The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wed 4 Apr 1906 ¹

MAITLAND CIRCUIT COURT.
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Wednesday, April 4.
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(Before His Honor Justice Cohen.)

    The April sitting of the Maitland Circuit Court opened at the Courthouse, East Maitland, this morning before his Honor Justice Cohen. Mr Lewis Whitfield acted as Crown Prosecutor, and Mr WR Beaver, Clerk of the Peace, was also in attendance. The legal profession was represented by Mr R Cowan, barrister, and Messrs WJ Enright, DLB Glasheen, and J Dart. The police were represented by Superintendent Cotter and Sub-Inspector Sykes, and Mr DG D’Arcy, Governor of the Gaol, was also in attendance. Mr Horace de Lissa acted as Clerk of Arraigns, and Mr GS Waller appeared as Deputy Sheriff.

JURORS EXCUSED.

    Mr E Swan was excused from attendance as a juror for the day. Mr George Rourke was excused from attendance as a juror for the sittings, owing to his partner also being on the jury.

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The Maitland Daily Mercury, Fri 6 Apr 1906 ²

Friday, April 6.
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(Before His Honor Judge Cohen.)

    The Court opened at 10 o’clock this morning.
…

UNMENTIONABLE OFFENCE.

    James Hall was arraigned on a charge that he did on February 26, 1906, at Catherine Hill Bay, commit an unmentionable offence on William James Mannix. Accused was further charged with repeating the offence on February 26, 1906, and again on March 26, 1906.

    Accused pleaded not guilty.

    Evidence was given in connection with the charge by Constable Thomas Grant, William James Mannix, Lens Gertrude Mannix, and James Outrim.

    The jury returned a verdict of guilty of an attempt on the third charge.

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The Maitland Daily Mercury, Mon 9 Apr 1906 ³

MAITLAND CIRCUIT COURT.
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Monday, April 9.
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(Before His Honor Justice Cohen.)
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    The Court re-opened at the Court house, East Maitland, at 10 o’clock this morning.

SENTENCES.

…
    James Hall, who was found guilty of an attempt to commit an unmentionable offence on March 26, 1906, at Catherine Hill Bay, was brought up for sentence.

    The prisoner [James Hall] in reply to his Honor said that he was sorry, but he was led into this trouble through drink. That was the first time he had been in trouble, and trusted his Honor would deal leniently with him.

    His Honor said the prisoner so far as known had earned a good character, and personally he regretted to see him in the position he was then in. Prisoner had rendered himself liable to a sentence of 5 years, but he did not intend to pass such a severe sentence as that. He could believe prisoner’s statement to the effect that he was in that position owing to over-indulgence in drink. He trusted he would take this as a lesson, and when he was released that he would abstain from indulgence in intoxicants. He would sentence the prisoner to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour in Grafton Gaol.

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James Hall, Gaol photo sheet ⁴

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 132
Grafton

Date when Portrait was taken: 5 May 1906

Name: James Hall

Native place: England Year Date of birth: 27th March 1870 Arrived       Ship: Loch Garve in Colony }   Year: 1905 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer or Seaman Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 7½" Weight     On committal: 172 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Black Colour of eyes: Hazel

Marks or special features: Tattoo Mark– Snake & dagger outside left upper arm Vase of flowers outside left forearm Heart inside left forearm. Ring on left middle finger Crucifix outside upper right arm. Mermaid on rock outside right forearm Female Highlander with rifle inside right forearm Snake round neck. Ancient Knight outside right calf Clowns head on right instep

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Maitland CC	6	4	1906	Attempt Sodomy	18 months HL

 

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¹     The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wed 4 Apr 1906, p. 5.

²     The Maitland Daily Mercury, Fri 6 Apr 1906, p. 2. Emphasis added.

³     The Maitland Daily Mercury, Mon 9 Apr 1906, p. 6. Emphasis added.

⁴     SRNSW: NRS2258, [3/5993], Grafton Gaol photographic description book, Nov 1894-Jun 1910, No. 132, p. 134, R5125.

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