The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Fri 16 Feb 1923 ¹

ARMIDALE QUARTER SESSIONS.
ONLY ONE CASE FOR TRIAL.
———

    The local Quarter Sessions opened yesterday afternoon, before his Honor Judge Mocatta. Though five cases were listed for hearing, in four instances the accused pleaded guilty.
    Mr RH Browning was Crown Prosecutor. Mr A Purkiss represented the Sheriff.

    Jurymen excused.

    The jury panel was called.

    Mr Harry Mallam was excused from duty as a juryman owing to deafness, Mr WH Warner owing to business, Mr F McClenaghan through illness, Mr W Allingham through being outside the radius, Mr WH Lee, who is ill in Sydney, and Mr C Allingham, ill.
…

INDECENT ASSAULT.

    Percy Roach, 31, ship’s steward, was charged with, on the 26th December, at Bellingen, he did indecently assault, [Allen Henry James Tyler], a male person.

    Accused pleaded guilty.

    Nothing was known against accused, except that he was addicted to drink.

    Remanded for sentence.

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The Armidale Chronicle, Sat 17 Feb 1923 ²

INDECENT ASSAULT.
———
EGHT MONTHS’ GAOL.
———
DRINK NO EXCUSE, SAYS JUDGE.

    Before Judge Mocatta, at the Armidale Quarter Sessions on Thursday, Percy Roach, 31, ship’s steward, was charged with, on December 26, at Bellingen, he did indecently assault a male person.

    Accused pleaded guilty.

    Nothing was known against accused, except that he was addicted to drink.

    Remanded for sentence.

    Percy Roach, when called up for sentence, said he was a stranger in a strange land. He had recently lost his sister, and was under the influence of drink when he committed the offence.

    His Honor said they were horrible, degrading offences, but as he had borne good character in the past, he would take that into consideration. At the same time, the excuse of drunkenness did not influence him, as on one occasion at least defendant was not drunk. He would sentence accused to nine months’ hard labour.

    Accused also applied for a reduction in his sentence, as he had also been in gaol since December. His Honor reduced the sentence to eight months, at the same time remarking that the treatment in gaol while awaiting trial was somewhat different after sentence.

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The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Tue 20 Feb 1923 ³

ARMIDALE QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
THE SENTENCES.

    When the Quarter Sessions resumed on Friday morning, his Honor proceeded to pass sentence.
…

“HORRIBLE AND DEGRADING.”
——

    Percy Roach, found guilty of indecently assaulting a male person, said: “I’m a stranger in a strange land. I’d lost my sister in an asylum and been drinking very heavily.”

    His Honor: From the evidence I see you not only made horrible suggestions of indecency, but were guilty of acts of indecency towards this and other men. The practice you indulged in were horrible and degrading, and it’s shocking to see a man of your appearance give way to disgusting impulses of this character. You’re sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment.

    Accused: I’ve been in gaol since the 26th September.

    His Honor: Very well, I’ll make it eight months.

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Percy Roach, Gaol photo sheet ⁴

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 19218

Date when Portrait was taken: 20-2-1923

Name: Percy Roach
(aka Percy Brown)

Native place: Victoria Year of birth: 30-4-1892 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: BS Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Useful Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 5⅝" Weight     On committal: 142 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Auburn Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Scars on left shoulder blade & on left little finger

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Armidale Q.S. Central PC ditto ditto	15   2 25 22	2   8 11 12	1923 1932 1932 1942	Indecent assault on a male person Steal ditto Obscene exposure	8 months H.L. 24/- or 2 days HL 14 days HL 3 months HL 7986

 

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¹     The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Fri 16 Feb 1923, p. 1.

²     The Armidale Chronicle, Sat 17 Feb 1923, p. 10]. Emphasis added.

³     The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Tue 20 Feb 1923, p. 7.

⁴     SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6108], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 5 Sep 1922-24 Mar 1923, No. 19218. 403.

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