Below also see: Harold Lahiff, 1918

 

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Tue 21 May 1912 ¹

NEWCASTLE POLICE COURT.
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Monday, May 20.
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(Before Mr MH Fitzhardinge, SM.)

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    Harold Lahiff and Wilfred John Slarks were charged, on remand, with assaulting a young woman, at Newcastle, on April 18. Mr TA Braye (Messrs Braye and Cohen) appeared for the accused. After evidence for the prosecution, the accused, who said they would plead not guilty, and reserved their defence, were committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions to beheld at Maitland on July 9th, bail being allowed at self in £80, and a surety in a like amount or two in £40 each.

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The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wed 10 Jul 1912 ²

MAITLAND QUARTER SESSIONS.
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Tuesday, July 9.
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(Before His Honor, Judge Fitzhardinge.)
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    The sittings of the Maitland Quarter Sessions were continued at the Courthouse, East Maitland, yesterday, after our report closed. Mr AF Dawson was Crown Prosecutor.
…

Wednesday, July 10.
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    The Court resumed at 9.30 this morning.

JUSTICES SWORN IN.

    Charles Albert Dorkins and Samuel William Snape, William Christian Darr were sworn in as justices of the Peace of the territory.
…

ALLEGED SERIOUS OFFENCE.

    Harold Lahiff and Wilfred John Slarks were arraigned on an indictment that they did on April 18, 1912, at Newcastle, assault Ida Heydon [aka Ida Haydon], with intent to commit a serious offence. There was a second count of indecent assault. Accused pleaded not guilty, and were defended by Mr R Cowan, instructed by Mr TA Braye. Accused challenged five jurors.

    Senior Detective McHattie deposed that on May 13 he saw Lahiff in Railway-street, Newcastle. Accused stated that he met Slarks there, and they followed a girl from the railway platform up Railway-street. Slarks asked her if he could see her home, and the girl agreed. Slarks suggested they should go into the park, but the girl refused, saying “Come over into Gazzard’s-lane.” When they got there, Lahiff said Slarks did something to the girl with her consent. Gazzard’s door creaked and they both ran away. The girl shouted out “I will lose my job.” He conveyed him to the lockup. He saw Slarks the same evening, but he declined to say anything.—

    To Mr Cowan; The land divided two weatherboard residences, and there was an electric light near by.

    Ida Heydon, residing at Teralba, stated that she was on the railway station on the night of April 18. She saw accused there. She left the station between 9.30 and 10 o’clock. She got to the lane near her employer’s residence, when she was thrown down and a hand placed over her mouth. She recognised the accused. While one held her mouth, the other interfered with her clothes. She sang out and they ran away. She did not remember them saying anything. Mr Davis came out first, and she told him what had happened. She did not speak to accused. She went to the station about 8.30 with a girl named Mary Farrar, a friend of hers. She did not know a girl named Rene Coot. She was not down Hunter-street with the accused on the night in question. One of the boys was wearing knickerbockers. She was in the lane about twenty minutes. When Mr Davis came out she was sitting in the lane.

    Harry Arthur Davis, a clerk, who was at Mr Gazzard’s residence on April 18, stated that he heard a muffled scream, but took no notice. A moment or so after he heard a louder scream, and ran out into the lane, struck a match, and saw the girl sitting on the ground. She said two men had knocked her down. She said she did not them.

    John Ryan, a resident of Surry Hills, who was in Newcastle in April last, deposed that a few nights after the alleged offence, Lahiff told him that he had tried to do something to the girl. Later on he met Lahiff and Slarks. The latter said they did not do anything.

    Bertie Carl Gazzard, residing with his father in Pacific-street, Newcastle, deposed that when he came home on the evening of 18 April the girl was sitting in the kitchen crying. He saw the accused later, Slarks said something to the effect that he had done nothing to be afraid of.

    Constable Arentz deposed to having first heard about the matter on the evening of April 18. Mr Davis informed him and he made inquiries the following evening.

    The [sic] was the Crown case.

    Harold Lahiff, 17 years of age, one of the accused, said he was with Slarks on April 18, and went down to the railway station between 9.10 and 9.30 pm. They first saw the girl on the platform, then outside the station in Scott-street, and later in Hunter-street under Leslie’s she came up and spoke to them. They asked her if they could see her home, and she agreed to Slarks accompanying her. Witness followed behind. She refused to go to the park with Slarks, and suggested Gazzard’s-lane. They went there. He did nothing to the girl that night, neither did Slarks. While they were talking to her there, a door creaked, and they ran away. The girl did not sit down in the lane.

    Wilfrid [sic] John Slarks, a printer’s apprentice, the other accused, gave corroborative evidence. The girl was not on the ground at all when they were there. She did not cal [sic] out or scream.

    Mary Elizabeth Ferrer, a domestic servant, denied that she was with the (girl ?) Heydon on the railway station on the evening of April 18.

    Rene Coot, a housemaid, stated that she saw prosecutrix speaking to accused in Hunter-street, under Leslie’s on a Thursday nigh in April.

    The jury returned a verdict of guilty of indecent assault. Lahiff was sentenced to imprisonment of six months in Goulburn gaol and at the termination of his sentence to enter into recognizances himself in £40 and two sureties of £20 each to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years.

    Sarks [sic] was sentenced to nine months’ hard labour in Grafton gaol, and at the termination of his sentence to enter into recognizances, himself in £40 and two sureties in £20 each, to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years.

    His Honor hoped that the sentences passed on the accused would deter other in the Newcastle and other districts from committing similar offences.

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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 11 Jul 1912 ³

MAITLAND DISTRICT.
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“Newcastle Herald” Branch Office:
High-street, West Maitland.
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(From Our Special Representatives.)
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MAITLAND QUARTER SESSIONS.
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(Before His Honor Judge Fitzhardinge.)
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    The Maitland Quarter Sessions were re-opened yesterday, at 9.30 am before his Honor Judge Fitzhardinge. Mr AF Dawson was Crown Prosecutor.

    Messes CA Dorkings, WS Darr, and SW Snape were sworn in as justices of the peace.
…

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

    Harold Lahiff and Wilfred John Slarks were charged that at Newcastle on the 18th April, 1912, they did attempt to commit a serious offence on Ida Heydon. There was a second count of assault. The accused, both pleaded not guilty, were defended by Mr R Cowan, instructed by Messrs Braye and Cohen, of Newcastle. Evidence was given by Senior Detective McHattie, Ida Heydon, Harry Davis, John Ryan, and Bertie Gazzard. For the defence, both accused [Harold Lahiff and Wilfred John Slarks] gave evidence denying the charge. After some further evidence, and addresses from counsel, his Honor summed up. The jury after a brief retirement convicted the two accused on the second count. His Honor said that the boys had by their own evidence damaged their moral character, but he would take it that in other respects their characters were good. He sentenced Slarks to nine months’ imprisonment with hard labour, in Grafton Gaol, and Lahiff to six months, with hard labour, in Goulburn Gaol. At the conclusion of their imprisonment they would each have to find sureties for their good behaviour for three years.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 12 Jul 1912 ⁴

COUNTRY NEWS.
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QUARTER SESSIONS.
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…

West Maitland, Wednesday.

    The Maitland Quarter Sessions were concluded at East Maitland Courthouse to-day before Judge Fitzhardinge.
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    Harold Lahiff and Wilfred John Slarks, two youths, were arraigned on a charge of assault at Newcastle. Accused pleaded not guilty, and were defended by Mr R Cowan, instructed by Mr TA Braye. The jury found accused guilty. Lahiff was sentenced to six months imprisonment in Goulburn Gaol, and at the termination of the sentence to enter into recognisances to keep the peace, and be of good behaviour for three years. Slarks was sentenced to nine months hard labour in Grafton Gaol, and at the termination of the sentence to enter into recognisances to keep the peace, and be of good behaviour for three years.

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Harold Lahiff, Gaol photo sheet ⁵

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 1237
Parramatta

Date when Portrait was taken: 10-10-1912

Name: Harold Lahiff

Native place: Newcastle NSW Year of birth: 27th July 1895 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Painter Religion: R C Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 4¼" Weight     On committal: 116 lbs in lbs     } On discharge: 124 lbs Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: Scar on right side of back. Right front upper tooth missing. Two moles over navel

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Maitland Q.S	10	7	1912	Indecent assault	6 months HL & sureties, self in £40 and two in £20 each for 3 years good behaviour. In default a further 3 months

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Wilfred John Slarks, Gaol photo sheet ⁶

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 12449

Date when Portrait was taken: 17-7-1912

Name: Wilfred John Slarks

Native place: Newcastle Year of birth: 17-6-1893 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: BS Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Printer Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 4¼" Weight     On committal: 119 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Light brown Colour of eyes: Dark grey

Marks or special features: Very large scar on inner side left upper arm. Large scar inner side left wrist. Scar 4 inches long right side face and chin.

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Maitland Q.S	10	7	1912	Indecent assault on a female	9 months HL and sureties self in £40 and two in £20 each for good behaviour for 3 years in default a further 3 months

 

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Harold Lahiff, 1918

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Sat 2 Nov 1918 ⁷

CORPORAL LAHIFF, MM.

    Mr and Mrs J Lahiff, of 34 Railway-street, Cook’s Hill, Newcastle, have been officially notified that their youngest son, Corporal Harold Lahiff, 8 has been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery on the battlefield. Corporal Lahiff has seen three years’ active service.

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The Catholic Press, Thu 7 Nov 1918 ⁹

NEWCASTLE AND THEREABOUTS
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    Corporal Harold Lahiff, a well-known Newcastle boy, has been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery on the battlefield.

 

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¹     Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Tue 21 May 1912, p. 3.

²     The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wed 10 Jul 1912, p. 4. Emphasis added.

³     Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 11 Jul 1912, p. 6.

⁴     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 12 Jul 1912, p. 10.

⁵     SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6012], Parramatta photographic description book, 1909-1914, No. 1237, p. 167, R5138.

⁶     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6079], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1911-1912, No. 12449, p. 210, R5115.

⁷     Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Sat 2 Nov 1918, p. 6.

⁸     To view the digitised WWI service record (service number 465, barcode 7373975) of Harold Lahiff go to: www.naa.gov.au.

⁹     The Catholic Press, (NSW), Thu 7 Nov 1918, p. 32.

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