Below also see: Alfred Bassett, 1918,
Alfred Bassett, 1925 – Bestiality
Alfred Bassett, 1932,
Alfred Bassett, 1940,
Alfred Bassett, 1944
Forbes Times, Tue 5 Oct 1915 1
FORBES QUARTER SESSIONS.
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OPENED THIS MORNING.
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LENGTHY LIST OF CASES.
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The Forbes Quarter Sessions opened this morning before his Honor Judge Scholes.
Mr Barton acted as Crown Prosecutor.
LIST OF CASES.
The following cases are listed for the sitting:—
Alfred Bassett, larceny of a roll of wire netting, at Moonbi.
Edward Ireland Cade, forging and uttering, at Forbes.
Walter Evans, larceny of a watch chain and locket and travelling rug at Trundle.
Edward Reuben Wright, and James Carroll, forging and uttering, at Parkes.
George Patrick Smith, breaking and entering the dwelling house of JR Acheson, at Forbes; second count, receiving.
John Joseph Spice, assault with intent to rape, at Forbes; second count, indecent assault on a female.
Frederick Adams, obtaining money by false pretence, at Eugowra.
John Dennis, appeal against conviction for vagrancy, at Trundle.
Frank Grothier, appeal against conviction for breach of the Liquor Act at Parkes.
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JURORS EXCUSED.
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Wm Clark, HT Rath and Wm Henry Sly were excused from attendance as jurors. The former is now on active service.
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PLEAS OF GUILTY.
Edward Reuben Wright and James Carroll were charged in company, at Parkes on August 7th last, with forging and uttering an order for £5, with intend to defraud.
Wright pleaded guilty to both counts, and Carroll to uttering.
Mr Broderick appeared for Wright and Mr McIntosh for Carroll, both of whom were remanded for sentence.
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Edward Ireland Cade, charged with forging and uttering an order for the delivery of goods at Forbes on August 7th, pleaded guilty to uttering.
The plea was accepted by the Crown, and the accused remanded for sentence.
———
Frederick Adams, for whom Mr Broderick appeared, pleaded guilty to obtaining the sum of £2 19s by a false pretence from OL Morton, at Eugowra on 29th September, 1915.
The accused was remanded for sentence.
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Walter Evans was charged with the larceny of a watch, chain and locket and travelling rug, the property of AJ Hockey, at Trundle on September 22nd.
Accused pleaded guilty and was remanded for sentence.
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The Forbes Advocate, Fri 8 Oct 1915 2
FORBES QUARTER
SESSIONS.
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FIVE PLEAS OF GUILTY.
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THE SENTENCES.
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The Forbes Quarter Sessions opened on Tuesday before his Honor, Judge Scholes. The Crown Prosecutor was Mr Edmund Alfred Barton. Legal gentlemen present were: Messrs McIntosh (Parkes), Mooney, Reymond, and Broderick (Forbes).
William Frederick Street was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace.
William Clark, of Parkes, had a good reason for being excused from attendance as a juryman. At the present time, he is either in Egypt or at the Dardanelles. HT Rath and WH Sly were also excused from attendance.
…
MOONBI NETTING CASE.
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A GRAZIER SENTENCES.
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Alfred Bassett, on bail, was charged with stealing a roll of wire netting, the property of AS Wheatley, at Moonbi, on March 17, 1915.
Mr DJ Moloney appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty.
Jurymen empanelled were:—M Lee, CL Hodges, S McComiskey, EV Elliott, E[dward] Facey, [foreman], AW Wyndham, A Anderson, WM Toohey, AMG Haydon, AE Peppercorn, BA Heraghty, C Geddes.
In opening the case, the Crown Prosecutor stated that the evidence for the prosecution was chiefly circumstantial.
Horace Wheatley, manager of Fairholme station, stated that on March 16th there were two coils of netting in the woolshed at Fairholme. No one had authority to remove the netting. The coil (produced) was the one which was in the shed on March 16th. Outside the shed were tracks of a cart, which had evidently been backed up to the wool landing stage. One coil was missing. Some distance from the woolshed, in the direction of Bassett’s, was the mark of wire netting, where a coil had evidently fallen off a cart. In Bassett’s paddock he had seen a coil of netting covered over with bushed and roly polys.
To Mr Moloney: The coil of netting weighs 1¾ cwts and 25½ lbs. I could not lift it into a sulky.
To the Crown Prosecutor: Accused is a powerful man. I know he could lift a coil of wire netting about.
Percival S Wheatley deposed: On the night of March 16th, I was at Moonbi Hotel at 9 o’clock. I met Bassett there. Bassett left the hotel about 11 o’colck [sic]. He was not drunk. Neither was he sober.
William Underwood deposed: I was teaching school at Newlands, near Moonbi, on March 17th. Bassett came home on the morning of March 18th, at about half past one. I was staying at Bassett’s place. Next morning, on my way to school, I saw tracks of a cart about a quarter of a mile from Bassett’s house. The tracks led towards a lot of scrub and roly poly. Further on I saw where the cart had turned off the road, and went in towards the woolshed.
To Mr Moloney: I am not staying at Bassett’s place now. I first heard about the case in the paper. Afterwards I had a row with Bassett. The police saw me, and I told them what I knew.
Constable De Salis deposed: On March 19th, I went to the turn-off road to accused’s place and Moonbi Hotel. I noticed where the tracks went to Wheatley’s woolshed. The cart had been backed up to the landing stage, and in the shed I saw tracks where a coil of netting had been removed. I followed the tracks of the cart, and found the coil of netting at the side of a tree. The netting was covered with roly poly and bushes. The tracks were made by the horse Bassett was driving on the day the netting was missing. The horse was unshod, and there were marks of where portions of the shell of the hoof were broken off. I saw Bassett, and said, “Where did you go on Wednesday?” He said, “I went to Condobolin with this spring cart and horse,” pointing to a horse and cart near by. Bassett said he left Moonbi Hotel about 11 o’clock. I asked him if he had called at Wheatley’s woolshed, and he replied, “I don’t know. I was pretty full.” I said, “Do you remember picking up a coil of netting?” He replied, “No, I was not too drunk for that.” I told him I had found a coil of netting in a paddock near his house, and asked him if he could account for its being there. He said, “No, unless Wheatley put it there to catch me.” I found the marks of the horse’s hoofs corresponding with the tracks going to Wheatley’s woolshed.
To Mr Moloney: I did not take the horse to the place, and compare his hoofs with the tracks made.
This was the case for the Crown.
Alfred Bassett deposed: I am a farmer and grazier, and hold Evergreen, Derriwong, and other properties. On March 17th I came from Derriwong to Condobolin, and back to my place via Moonbi. I was in a spring cart, and was driving a bay mare. I left Moonbi hotel about 11 o’clock, and was fairly sober. After I got about a mile or so I did not feel well. I went through a gate. I was sitting on a bag of chaff, and after a while I laid down in the cart. I don’t remember anything until I passed the woolshed when I ran over a log, and that woke me up. The rail-board fell down, and two wheels I had in the cart fell out. I had six trace chains in the cart, and they also fell out. I put them back in the cart, and went on to an iron gate about 150 yards away. The night was very dark, and the mare at times wandered off the track. I had two coils of netting at my place. I bought them off Mr William Golding in October 1914. I paid 36/- a coil for the netting, and brought it home in my cart. I required the netting for fencing a garden. The netting (produced) was bought from Mr Golding. I had the netting in my woolshed. I was going to Sydney on February 16th. The tank was getting dry, and sheep were falling in, so I told a man named Taylor to fence the tank in with wire netting, and when he had finished to bring home a load of firewood. I did not know whether Taylor had carried out my instructions, as I did not see him after the 16th. Taylor said he had only used half a coil. I asked him where he left the other coil, and he took me down the paddock about half a mile away, and showed me. The place where Taylor showed me he had left the wire was the place where the constable took the other coil from. There is a lot of traffic on the road past my place, a lot of traffic passing along from the main road along what is known as “The Driftway,” to Forbes.
To the Crown Prosecutor: I did not tell the constable the netting was my property. The sticks were not on the netting when I saw it, but there was some roly poly. I hold a mortgage over some of Golding’s stock. I had about six whiskeys before I left Moonbi. I am satisfied my cart went round by the woolshed. Taylor was with me at the police court on the second occasion after the remand, but not when I was first charged.
William H Golding deposed: In October, 1914, I sold Bassett two coils of wire netting and some sheep. I had about 30 coils of the same class as that here in court.
To the Crown Prosecutor: I owe accused nearly £200.
Roy K Taylor deposed: I was working for Mr Bassett at Evergreen and Derriwong. Before going to Sydney in February, Bassett told me to take a coil of netting from his shed, and to fence around a waterhole. I fenced in the tank, because sheep were getting bogged there. On the way home I threw a coil of wire off the cart, and brought home a load of firewood. Some time afterwards I went down the paddock to show Bassett where I left the netting. It was gone.
To the Crown Prosecutor: I am not engaged to Bassett’s daughter.
William Underwood (recalled) deposed: I arrived at Moonbi on the 13th February. Bassett was in Sydney then. I did not see Taylor there until six weeks after I arrived.
That was the evidence for the defence.
The jury retired at 9 o’clock on Tuesday night, and returned at half past 10, when it was announced by the foreman that no decision had been arrived at. His Honor ordered the jury to be locked up for the night, and on Wednesday morning it was announced that a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy, had been decided on.
Mr Moloney made an earnest appeal on behalf of Bassett. He asked that the provisions of the First Offenders’ Act should be extended. Accused was a well-to-do man, who had no need to take the netting. He had a wife and children, and would not have taken the netting only he was under the influence of drink.
His Honor said he had no doubt that the jury, in making their recommendation to mercy, considered the question of Bassett being drunk at the time. It was another case of the evil of drink. Bassett had no need of the netting, which made the crime all the worse. He was considering the advisability of extending the provisions of the First Offenders’ Act , but if he did so, it would mean that every man who was drunk when he committed a crime, could claim the same provision. Therefore he would sentence Bassett to six months’ hard labor in Goulburn gaol, but he could not see his way clear to grant a remission of sentence under the First Offenders’ Act .
Bassett was visibly affected, and was weeping while the Judge was making his remarks.
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Forbes Times, Fri 8 Oct 1915 3
FORBES QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———
FFIVE ACCUSED PLEAD
GUILTY.
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The Forbes Quarter Sessions were opened on Tuesday morning before his Honor Judge Scholes.
Mr Barton acted as Crown Prosecutor.
…
THE MOONBI NETTING CASE.
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Alfred Bassett (on bail) was charged with stealing about 100 yards of wire-netting and a tin tag, the property of AS Wheatley, at Moonbi, on 17th March, 1915.
Mr Moloney appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty.
The following jury were empanelled:—M Lee, CL Hodges, S McComiskey, EV Elliott, E Facey, AW Wyndham, A Anderson, WM Toohey, AMG Haydon, AE Peppercorn, BA Heraghty and C Geddes.
In opening the case the Crown Prosecutor said the case for the prosecution depended mainly on circumstantial evidence.
The witnesses for the prosecution were Horace Wheatley (manager of Moonbi and Fairholm stations for AS Wheatley, of Eulong), Percival Smith Wheatley, Wm Underwood (school teacher at Newlands, who was staying at accused’s place), and Constable de Salis (who is stationed at Warroo).
The evidence showed that on Friday, March 19th, Horace Wheatley missed a roll of wire netting from the wool-shed on Moonbi estate, which Mr AS Wheatley leases from the Macphillamy estate. The netting was in the custody of Horace Wheatley, as manager, who last saw it in the wool-shed on Tuesday 16th March. The wool-shed was in an open state, part of one of the walls having been blown down. Horace Wheatley reported the loss of the netting to the Warroo police, and on Saturday, March 20th, accompanied Constable de Salis to accused’s place. The constable followed cart tracks from the Moonbi hotel to the woolshed from which the netting was missed, thence to a spot in accused’s paddock, where a coil of wire-netting was found covered up in the scrub, and from there back to accused’s house. The tracks of the horse and cart corresponded with those of a horse and cart accused said he had driven to Condobolin on St Patrick’s Day. Questioned by the constable, accused said he had pulled up at the Moonbi hotel on his way back from Condobolin, and stayed there till 11 pm, but he was too drunk to know whether he turned off the road later on or not. However, he denied going to the Moonbi wool-shed and taking a roll of netting. Accused further said that the netting in his paddock was not his, and he could not account for it being there, unless someone put it there as a trap for him. Asked whom he would suspect of such a practice, accused pointed to Horace Wheatley, who was present, and said, “He has been tying to catch me for years; he told Constable Johnson I shook 80 sheep from him”; the netting found in accused’s paddock was claimed by Horace Wheatley as belonging to AS Wheatley. Accused was seen at the Moonbi hotel on St Patrick’s Day by Percival S Wheatley, who did not think that Bassett was very drunk. The school teacher living at accused’s place said Bassett returned home about 1.30 o’clock on the morning of Thursday, March 18th.
For the defence—
Alfred Bassett (the accused) deposed that he was a farmer and grazier, and owned several properties. He lived at Evergreen. On Tuesday, 16th March last, he went from Evergreen to Derriwong, another property of his, and on the following day travelled into Condobolin in a spring cart, returning the same day to Evergreen. On his way home he pulled up at the Moonbi hotel about nine o’clock at night, and stayed there till closing up time. On leaving he did not feel himself, and after passing through the first gate he did not remember anything further till after he passed the Moonbi wool-shed, near where he ran over a log and woke himself up. The tail-board of the spring cart fell down, and two wheels and some trace chains he had in the cart slipped out. He picked these up and proceeded along the main track. The night was very dark, and the mare he was driving occasionally got off the track. He got home about one o’clock the next morning. On the 14th October, 1914, he purchased two coils of wire netting from Mr Wm Golding, and took them to his home in a cart. He purchased the netting to fence his garden. He produced a coil of netting, which was one of those purchased by him from Mr Golding. On the 16th February last he was going to Sydney, and asked a man in his employ named Taylor to take the other coil of netting and fence a tank in, as the sheep were getting bogged. Accused said he did not know whether Taylor had carried out his instructions with regard to fencing the tank or not, but missing a coil of netting from his shed after his committal he asked Taylor if he had used it all. Taylor said he had not, and took him to a spot where he had left nearly a coil of netting. This was where Constable de Salis found the netting in his paddock.
In answer to the Crown Prosecutor witness admitted that he told the constable the netting did not belong to him. It did not occur to him to say that the netting resembled some he had. He held a mortgage over some stock belonging to Mr Wm Golding, the man from whom he purchased the netting. The mortgage was still undischarged. He was satisfied, from an inspection subsequently made, that his cart went over towards the Moonbi wool-shed the night he was returning from Condobolin. He now claimed the coil of wire netting found in his paddock by Constable de Salis as his property.
In answer to his Honor witness said when he went to Sydney in February he stayed for about a week. When he returned he was not constantly at Evergreen, but travelled about a good deal between his properties. The tank he asked Taylor to fence in was about 1½ mile from his Evergreen homestead.
Wm A Golding, a farmer and grazier, living about 14 miles from accused’s Evergreen property, deposed that in October last he sold two coils of wire-netting and some sheep to the accused. The netting resembled that in court. He had a quantity of netting on hand.
In answer to the Crown Prosecutor witness said accused did not pay him in cash for the sheep and netting, but allowed him the price of them off some weaners he had bought from accused two years previously, and for which he never paid accused. He owed accused close on £200.
Roy K Taylor, a laborer, living at Condobolin, said he started working for accused about Christmas last. He remembered accused going to Sydney in February last. Before doing so accused asked him to fence in a tank. Witness took a coil and a piece of netting to fence the tank. He only used the piece of netting. On the way back the he threw the coil of netting off the cart into the horse paddock, as he wanted to get a load of wood.
In answer to the Crown Prosecutor witness said he was not engaged to accused’s daughter.
Wm Underwood (recalled by the Crown Prosecutor) said he arrived at Evergreen on February 13th. Accused was then in Sydney. He did not see Taylor at Evergreen for six weeks after his arrival there.
The evidence in the case was concluded at six o’clock on Tuesday evening, when the Court adjourned till 8 pm. Mr Moloney and Mr Barton then addressed the jury, and his Honor summed up. The jury retired at nine o’clock, but returned into Court at 10.30 pm and announced that they were unable to agree, and that there appeared no likelihood of them doing so. His Honor then said he would have to lock them up for the night. Before doing so Juror M Lee complained of indisposition, and at his Honor’s suggestion the services of a medical man were requisitioned.
The jury was again brought into Court at 10.20 am on Wednesday, when the foreman (Mr Ed Facey) announced that a verdict of “Guilty” had been agreed on, but the jury strongly recommended the accused to mercy, on the ground that they believed he was under the influence of liquor when he committed the offence.
Mr Moloney asked his Honor to deal with the accused as if on summary conviction, as provided for under section 124 of the Crimes Act, but his Honor said he did not think the jury’s recommendation to mercy went so far as to say that the accused should be dealt with as a first offender, and personally he thought it would be a dangerous precedent to establish to say that every man who pleaded drunkenness should have the benefit of the First Offenders’ Act . In sentencing accused to six months’ hard labor in Goulburn gaol, he thought he was giving every consideration to the jury’s recommendation.
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Alfred Bassett, Gaol photo sheet 4
![SRNSW: NRS2232, [3/5979], Goulburn Gaol photographic description book, 17 Dec 1914-3 Feb 1916, No. 2737, p. 82, R5122.](../../images/trials/1915-Bassett-5979-gaol-photo-2737.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2232, [3/5979], Goulburn Gaol photographic description book, 17 Dec 1914-3 Feb 1916, No. 2737, p. 82, R5122.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 2737
Goulburn
Date when Portrait was taken: 4 November 1915
Name: Alfred Bassett
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Native place: S. Australia Year of birth: 2-1-1864 Arrived Ship: — Trade or occupation Religion: Presbyterian Education, degree of: R. W. Height: 5' 8½" Weight On committal: 174 Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Brown |
Marks or special features: Moles right and left breasts; mole on stomach; large scar above right foot |
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(No. of previous Portrait ... ) CONVICTIONS |
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Where and When |
Offence. |
Sentence |
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Condobolin PC Forbes Q.S |
25 6 |
4 10 |
1902 1915 |
Cruelty to animals Larceny |
40/- or 14 days H.L. 6 months H.L. |
Alfred Bassett, 1918
The Forbes Advocate, Fri 12 Jul 1918 5
CASE AGAINST BASSETT.
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Alfred Bassett was charged with having in his possession, at Moonbi, a sheepskin, reasonably suspected of having been stolen.
Sergeant Small deposed: I went to defendant’s place on June 19. Defendant was not there. I spoke to his two sons, Norman and Allen, and searched the premises for stolen sheep. I saw in the woolshed certain sheepskins, and took possession of one now before the court. The right ear is missing, and the left ear is cut with a knife, and was done probably about the time the sheep was killed. Witness marked that skin for identification, the sons refusing to do so. Later he saw defendant, and told him what he had found. The defendant said he did not want to see the skin, as he knew it. He said he had skinned the sheep as it had a cancer on the ear, so he cut the ear off, and cut the registered ear brand with a knife. Witness said he noticed other skins hanging up with ears missing. Three similar skins were minus the registered earmark. Witness was of opinion that the sheep were stolen, and skinned to hide the theft.
Horace Wheatley, manager of Fairholme station, near Moonbi, deposed that defendant’s place adjoined his. On April 9 his sheep were sixty short. He reported the loss to the police at Warroo. The skin in court was similar to witness’ sheep.
Bassett, who pleaded not guilty, gave evidence as follows: “I am a grazier, residing at Moonbi. I’ve had thirty years’ experience with sheep. It is impossible to tell the age of a sheep from the skin.” Witness killed the sheep, the subject of the charge. It was one of his own flock and breed. He cut the unregistered ear off close to the head, because it has a growth. He then cut a mark on the registered ear, because it looked unmarked. He passed through Wheatley’s frequently, but had never seen sheep on the property like the one in question. Wheatley’s sheep were very poor. He admitted he was first charged with stealing five sheep, but the police withdrew the charge..
Cross examined, Bassett stated:—“To make the earmarked ear appear like my heard brand, I cut it with a knife. I cut the other ear off, so as not to handle it when skinning. I decline to say if I sold half a sheep to a hotelkeeper in Condobolin. I decline to say if he paid me a cheque for meat supplied. I cannot say that I know another case of a two-tooth sheep with a growth on the ear. I am not too friendly with Wheatley. I was convicted for stealing wire netting from his place, and received six months’ imprisonment. I was not found in possession of another man’s bullock in Sydney, and compelled to truck it back to Condobolin. There is no truth in the statement that I suggested to certain people to steal sheep, and I would pay half for them. I did not show anyone how to fake an ear mark.
Allen Bassett, son of defendant, said he had picked the sheep in question out of a thousand. He could not say if it was a ewe or a wether, but thought it was a wether. It was not a lamb. He could not say how it was marked. It a six tooth. He noticed it had a growth on the ear. None of the carcase was sold. He could not say if his father sells mutton. It could be done without his knowledge. He would not make a mark on the skin when the Sergeant asked him, because he could see no reason for doing so. He was not afraid of putting his father into trouble if he did so.
Bassett was convicted, and fined £50 and costs.
The charge against Bassett of stealing five sheep was withdrawn.
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The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times, Sat 13 Jul 1918 6
ALLEGED SHEEP STEALING
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CHARGES AT CONDOBOLIN.
In consequence of the number of complaints that had been received regarding the alleged systematic sheep stealing in the Condobolin district, Superintendent Walker, of the Criminal Investigation Branch recently sent Sergeant Small, a plain-clothes policeman, to make investigation.
Small knocked about the stations for three weeks without revealing his identity, and was mistaken for a boundary rider and a drover.
Seven charges of direct sheep stealing and many of breaches of the Pasture Protection Act were set down for hearing before the police court, which opened on Wednesday, before Mr Harcourt Holcombe, police magistrate. The court was crowded, there being intense local interest.
Alfred Bassett, owner of both town and station properties, pleaded guilty to a charge of travelling sheep without supplying full information of the brands and earmarks. He was fined £10, with £1 7s costs. On a charge of having a sheepskin in his possession reasonably suspected of having been stolen, there being reasonable cause to believe that he came by it dishonestly, Bassett was fined £56, and costs.
Reece Vaughan Jones, a farmer, pleaded guilty to two charges, one of slaughtering cattle without notifying the inspector, and the other of using an unregistered brand. He was fined, in the first case, £5; and in the second £25. Costs were allowed in each case.
Thomas Martin Dunn, aged 31, was charged with stealing six sheep on February 1, the property of JJ Leahy, of Euglo Station. Lengthy evidence was given, Sergeant Small stated that earmarks had been altered and brands defaced. He was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions to be held at Condobolin on August 14. Bail was allowed in £100. Dunn was also committed for trial on a charge of stealing two sheep the property of Clara Ann Tope, about June 24. Similar bail was allowed.
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The Bathurst Times, Mon 15 Jul 1918 7
SHEEP AND SHEEP BRANDS
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INTERESTING WESTERN CASES
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At the Condobolin Police Court, Alfred Bassett, reputed to be a wealthy station owner, was fined £10 for travelling sheep without supplying full information of the brands and earmarks, and £50 for having in his possession part of a sheepskin reasonably supposed to have been stolen. Bassett was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions, Condobolin, on a charge of uttering a permit to travel sheep, knowing same to have been altered.
A further case against Bassett, for having, within the past six months, altered the earmarks of a sheep, was, after evidence for the prosecution had closed, adjourned till August 12.
Thomas Martin Dunn was committed for trial on two charges of sheep stealing, and was fined £2 and costs for neglecting to give full information of brands and earmarks on travelling sheep.
Norman Willmott, George Cheetham, and James Alfred Everett were convicted of stealing one sheep, the property of WG Matchett, of Borambil station.
Wilmott was sentenced to six months, with hard labor. The other two were fined £20, with the alternative of four months gaol.
Reece Vaughan Jones was fined £5 for slaughtering cattle without notifying the inspector, £25 for using an unregistered brand, £20 for keeping premises for slaughtering without a license, and £10 each for using an unregistered brand on a sheep and on a beast, making a total of £70.
Heavy costs were also allowed.
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The Forbes Advocate, Tue 16 Jul 1918 8
CONDOBOLIN POLICE COURT.
————
Last week’s sittings of the Condobolin Police Court lasted three days, terminating on Friday. On the last the cases were as follows:—
RV Jones, for using an unrecorded brand on cattle, fined £10; and for using an unregistered brand on sheep, also fined £10. Sou Yen, Chinaman, pleaded guilty to selling liquor without a license, and was fined £50 or 6 months. Alfred bassett, against whom there had been several cases on the previous two days, was charged with wilfully altering the earmarks in a sheep. Evidence for the prosecution having been gone into, the case was adjourned till 24th August.
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Western Champion, Thu 18 Jul 1918 9
CONDOBOLIN CASES.
In consequence of the number of complaints that had been received regarding the alleged systematic sheep stealing in the Condobolin district (says a Condobolin message of Thursday last), Superintendent Walker, of the Criminal Investigation Branch, recently sent Sergeant Small a plain-clothes policeman, to make an investigation.
Small knocked about the stations for three weeks without revealing his identity and was mistaken for a boundary rider and a drover.
Several charges of direct sheep stealing and many breaches of the Pasture Protection Act are set down for hearing before the police court, which opened yesterday afternoon before Harcourt Holcombe, police magistrate. The court was crowded, there being intense local interest.
Alfred Bassett, owner of both town and station properties pleaded guilty to a charge of travelling sheep without supplying full information of the brands and ear marks. He was fined £10, with £1 7/- costs. On a charge of having a sheepskin in his possession reasonably suspected of having been stolen, there being reasonable cause to believe to he came by it dishonestly, Bassett was fined £50 and costs.
Reece Vaughan Jones, a farmer, pleaded guilty to two charges, one of slaughtering cattle without notifying the inspector, and the other of using an unregistered brand. He was fined, in the first case, £5, and in the second £25. Costs were allowed in each case.
Thomas Martin Dunn, aged 31, was charged with stealing six sheep on February 1, the property of JJ Leahy, of Euglo station. Lengthy evidence was given, Sergeant Small stating that earmarks had been alerted and brands defaced. He was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions to be held at Condobolin on August 14. Bail was allowed in £100. Dunn was also committed for trial on a charge of stealing two sheep the property of Clara Ann Hope about June 24. Similar bail was allowed.
Inspector Mitchell, the police prosecutor at the Central Police Court, Sydney, conducted the prosecution. Detective Devlin has been here for a fortnight assisting in preparing the evidence.
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The Forbes Advocate, Tue 30 Jul 1918 10
CURRENT TOPICS.
————
A £100 FINE.
————
What could be called the Alfred Bassett cases were gone into further at Condobolin Police Court, before Mr H Holcombe, PM, last week. Bassett was charged with altering the earmarks on sheep. He pleaded not guilty, & called three witnesses. The PM found the charge proved, and fined defendant £100 and costs. We believe that the latter handed in his cheque for the amount right away. Bassett was then charged with slaughtering without a license, but this charge was postponed for a fortnight on the application of defendant’s solicitor. In the series of cases so far decided against him, bassett has been fined £100, £50, £10, and court and witness’s costs, and together with his own costs, has paid over the price of a good many sheep.
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The Forbes Advocate, Fri 16 Aug 1918 11
CONDOBOLIN QUARTER SESSIONS
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At the Condobolin Quarter Sessions this week,
…
Alfred Bassett appealed against two convictions recorded against him at the Police Court last. One was upheld and one dismissed.
Alfred Bassett, 1925
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Tue 10 Feb 1925 12
QUARTER SESSIONS
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ONLY THREE TRIALS
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PROCEEDINGS HELD UP
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Of the eight accused persons at the Parramatta Quarter Sessions on Monday, four pleaded guilty; and it was intimated that another would enter a plea of guilty on Tuesday morning.
The Crown not having been notified of these intended pleas of guilty, a delay in the proceedings occurred when the first defended case—one of alleged bestiality—was called. At 10.45, the jurymen trooped out into the sunshine for three-quarters of an hour, by which time it was stated the defence would be prepared to proceed.
Judge Armstrong presided. Crown Prosecutor, Mr TS Crawford; deputy-sheriff, Mr JH Murray; deputy clerk of the peace, Mr WH Hall.
Sworn In.
The following were sworn in as Justices of the Peace:—Clarence Edmund Saunders, Alfred Oliver Johnson, Clarence Oscar Smith, John Arthur Williams, Ernst Percival Hall, Daisy Ruth Fripp, Thomas Davies, Joseph Francis Bannan, Ernest William Orth, Alfred Robson Trenholme, Henry George Thomas Brown, John Henry Holman Pope, James Jervis, Ernest Hilton Martyn, Horace Collis Watson, John Gilbert, Hugh Watt, Isaac Ferris, William Henry Mayo, Robert Henry John Tapp, Leslie Stewart Eldridge, Allan Jay Way, Andy Richard Pike, William Edwin Cocks, Emily Jane Forbes, Alice Lily Mary Knight, Percy Joseph Higgins, George Henry Hughes, William James MacArthur, Percy Moodie, Horace Nicholas Short, Robert Harvey, and Reginald Bruce Cumming Watt.
…
A SERIOUS CHARGE.
Considerable interest was taken in the trial of Alfred Bassett, who was charged with having committed a serious offence, [bestiality with a hen ], of a revolting nature.
Bassett, for whom Mr EF Abigail appeared, pleaded not guilty.
The accused challenged four jurymen, and the Crown stood two aside.
At the outset, Mr Abigail made an application for the jury to view the locality where the offence was alleged to have been committed.
His Honor agreed it would be advisable.
On the Crown Prosecutor’s reference to the nature of the evidence to be adduced, females and minors were ordered out of Court.
His Honor strongly suggested that those not compelled to remain in Court should leave also. No one left.
In finding him guilty of an attempt to commit the crime, the jury, on account of his age, recommended the accused to mercy.
In the course of a strong appeal, Mr Abigail, on Tuesday morning, asked the judge to bind the accused over to come up for sentence if called on.
A mild sensation was caused when a man stepped forward and addressed his Honor.
“I beg your pardon, your Honor,” he said; “can any man have a say in this Court? I can prove that man innocent.”
A police officer told the man to leave the Court.
“Never mind about you,” replied the man, “I heard the evidence, and I can prove that man innocent.”
The man was led from the Court.
Bassett was further remanded for sentence.
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The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Fri 13 Feb 1925 13
QUARTER SESSIONS
———◦———
(Before Judge Armstrong.)
———
Tuesday, February 10.
———
BASSETT SENTENCED.
Alfred Bassett, who had been found guilty of an attempt to commit a serious offence, was sentenced to three months’ hard labor.
…
DISCIPLE OF MERCY
———▴–▴———
JUDGE ARMSTRONG'S TENDER HEART
———◦———
COMMUNITY ALSO NEEDS HIS SYMPATHY
———◦———
The outstanding characteristic of Judge Armstrong is his remarkable leniency. It is not to long ago that he aroused a storm of indignation by suspending the sentence of a man who had brutally thrashed his horse until he killed it. He suspended this sentence, it might be mentioned, after he had held forth about the brutality of the man’s offence. The attitude of the judge on this occasion could not be applauded even by the humanitarian; for human sympathy must surely extend to a poor, ill-treated animal.
A review of the sentences imposed during this week’s Quarter Sessions at Parramatta indicate very clearly that Judge Armstrong still views with extraordinary lightness many offences against society.
For indecently assaulting two little girls, one aged eight, and the other nine, an elderly man received a sentence of six months.
A young man, previously convicted and given a bad name by the police, was sentenced to three months for stealing a valuable gold watch and chain. When the same young man appeared at the lower Court, he declined summary jurisdiction, and reserved his defence. Before Judge Armstrong, he promptly pleaded guilty and appealed to the judge’s apparently unlimited sympathy.
A man, [Alfred Bassett], of years, and of means, was found guilty of an attempt to commit a most revolting offence. He was recommended to mercy. And for attempting to commit a crime, the seriousness of which the judge had so strongly emphasised, he was sentenced to three months’ hard labor. Lest there be some who might think that Judge Armstrong should have released him as a first offender, in fairness to the judge, we point out that the man in question long since forfeited that privilege.
Another young man, convicted of forgery, had his sentence suspended on undertaking to repay the person defrauded. At first Judge Armstrong expressed the opinion that the case would be met merely by the payment of compensation. The Crown Prosecutor, however, contended that this would be treating forgery too lightly altogether.
Yet another young man was charged with indecent assault on a little girl. He pleaded guilty to the second count—common assault. For this offence against a little girl, the man was sentenced to imprisonment for two weeks.
For assaulting a Chinaman, a youth was bound over to come up for sentence if called on within six months, and was ordered to pay £4 compensation to the Chinaman.
In the remaining case, a young man guilty of embezzling money from the bank that employed him, was sentenced to three years’ hard labor, and was ordered to pay £500 compensation. It was stated that the total defalcations, which had extended over a period of five years, amounted to £1263. (This sentence is not put forward as one of leniency; it is mentioned for no purpose other than to complete the list.)
Among the appeal cases was that of the Riley brothers, who had been sentenced to three months’ hard labor for assaulting two police officers at Clyde. They appealed against the severity of the sentence.
Emphasis was laid on the fact that the Rileys were drunk at the time. Mr WR Dovey, who appeared for them, suggested that the appellants be either fined or bound over.
The Crown Prosecutor (Mr TS Crawford): I think that assaults on the police, whether by drunken or sober men, must be regarded seriously. Anything like encouragement to assault the police would lead to chaos.
Asked what he thought regarding a fine, Mr Crawford suggested “something in the region of £20.”
Judge Armstrong said he thought that £10 would be too high.
And the Rileys were bound over to be of good behaviour for a year.
The above facts need no elaboration; they speak for themselves.
We claim to be both sympathetic and humanitarian. And we realise that no darker day could dawn than that on which the milk of human kindness ceased to flow in the judicial breast. But a judge’s sympathy should not be monopolised by wrong-doers. The persons directly offended against, and society in general, are entitled to some of it.
No one likes to see a person sent to gaol. It must be borne in mind, however, that adequate punishment for crime is one of the pillars on which the whole structure of society depends.
Were Judge Armstrong the only person offended against, we would readily acclaim his sympathy as a virtue worthy of universal emulation.
As it is, we cannot refrain from reminding him that he has a duty to perform on the community’s behalf.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 21 Mar 1925 14
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL.
(Before the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Gordon and Mr Justice James.)
CROWN AS APPELLANT.
…
CROWN’S FURTHER APPEALS.
Rex v Bassett.
This was a similar appeal by the Attorney-General under the Amending Act of 1924 against a sentence of three months’ imprisonment by Judge Armstrong at Parramatta in February upon a man named Alfred Bassett, who was found guilty of an abominable offence, the ground being, as before, that the sentence was quite inadequate in the circumstances of the case. Mr Weigall and Mr Treatt (instructed by the Crown Solicitor) appeared for Attorney-General; and Mr ER Abigail for the accused.
…
The three additional cases were considered together for the purposes of the judgement, which was delivered by the Chief Justice. His Honor referred to the principles laid down in the previous judgement in Rex v King, which he said would be applied in these cases. In the matter of Rex v Bassett the jury had recommended the accused to mercy on the ground of his advanced age, 61 years, and the trial Judge in his report stated that in imposing the light sentence he had borne that recommendation in mind. The Chief Justice said that the Legislature evidently considered the offence a serious one, since it had provided that guilty persons should be liable to penal servitude for five years. The Court were of the opinion that the Judge was not entitled to surrender his own judgement to that of the jury. It was a matter for him, and not for the jury, to fix the sentence, and in determining it he must be guided by the character of the evidence and the surrounding circumstances, giving such weight to the recommendation of the jury as it might be entitled to. Their Honors were of opinion that the sentence was manifestly inadequate, and that it should be varied to one of imprisonment for nine months with hard labour.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Alfred Bassett, Gaol photo sheet 15
![SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6113], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 11 Oct 1924-26 Mar 1925, No. 20704, p. 238.](../../images/trials/1915-Bassett-6113-gaol-photo-20704.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6113], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 11 Oct 1924-26 Mar 1925, No. 20704, p. 238.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 20704
Date when Portrait was taken: 26-2-1925
Name: Alfred Bassett
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Native place: South Australia Year of birth: 2-1-1864 Arrived Ship: Trade or occupation Religion: Presbyterian Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5'8½" Weight On committal: 174 Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Brown |
Marks or special features: Moles right and left breasts; mole on stomach; large scar above right footMarks or special features: Moles on both breasts & on abdomen. Large scar above right foot |
|
(No. of previous Portrait .. 2737 Goulburn) CONVICTIONS |
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Where and When |
Offence. |
Sentence |
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Parramatta Q.S Court of Criminal Appeal |
9 20 |
2 3 |
1925 1925 |
Attempt to commit beastiality |
3 months HL Sentence increased to 9 months HL |
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And 4 previous convictions for which see Photo No. as above |
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Alfred Bassett, 1932
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 5 Jul 1932 16
INCOME TAX EVASION.
———◦———
RETIRED GRAZIER FINED £400.
———
Alfred Bassett, a retired grazier, of Clovelly was fined £400 in the Central Summons Court yesterday on charges of having attempted to avoid income tax by understating his gross receipts from rents in the years 1929-1930.
John Rook, an officer of the Taxation Department, said that Bassett had evaded £400 in tax.
Mr RM Sturt, who appeared for Bassett said that Bassett was a very ignorant man. Bassett’s income tax return had been prepared by a solicitor, who had died in mysterious circumstances. The solicitor had owned Bassett considerable sums of money when he died, and Bassett had trusted him implicitly.
Mr Rook said that Bassett had signed both returns.
Mr Laidlaw, CSM, said that Bassett might be a stupid man, but he also had an element of cunning. It was men like Bassett who made the taxation burden so hard for honest people.
Mr Laidlaw ordered that Bassett be imprisoned until the fine was paid, but after representations had been made by Mr Sturt he allowed the warrant to lie in the office for three months.
Alfred Bassett, 1940
The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 5 Dec 1940 17
QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Holt.)
Crown Prosecutor, Mr RR Kidston.
ACQUITTED OF SERIOUS CHARGE.
Alfred Bassett, 76, retired grazier, was acquitted of a charge of having attempted to commit an unnatural offence at Clovelly on June 13.
Mr EP Kinsella (instructed by Mr RE Taylor) appeared for Bassett.
Alfred Bassett, 1944
The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 29 May 1944 18
£19,000 19 TAKEN FROM UNDER
BED AT CLOVELLY
———◦———
ATTACHE CASE HELD 10 YEARS’ SAVINGS
————
Between 9.15 am and 11 pm on Saturday £19,000 in notes disappeared from a case hidden under a bed in a house in Boundary Road, Clovelly. A search failed to find the money or provide a clue to its disappearance.
Mr Alfred Bassett, 80, a property owner, believed that an attache case 14 inches long under his bed was as safe a depository as a bank, for more than 10 years he had crammed notes from £100 to £5 denomination into it.
When he opened the case soon after he awoke on Saturday morning the money was intact. When he was retiring at 11 pm the case was still under the bed, but only one £50 note was init.
Detective-Sergeants Ramus, Dogan, and Newton, and Detective Barnes, assisted by Mr Bassett’s daughter and son-in-law, made a thorough search of the house yesterday, believing that the hoard of notes may have been placed in another hiding-place and forgotten by Mr Bassett.
There was no indication that the place had been forcibly entered. The house had not been left unoccupied. Police believe that the robbery occurred after 8 pm on Saturday. Inquiries are being continued. The numbers on some of the notes of large denomination are known.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Barrier Miner, Thu 28 Sep 1944 20
DEATH OF MAN WHO
LOST FORTUNE
SYDNEY.—Alfred Bassett, retired investor and property owner, of Clovelly, who was robbed of £19,000 early this year, died in hospital yesterday.
Bassett had the money in notes of various denominations under his bed. It was stolen while he was in another part of his home having a meal, and had not been traced.
He had intended distributing the money among his seven children, one of whom is a city police sergeant.
1 Forbes Times, Tue 5 Oct 1915, p. 2. Emphasis added.
2 The Forbes Advocate, Fri 8 Oct 1915, p. 2. Emphasis added.
3 Forbes Times, Fri 8 Oct 1915, p. 8. Emphasis added.
4 SRNSW: NRS2232, [3/5979], Goulburn Gaol photographic description book, 17 Dec 1914-3 Feb 1916, No. 2737, p. 82, R5122.
5 The Forbes Advocate, Fri 12 Jul 1918, p. 4.
6 The Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times, (Albury, NSW), Sat 13 Jul 1918, p. 3. Emphasis added.
7 The Bathurst Times, Mon 15 Jul 1918, p. 1. Emphasis added.
8 The Forbes Advocate, Tue 16 Jul 1918, p. 2. Emphasis added.
9 Western Champion, (Parkes, NSW), Thu 18 Jul 1918, p. 19.
10 The Forbes Advocate, Tue 30 Jul 1918, p. 2.
11 The Forbes Advocate, Fri 16 Aug 1918, p. 6.
12 The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Tue 10 Feb 1925, p. 2.
13 The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Fri 13 Feb 1925, pp. 1, 4.
14 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 21 Mar 1925, p. 14. Emphasis added.
15 SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6113], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 11 Oct 1924-26 Mar 1925, No. 20704, p. 238.
16 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 5 Jul 1932, p. 4.
17 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 5 Dec 1940, p. 3.
18 The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 29 May 1944, p. 4. Original emphasis.
19 The £19,000.00 ($38,000.00) Alfred Bassett had stored under the bed in 1944 would in today’s (2012) terms approximately be, assuming that the amount doubles every 7-10 years, $4,864,000.00.
20 Barrier Miner, Thu 28 Sep 1944, p. 1.