Henry Beckingham, 1907

Below also see: Henry Beckingham, 1914,
Henry Beckingham, 1916

 

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Wed 16 May 1906 ¹

PARRAMATTA POLICE COURT.
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Monday, May 14.
(Before Mr TE MacNevin, SM.)

…

ROOKWOOD CASES.

…
    Henry Beckingham, a Rookwood Asylum man, was charged with using obscene language on the Flemington rifle range. The defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 20s, or fourteen days’ imprisonment.

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The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Wed 20 Nov 1907 ²

PARRAMATTA POLICE COURT.
————
Monday, November 18.
(Before Mr W Clarke, DSM.))

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IN THE COW YARD.

    Henry Beckingham was charged with having been found on the 16th of November on the dairy premises of the Rookwood Asylum, with intent to steal. He pleaded not guilty.

    Senior-constable Robertson deposed that, from information received, about 10 pm on the 16th inst, in company with Constable Denman, he went to the Rookwood Asylum. Saw the accused there. Said to him, “Where were you at 12.20 this morning?” He replied, “In bed.”

    To the DSM: He was an inmate of the asylum.

    The witness continued: The man said that he was not up in the cow yard, and a man, Little, did not speak to him there. Went to Little. Took him before the accused, who said that he knew Beckingham. Said, “Where did you see him?” He said, “I found him in the cow-yard in the calf-pen with the calf bailed up against the wall.” Said, “Are you quite sure about him?” He replied, “Yes; I know him well.” The accused made no reply. Cautioned him, and charged him. He replied, “I know nothing about it.”

    Thomas Little, herdsman at Rookwood Asylum, deposed that he resided at Rookwood. On the night of the 15th inst, or the morning of the 16th inst, about twenty minutes past 12, he went to the dairy from the cottage where he slept. Had heard something. Saw nothing at first. Saw Henry Beckingham in the calf-pen. Asked him what he was doing. He said, “I’m tying up the calf.” Said to him, “The calves don’t require tying up; they are allowed to run about.” Said “Let it go, and come out of that.” He had hold of the calf. The gas was turned on. Could see the accused well. Was quite certain that the accused was the man. The yard was enclosed with a wire fence. None of the inmates had authority to go in that yard unless they were sent. Did not send the accused there. The regular time for the men to go to bed was 9pm. It was a couple of hundred yards from the ward to which the accused belonged to the cow-yard. Had seen the accused on and off for about two years. He once was employed at the cow-yard feeding the cows.

    Peter Curran, head attendant, Rookwood Asylum, deposed that he resided at Rookwood. Remembered the 15th of November. Was on duty that day. It was his duty to give instructions to the inmates. Gave the accused no instructions to go to the cow-yard, either on the 15th or the 16th of November. The inmates should retire at 9 pm.

    The accused, [Henry Beckingham] in the box, swore that he [was] at Rookwood till 11 pm. He could not have been down at the cow-yard at 12.20. Casey and David were with him. The night attendant saw witness in bed at 12.40. Little saw witness in the cow-yard. Witness had come up the back way through the cow-yard. Had no intention of stealing had drink in him. Believed that Little spoke to him.

    To the police: It would not be necessary for witness to go through the cow-yard generally. Was outside the calf-pen. Saw some calves there. Did not recollect Little speaking to witness. Was doing nothing with the calf. Would swear that he did not touch the calf. Was not trying to tie the calf up.

    The witness, Little, said he saw that the accused had been drinking.

    Wm Riordan, night attendant at the Rookwood Asylum, deposed that the accused was in the asylum at 9.15 pm. He was out at 11.40. Saw him at 10 past 10 pm. He seemed all right then. He had been drinking. Did not see Davis and Casey go away with the accused.

    To the police: Ordered the man to bed at 10 past 10. He went towards the ward. At 10.30 visited the ward there. He was out of bed. Saw him at 1.15 am in bed. He was not in the ward at 11.40 pm.

    To the DSM: It would take the accused about ten minutes to get from the ward to the cow-yard, or five minutes if he was pinched.

    The case was remanded till 2 pm, in order that two witnesses might be called on the accused’s behalf.

    The hearing of the case against Beckingham was taken further in the afternoon.

    A fellow inmate of the accused’s in the asylum, John Davis, deposed that he in Beckingham’s company on the night of the 15th inst. He and the accused and a man named Mason were drinking in Rookwood between 10 and 11 pm. They returned to the asylum about midnight. They went through a gate 100 yards from the cow-yard. Did not go through the cow-yard with the accused. They took off their boots and crept quietly to the dormitory, so that they would not be heard. Did not see the accused go to bed.

    The accused was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment.

 

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Henry Beckingham, 1914

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Wed 23 May 1914 ³

PARRAMATTA COURT.
———◦———
Wednesday, May 20.
(Before Mr MH Fitzhardinge, DSM.)
————

…

INTERRUPTED THE ARMY.

    Henry Beckenham [sic], of Lidcombe, was fined 20s, with 6 s costs, or 14 days’ imprisonment, for drunkenness and disorderly conduct at Lidcombe; and 40s, with costs, for using bad language in the local lockup.

    The arresting constable stated that the man was interrupting the Salvation Army’s service on the occasion in question, and he went so far as to call one speaker “a —– liar.” When arrested he used the language at the lockup.

 

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Henry Beckingham, 1916

The Daily Telegraph, Wed 8 Nov 1916 ⁴

CRIMINAL.
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…
     At the Sydney Quarter Sessions, before Judge Docker, Henry Beckingham pleaded guilty to having committed a serious [indecent] assault, [on Stanley Smith], and was remanded for sentence.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 8 Nov 1916 ⁵

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Docker and juries.)

    Mr RJ Browning, Crown Prosecutor.

SERIOUS OFFENCE.

    Henry Beckingham, 71, pleaded guilty to having committed a serious assault, at Sydney, on October 19, and was remanded for sentence.

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The Daily Telegraph, Thu 9 Nov 1916 ⁶

CRIMINAL.
———

…
    At the Sydney Quarter Sessions, before judge Docker and a jury.
…
    Henry Beckingham pleaded guilty to a serious offence and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labor.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 9 Nov 1916 ⁷

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Docker and jury.)
Mr G Martin, Crown Prosecutor.

…

SERIOUS ASSAULT.

    Thomas [aka Henry] Beckingham, 71, who had pleaded guilty to committing a serious assault at Sydney, on October 19, was sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour in Grafton Gaol. Mr Fanker appeared for Beckingham.

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Henry Beckingham, Gaol photo sheet ⁸

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 15342

Date when Portrait was taken: 9-11-1916

Name: Henry Beckingham

Native place: Sydney Year of birth: 10-12-1845 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: BS Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Butcher Religion: CE Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 3¼" Weight     On committal: 129 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown to grey Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: Large nose. Scar junction left thumb. Letters “H.B.” inside left forearm

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Parramatta PC Central PC ditto Parramatta PC ditto Sydney Q.S	18 30 30 20 20  7	11   1   1   5   5 11	1907 1913 1913 1914 1914 1916	Unlawfully on premises Threatening Assault police Drunk and disorderly Indecent language Indecent assault on a male person	7 days HL 20/- or 7 days HL 20/- or 7 days HL  |  Concurrent 20/- or 14 days HL £2 or 1 month HL  |  Concurrent 12 months HL

 

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¹     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Wed 16 May 1906, p. 4.