sentenced, the former to 12 months’ and the latter to two years’ imprisonment.

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John Rimmer, Gaol photo sheet ¹²

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 7783
3557/99

Date when Portrait was taken: 10-8-1899

Name: John Rimmer

Native place: BC Victoria Year of birth: 1865 Arrived       Ship: – in Colony }   Year: – Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Stonemason Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 8⅞" Weight     On committal: 179 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Scars on top joint of right middle finger, on right forefinger, inside right wrist, inside right middle finger, on back left hand, below little finger, outside all fingers of left hand, on left temple, over both eyes, on joint of nose, & on back of head

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Ryde PO ditto ditto CPO Sydney Q.S CPO W Maitland PC	12 11 11 12 10 15 19	1   5   5 12   8   5   7	1897 1897 1897 1898 1899 1905 1905	Drunk and Disorderly Assault Maliciously injuring property Drunk & Disorderly Attempt to commit sodomy Drunk & Disorderly Stealing	9/10 or rising of the court £3 or 2 months C. 34/- or 21 days C.  |  concurrent. Paid fine 11-5-1897 10/- or 48 hours C. 2 years HL 10/- or 4 days HL 1 month HL.
Convicted with Arthur Thompson

 

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Arthur Thompson, Gaol photo sheet ¹³

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 7784
3559/99

Date when Portrait was taken: 10-8-1899

Name: Arthur Thompson

Native place: Ireland Year of birth: 1859 Arrived       Ship: Arawa in Colony }   Year: 1887 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 5⅞" Weight     On committal: 147 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Grey Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: Arms hairy. Vaccine marks outside left upper arm, Slight scar inside left thumb scar in centre of forehead, on left temple, on bridge of nose, & over right eye. Slight cast in left eye

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Ryde PO ditto Sydney Q.S	26   9 10	11   9   8	1896 1897 1899	Drunkenness Larceny Indecent assault on a male person	5/- or 24 hours C. Paid fine 20/- or 21 days C. Allow 10 days to pay 18 Sep 1897. Paid fine 12 Months HL.
Convicted with John Rimmer

 

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¹     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Sat 16 Jan 1897, p. 12. Emphasis added.