The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times, Wed 3 Jan 1906 1
AUSTRALASIAN.
Special Service.—Copyright.
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INTER-STATE.
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VICTORIA.
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ASSAULT AT A BOY’S HOME.
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SUPERINTENDENT ARRESTED.
Melbourne, Tuesday.—Walter Wassell, aged 39, superintendent of the Boys’ Home at Brisbane was arrested to-day on a charge of assaulting a boy, an inmate of the home.
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The Brisbane Courier, Wed 24 Jan 1906 2
POLICE COURTS.
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In the Central Police Court yesterday, before Messrs W Yaldwyn, PM, A Scells, and J Taylor, JJP, Walter Wassell, late superintendent of the Boys’ Home, at Wooloowin, appeared to answer a serious charge [Sodomy]. A remand for a week was granted.
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The Brisbane Courier, Wed 31 Jan 1906 3
POLICE COURTS.
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In the Central Police Court yesterday before Messrs W Yaldwyn, PM, EF Morgan, J Duncan, and J Lancaster, JJ.P, Walter Wassell was charged with two serious offences, alleged to have been committed about April and July, 1905, while defendant was in charge of the Boys’ Home, Wooloowin. Sub-inspector Masterson prosecuted, and defendant was unrepresented by counsel. After certain evidence had been given, the accused was remanded on both charges till Friday.
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The Brisbane Courier, Sat 24 Feb 1906 4
SUPREME COURT.—CRIMINAL
SITTINGS,
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Before his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Pope A Cooper). The Crown Prosecutor (Mr JJ Kingsbury), instructed by Mr Kennedy, of the Crown Law Office, appeared for the Crown.
A SERIOUS CHARGE.
Walter Wassell pleaded not guilty to a charge of having committed a serious offence at Wooloowin in April of last year. He was undefended, and was about to make some remark to the Bench in connection with a paper he held in his hands, when the Crown Prosecutor made application for the adjournment of the hearing of the trial till Monday.
The application was granted, and the case adjourned accordingly.
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The Advertiser, Tue 27 Feb 1906 5
QUEENSLAND.
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Brisbane, February 26.
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THE CRIMINAL COURT.
At the Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court to-day Walter Wassell, who was formerly in charge of the Boys’ Home at Brisbane, was convicted of a serious charge, and sentenced to seven years’ hard labor. Thomas McMahon, for stealing from a dwelling, was also sentenced to seven years’ hard labor.
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The Brisbane Courier, Tue 27 Feb 1906 6
SUPREME COURT.—CRIMINAL
SITTINGS,
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Before his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Pope A Cooper).
…
A SERIOUS CHARGE.
Walter Wassell, who had on a previous date pleaded not guilty to a serious charge in April last year, was brought up for trial.
Addressing his Honour, accused said: “I have no one to defend me. I have no knowledge of the law. I place myself entirely in your hands, and pray that you will watch the case on my behalf. I have a statement here.”
His Honour: Do you wish me to read that first?
Accused: Just as your Honour wishes.
His Honour: You must not suppose that I can perform the duty of an advocate for you. Whether you are defended by counsel or undefended, it is my duty to see that no inadmissible evidence is admitted. I cannot act as advocate for you. All I can do is to see that no evidence is improperly received against you. I cannot, of course, teach you how to cross-examine the witnesses, nor can I cross-examine them myself on your behalf. I do not propose to do anything of the kind. Now, do you wish me to see that statement?
Accused: Yes.
His Honour: Very well. You are quite sure you wish me to see this?—Yes.
His Honour: Is this your writing?—Yes.
Are you a schoolmaster?—No.
His Honour: Someone told me you were.
The Crown Prosecutor: said the accused was not exactly a schoolmaster, but he had been in charge of a boys’ home or refuge. He had been superintendent.
Evidence was given for the prosecution by Sergeant Toomey; by Charles Mitchell, a boy, the complainant in the case; by George Burnard, Ernest Hollingshead, and William Shackelton, boys either past or present inmates of the home; by Margaret Bissett, the matron of the home; and by Rev Canon Osborn.
The case for the Crown was then closed.
Accused, who said he had no witnesses to call and declined to give evidence on his own behalf, addressed the jury, and strongly dwelt upon the point that no complaint was made at the time of the alleged offence, though there was ample opportunity for that to be done.
His Honour having summed up, the jury, after an absence of forty minutes, returned with a verdict of guilty.
The Crown Prosecutor, in reply to his Honour, said there was nothing known against the accused except rumour, and that rumour was unfavourable. He came to Queensland from Melbourne five years ago, and associated himself with the Joyful News Mission, and subsequently he became superintendent of the Boys’ Home, Wooloowin. Canon Osborn was present, and could give prisoner a good character as regards his works at the home and his general conduct outside.
In reply to the usual question, prisoner said he had nothing to say why sentence should not be passed upon him.
His Honour, in sentencing the prisoner, said he had been convicted upon the clearest evidence of a very serious offence against the law, and dwelt upon the particular gravity of prisoner’s case because of his position, and the warping and probably ruinous effect his conduct must have had upon the characters of the boys who were under his charge. The offence was one which carried a possible sentence of fourteen years’ imprisonment. The sentence of the court was that prisoner be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for seven years.
The court then adjourned till 10 o’clock next day.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 27 Feb 1906 7
QUEENSLAND.
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Brisbane, Monday.
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A SERIOUS CHARGE.
Walter Wassell, who up to recently was superintendent of the boys’ home at Woolloowin [sic], was charged to-day in the Supreme Court with a serious assault on a boy at the home in April last year. The jury after 40 minutes’ retirement returned a verdict of guilty. The Chief Justice, in sentencing the prisoner, dwelt upon the gravity of the offence and the probable ruinous effect on his conduct upon the characters of the boys under his charge. He sentenced the prisoner to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
1 The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times, Wed 3 Jan 1906, p. 3.
2 The Brisbane Courier, Wed 24 Jan 1906, p. 6.
3 The Brisbane Courier, Wed 31 Jan 1906, p. 2.
4 The Brisbane Courier, Sat 24 Feb 1906, p. 14.
5 The Advertiser, Tue 27 Feb 1906, p. 5. Emphasis added.
6 The Brisbane Courier, Tue 27 Feb 1906, p. 6.
7 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 27 Feb 1906, p. 6.