Evening News, Fri 10 Sep 1920 ¹

CHARGE IN COURT

    Reports have been frequent of late of assaults on children in suburbs, and Police Sergeant Sheehy made an arrest yesterday.

    At the Central Police Court this morning William Ferrall, 25, a French sailor was charged with having committed a serious assault on a boy.

    The accused was remanded till Friday. He applied for bail, and Sergeant White, Police Prosecutor, said the boy was 15 years old, and that it was alleged the accused took him into some bush at Woolwich and assaulted him

    Ferrall said he was in charge of a steamer leaving to-day. Bail was fixed at £100.

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Evening News, Fri 17 Sep 1920 ²

ASSAULT ON CHILD
————
CHARGE AGAINST SEAMAN
————

    In the case of William Ferrall, 25, a sailor, who was charged at the Central Police Court to-day with indecent assault on a boy at Woolwich, on September 9. Sergeant Spyer (Police Prosecutor) asked that the accused be remanded to the Children’s Court. The boy, he said, was under 10 years of age.

    Ferrall was remanded to the Children’s Court on Thursday next.

    He applied for bail.

    The sergeant said he understood it was a bad case.

    The magistrate (Mr Burton Smith) allowed bail, self in £220, and one surety in a like amount, or two in £100 each.

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The Daily Telegraph, Thu 21 Oct 1920 ³

CRIMINAL.
———
(Before Judge Backhouse.)

    Mr Rowland, Crown Prosecutor.
…
    William Ferrall, a Frenchman, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having committed an [indecent] assault on a boy, [Leslie Raymond Maxwell], at Woolwich on September 9.

    Accused was found guilty and remanded for sentence.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 21 Oct 1920 ⁴

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Backhouse.)

    Mr Norman Rowland, Crown Prosecutor.
…

GROSS MISCONDUCT.

    William Ferrall, a Frenchman, 25 years of age, described as a sailor, pleaded not guilty to gross misconduct at Woolwich on September 9. He was found guilty on the evidence of a boy, and remanded for sentence.

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The National Advocate, Sat 23 Oct 1920 ⁵

FRENCH CRIMINAL’S REQUEST

Sydney, Friday.

    At the Darlinghurst Sessions to-day William Farrell, a Frenchman was sentenced to three years’‘ penal servitude on a charge of assaulting a boy.

    In reply to a request to be sent to New Caledonia his Honor said he would recommend accused’s request.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 23 Oct 1920 ⁶

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Backhouse.)

    Mr Norman Rowland, Crown Prosecutor.
…

SENTENCES.

    His Honor passed the following sentences:—
…
    William Ferrall, a French sailor, gross misconduct, three years’ penal servitude. His Honor said that if arrangements could be made Ferrall might be allowed to go back to his own country.

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William Ferrall, Gaol photo sheet ⁷

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 17476

Date when Portrait was taken: 21-10-1920

Name: William Ferrall

Native place: France Year of birth: 24-12-1894 Arrived       Ship: Defiance in Colony }   Year: 1909 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Seaman Religion: RC Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 4" Weight     On committal: 153 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Dark brown Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Ship back right hand. Mole on right cheek

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S	20	10	1920	Buggery	3 years P.S.

 

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¹     Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Fri 10 Sep 1920, p. 1.

²     Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Fri 17 Sep 1920, p. 1.

³     The Daily Telegraph, Thu 21 Oct 1920, p. 7.

⁴     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 21 Oct 1920, p. 7.

⁵     The National Advocate, Sat 23 Oct 1920, p. 2.

⁶     The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 23 Oct 1920, p. 9.

⁷     SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6105], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 9 Oct 1920-14 May 1921, No. 17476, p. 26.

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