Neils Peter Neilsen, 1913

Below also see: Niels Peter Nielsen, 1921

 

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 18 Jan 1913 ¹

A HORNSBY TRAGEDY.
———◦———
DROWNED IN THE FISH POND.
————

    The body of a young Dane named James Peter Neilsen, aged 30, was recovered from a deep hole known as one of the fish ponds, in a rocky gully near Hornsby, on Wednesday. Deceased had been boarding at Mrs Thompson’s place, Burn’s-road, Wahroonga, during the past 6 or 7 years.

    Some few weeks ago he suffered from an attack of influenza, and latterly he had been complaining of a choking sensation in the throat, which made him very despondent. He consulted several Sydney doctors; and on Monday, his brother, Neil Neilson, and Mr Thompson took him to Dr Clarke’s, at Wahroonga. After seeing the doctor, he became very depressed, and on Tuesday morning he left the house without saying anything to anybody. As he did not return to dinner, his brother and some of the young Thompsons started out in search of him. The police were informed, and the search was kept up during the night.

    Early on Wednesday morning, his brother and three of the Thompsons renewed the search, and the clothes of the deceased were found on the bank close by a deep pool near the rifle range. Constables Rowe and Walsh and Messrs Trev Harrington, C Carpenter, and others joined the party, and Mr T Harrington cut down a long sapling and started to probe the bottom of the hole, which was found to be about 45 feet deep. The pole caught the arm of the deceased, and the body was brought to the surface and then lifted out of the water. The police had brought along a stretcher, and the body was placed on this, and, by dint of extraordinary exertion, it was brought out of the gully to comparatively smooth ground, where it was placed in a cart and brought on to Hornsby.

    The Coroner has been informed, and arrangements have been made to hold an inquest next Tuesday.

    Deceased was a clever looking man, and latterly had been following the occupation of a gardener. It is not known why the deceased entered the water, as he could not swim, and the pool had the local reputation of being bottomless; but under all the circumstances, certain conclusions are drawn. Deceased was well liked by all who knew him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 25 Jan 1913 ²

DROWNED IN THE FISH
POND.
———◦———
VERDICT OF SUICIDE.
————

    Mr EL Maitland, SM, held an inquest at Hornsby on Tuesday, concerning the death of Peter Neilson, who was found drowned in one of the fish-ponds about three miles from, Hornsby, on the 15th instant.

    Dr Ramsden stated that the signs of death were compatible with asphyxiation from drowning. There were no external marks of violence.

    Neils Peter Neilsen ³ stated that the deceased was his brother. Witness was a carpenter and gardener, residing at Turramurra. Deceased was 30 years of age, and was born in Denmark. He had been eight years in New South Wales. He was a single man, and had a bank account of about £141. Deceased did not smoke, and was temperate in his habits. Could not say if his life were insured. He had been ailing a great deal before leaving Denmark, the cause being enlargement of the heart. He improved out here, but had occasional attacks. An attack of influenza seemed to settle in his throat, and he suffered a good deal from it. He had consulted three doctors, but each made light of it, and failed to doo him good. On the 13th he went to Dr Clark at Wahroonga, who examined him. Deceased was very depressed when he left the doctor. The next morning Mrs Thompson, at whose house deceased boarded, said that he had passed a very bad night. Came back later, and was informed that he had gone out. As he did not come back again, witness searched the bush for him. Found the clothes lying on the bank of a pond known as the new fish pond. It was very deep. Deceased could not swim. The trousers were turned inside out, and were split at the back. He thought from the position of the clothes that his brother had intended to go in for a bath, and whilst in the act of tacking his trousers off, he must have felt an attack coming on, and hurried to the water to get a drink, and fell in. Tried to depth the water, in an effort to locate the body, but failed to reach bottom. Then informed the police at Hornsby.

    To the police: On the Tuesday morning deceased appeared strange in his manner, and had a vacant stare.

    Constable Rowe said that in company with Constable Walsh and some civilians, he went out to the new fish ponds, about three miles from Hornsby, in a deep, rocky gully. The nearest house would be two miles away. The body was recovered from a depth of 25 feet, about 18 feet from where the clothes were, and 12 feet from the bank. The banks were steep, and the water close to them was fully 12 feet deep. The body was clad in a shirt, and brown canvas shoes and socks. Removed the body to the hotel, and informed the doctor..

    The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased had met his death by drowning on the 14th January, the result of his own act.

 

---

Niels Peter Nielsen, 1921

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 24 Aug 1921 ⁴

LAW NOTICES.
———
Wednesday, August 24.
———

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.

    Mary D’Arcy, larceny; Neils [aka Niels] Peter Nielsen, indecency; Frederick Warriner Knott, false pretences; William Charles Nelson, indecency; Ralph Cornwall, breaking and entering and stealing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Daily Telegraph, Thu 25 Aug 1921 ⁵

CRIMINAL.
———
(Before Judge White.)

…
    At the Quarter Sessions (Mr Collins prosecuting).
…
    Neils Peter Nielsen, for whom Mr Young appeared, pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault, and was remanded for sentence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 25 Aug 1921 ⁶

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge White.)
Mr Collins, Crown Prosecutor.

…

REMANDED FOR SENTENCE.

    Neils Peter Nielsen, for whom Mr Young appeared, pleaded guilty to three charges of gross misconduct at Turramurra, and was remanded for sentence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Daily Telegraph, Sat 27 Aug 1921 ⁷

CRIMINAL.
———

…

(Before Judge White.)

…
    Neils Peter Nielsen, a middle-aged man, who pleaded guilty to three charges of gross misconduct, [indecent assault on Walter Sonter, Leslie G Haimes, Clifford G Sonter], at Turramurra, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment in Grafton Gaol on each charge; sentences to be concurrent.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 27 Aug 1921 ⁸

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge White.)

    Mr McKean, Crown Prosecutor.
…

SENTENCES.

…
    Neils Peter Nielsen, gross misconduct at Turramurra (three charges), 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour in Grafton Gaol on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Neils Peter Nielsen, Gaol photo sheet ⁹

---

Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 18083

Date when Portrait was taken: 25-8-1921

Name: Neils Peter Nielsen

Native place: Denmark Year of birth: 29-10-1873 Arrived       Ship: Gera in Colony }   Year: 1895 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Gardener Religion: Seventh Day Adventist Education, degree of: R & W 7 Height: 5' 7⅝" Weight     On committal: 139 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: Humpbacked. Large nose scar on left elbow

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Water PC Sydney Q.S..	- 24	- 8	1900 1921	Drunk Indecent assault on a male person (3 charges)	10/- or 7 days HL. Fine paid at court 12 months HL on each charge concurrent

 

---

¹     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Sat 18 Jan 1913, p. 8. Emphasis added.

²     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Sat 25 Jan 1913, p. 8. Emphasis added.

³     It appears that the witness at this inquest is the same person as that described in the 1921 case. The following three points in the 1921 trial are corroborated: 1) The offences took place at Turramurra; 2) The perpetrator in the 1921 case is described as a gardener (see gaol photographic description sheet); and 3) The perpetrator is born in Denmark.

⁴     The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 24 Aug 1921, p. 8. Emphasis added.

⁵     The Daily Telegraph, Thu 25 Aug 1921, p. 7.

⁶     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 25 Aug 1921, p. 4.

⁷     The Daily Telegraph, Sat 27 Aug 1921, p. 13.

⁸     The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 27 Aug 1921, p. 9.

⁹     SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6106], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 14 May 1921-7 Feb 1922, No. 18083, p. 179.

---