Adelong and Tumut Express and Tumbarumba Post, Fri 9 Jun 1922 1
Journal, Sat 12 Dec 1896, p. 27. Reproduction: Peter de Waal
TOWN AND COUNTRY.
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At the Tumut Police Court on Tuesday, before Mr Walter Scott, PM, William Jeffrey was committed for trial at the Gundagai Quarter Sessions on September 21 for committing an unnatural offence in Tumut on Saturday night last at about 7.15 o’clock. Bail was allowed, self in £100 and one surety of £100.
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The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong, and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser, Fri 22 Sep 1922 2
QUARTER SESSIONS.
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Thursday, Sept. 21.
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Before Judge Bevan.
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The only case for the Sessions was that of William Jeffries [aka William Jeffery], aged 54, charged with beastiality [sic] at Tumut on 2nd June.
Mr C Addison acted as Crown Prosecutor, and Mr WJ Fraser appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.
Constables Hanley and Ledger and Fred Davis gave evidence for the prosecution; and CJ Fraser evidence as to character of accused, and R Matters, E Carr and J McNamara evidence as to the accused’s condition at the time of the offence.
The following jurymen were empannelled:—[sic] DJ McGruer, RJ Boon, JF McLaughlin, W Jones, WH Brownrigg, JR Derrick, A Turner, RE Dennis, AC Follett, R Rees, WA Davis, J Somerville.
As a great portion of the evidence was not fit for publication we decided to leave the whole of it out of print.
In the evidence for accused, [E] Carr and [J] McNamara stated that accused was drunk and the animal was very fidgety and he was struggling to get on the mare.
Mr Fraser and the Crown Prosecutor addressed the jury.
Judge Bevan, in summing up, considered this abominable offence should never have come before the Court. Cases of this kind should be obliterated from the calendar, and the remedy should be that the man who sees the offence being committed should get a stick and give the culprit a good hiding.
The jury retired at 12.45 to consider their verdict.
After lunch the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty, and accused was discharged.
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The Tumut Advocate and Farmers & Settlers’ Adviser, Tue 26 Sep 1922 3
GUNDAGAI QUARTER SESSIONS.
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A TUMUT CASE.
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There was only one case for the Gundagai Quarter Sessions, which opened on Thursday last, and it was one of the most unsavory nature.
Wm Jeffries, a single man, aged 55, surrendered to his bail at answer a charge of bestiality at Tumut on June 2 last.
Jeffries pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr WJ Fraser (Fraser and Oliver).
Judge Bevan presided, and Mr C Addison acted as Crown Prosecutor.
The following jury was empanelled: DJ McGruer, RJ Boon, JF McLaughlin, W Jones, WH Brownrigg, JR Derrick, Alex Turner, RE Dennis, AC Follett, R Rees, WD Davis, Jas Somerville.
Evidence for the prosecution was given by Constables Hanley and Ledger (who stated they practically caught accused in the act) and Fred Davis.
Evidence for the defence was given by Reg Matten, Eli Carr, and J McNamara. It went to show that Jeffries was so drunk at the time alleged the offence was committed that it would be impossible for him to do as alleged in the charge.
Jeffries gave evidence, and said that he was so drunk that he remembered nothing of what happened that afternoon.
Mr C Fr aser gave evidence as to character—he had known Jeffries for 40 years, and always found him a well-conducted, hard-working man.
His Honor, in summing up, said it was a pity the country was put to the expense of about £40 in trying such a case—better it would have been to deal with it in the police court.
The jury returned a verdict of not guilty and accused was discharged.
1 Adelong and Tumut Express and Tumbarumba Post, (NSW), Fri 9 Jun 1920, p. 2.
2 The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong, and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser, Fri 22 Sep 1922, p. 2. Emphasis added.
3 The Tumut Advocate and Farmers & Settlers’ Adviser, (NSW), Tue 26 Sep 1922, p. 4. Emphasis added.