Ernest Westcott, 1920
Below also see: Ernest Westcott, 1921
Ernest Westcott, 1922
Ernest Westcott, 1923 – Indecent assault
Ernest Westcott, 1925
The Moree Gwydir Examiner and General Advertiser, Mon 25 Oct 1920 1
POLICE COURT
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TRAVELLING WITHOUT A TICKET
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At the Police Court, Moree, on Friday, Ernest Westcott, aged 33 years, was charged before Messrs DB Suttie and JD Rourke, JsP, with travelling from Quirindi to Moree on 22nd October, 1920, and not paying his face and with intent to avoid such payment.
The defendant pleaded guilty, and offered to pay the amount of the fare.
The defendant, who had lost one leg, wears a returned soldier’s 2 badge and came into Court on cutches. [sic]
Angus Brown, ticket inspector in the Railway Department, said: I was examining tickets on what is called the No. 7 down train at Narrabri and found the defendant. I asked him for his ticket, and he said he had none—that he would pay his fare at Moree. He was allowed to travel. The defendant answered the description of a man of whom he had been officially warned was travelling on trains and using the fact that he was a one-legged returned soldier to extort money from passengers and the travelling public. Witness waited at Moree, had watched the defendant from Narrabri and then questioned him as to his identity, and from his interview he was quite satisfied the defendant had no intention of paying his fare. He was then handed over to the Station Master who later gave him into the custody of the police.
When spoken to he said that he travelled from Quirindi, and that he would pay at Moree as he was travelling to Inverell. He said he wanted to go to the bank to get some money. He had a bank book on the Moore Street Government Savings Bank showing a credit of £68 5s 2d. The last withdrawal was on 20th October, when he got £1. The fare from Quirindi to Moree was £1 0s 3d.
The police stated that defendant travelled with another man, who is now in town, who probably received the money collected. The traffic inspector stated that he had a telegram to say this man was travelling or stated to be travelling to Inverell. The defendant had no money on him when searched.
The defendant [Ernest Westcott] said: I ask for a chance. I went to the war and came back a cripple; and did my bit for the lot who did not go. I will pay the amount of my fare. I am guilty. I have only one leg.
Mr Suttie (Chairman) said that the revenue had to be protected, and the fare would have to be paid.
The defendant was fined £1 0s 3d, or 7 days’ hard labor in Moree Lockup.
Ernest Westcott, 1921
The Sun, Mon 10 Jan 1921 3
BRANDISHED A KNIFE
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LABORER FINED
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A brandished knife caused a flutter yesterday among the crowd at the Salvation Army Hall, Goulburn-street, and a constable had to be called to remove Ernest Westcott, aged 33, a laborer, who, in consequence, appeared at the Central Police Court this morning on a charge of having behaved in a threatening manner. He was fined £2, with the alternative of 14 days hard labor.
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The Sun, Mon 22 Aug 1921 4
IN THE HARBOR
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RESCUE BY SEAMEN
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Ernest Westcott, aged 34, of Kent-street, city, was found in the water at the Parramatta wharf, Circular Quay, yesterday. There were several people on the wharf at the time. Two seamen, who did not give their names to the Water Police, jumped into the water and pulled Westcott back to the landing.
Constable Slaney took him to the Reception House.
Ernest Westcott, 1922
The Newcastle Sun, Wed 25 Jan 1922 5
MAITLAND
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CUT HIS THROAT
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At the West Maitland Police Court this morning Ernest Westcott, who was found drunk in High-street, asked to be locked up or he would cut his throat. He could not get work, and had no friends, he said. The defendant, who was suffering from the effects of drink, was fined 10s, or three days.
Ernest Westcott, 1923
Singleton Argus, Thu 22 Nov 1923 6
COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS.
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Tuesday, November 20th.
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(Before His Honor Judge Hamilton.)
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The Singleton Quarter Sessions were held at the Courthouse on Tuesday, his Honor being accompanied on the bench by Mr D McDougall, Sheriff’s Deputy. Mr AF Dawson was Crown Prosecutor, and Messrs WJ Cragg and AB Shaw were also present.
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INDECENT ASSAULT.
Ernest Westcott, 36, who lost a leg at the war, was charged with having at Muswellbrook, on October 30, committed an indecent assault on a male person, [George William Walters], (a boy aged 12).
When asked to plead, accused said he did not know what he could plead, as he knew nothing about the case.
His Honor directed a plea to not guilty to be entered.
The following jury was sworn: A Lambert, A Abrahams, GS O’Halloran, AN Eather, F Thorley, EE Henry, WH Andrews, M Doohan, JJ O’Brien, R Osland, SWE Gray, and HW Griffin.
Mr Dawson outlined the Crown case, and described the offence as having taken place in a motor car at 10 am opposite the Royal Hotel, in Bridge-street, Muswellbrook.
A half-dozen witnesses gave evidence, including two who stated they plainly and clearly saw the assault.
Accused asked no questions, saying he was drunk, and had been drinking for five days. medical evidence went to show that at the time accused had taken liquor, but was not drunk.
Accused called three witnesses as to character, but they knew nothing of him since his boyhood. One said he had never seen him sober since he came back from the war.
His Honor told the jury he could see nothing to cast doubt on the evidence. Accused wanted them to infer that he was not responsible for his conduct through drink, but in a charge like this drunkenness was no excuse at all. When a man did a criminal act he could not excuse himself by saying he was drunk. It was an unfortunate case for a man to be involved in after fighting for the said country, but he should have kept off the drink. The Crown case had been amply made out, and the doctor said accused was not drunk.
The jury then retired to consider their verdict. They returned in five minutes with a verdict of “guilty.”
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SENTENCES PASSED.
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Ernest Westcott was next called up for sentence.
His Honor said he saw prisoner had 15 previous convictions, but none of this sort, and he had no doubt it was true in this case that the whole trouble was due to being under the influence of drink. Such offences were punished very severely, as their effects on children were likely to be most serious. For the safety of the community serious punishment was called for. He had no doubt that accused had been at the front, and he would take that into consideration, though it was really hard to see how one could be grateful to a man guilty of such conduct. By his conduct he had wiped out the esteem his country held him in for his services. The sentence was seldom less than two years, but in recognition of his services his Honor said he would make it shorter, and hoped that abstinence from drink would have a lasting effect on him. He was sentenced to 15 calendar months’ hard labor in Grafton Gaol.
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The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Fri 23 Nov 1923 7
SINGLETON LETTER.
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(From our Representative.)
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QUARTER SESSIONS.
Singleton, Thursday.
The Quarter Sessions were held yesterday before his Honor Judge Hamilton. The Crown Prosecutor was Mr AF Dawson.
…
Ernest Westcott, aged 36, was charged with having at Muswellbrook, on 30th October, committed an indecent assault on a boy aged 12. The Crown Prosecutor described the offence as having taken place in a motor car at 10 am opposite the Royal Hotel, in Bridge-street, Muswellbrook. Evidence was given by a number of witnesses. Accused called three witnesses as to character, but they said they knew nothing of him since his boyhood. One said he had never seen him sober since he came back from the war. After a retirement of five minutes the jury returned with a verdict of guilty. His Honor said by his conduct accused had wiped out the esteem his country held him in for his war services. He was sentenced to 15 calendar months’ hard labour in Grafton gaol.
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The Muswellbrook Chronicle and Upper Hunter Advertiser, Fri 23 Nov 1923 8
SINGLETON QUARTER SESSIONS
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Ernest Westcott, 36, who lost a leg at the war, was charged at the Singleton Quarter Sessions on Tuesday with having at Muswellbrook, on October 30, committed an indecent assault on a male person (a boy aged 12). When asked to plead, accused said he did not know what he could plead, as he knew nothing about the case. His Honor directed a plea of not guilty to be entered. Mr Dawson outlined the Crown case, and described the offence as having taken place in a motor car at 10 am opposite the Royal Hotel, in Bridge-street, Muswellbrook. A half-dozen witnesses gave evidence, including two who stated they plainly saw the assault. Accused asked no questions, saying he was drunk, and had been drinking for five days. Medical evidence went to show that at the time accused had taken liquor, but was not drunk. Accused called three witnesses as to character, but they knew nothing of him since his boyhood. One said he had never seen him sober since he came back from the war. His Honor told the jury he could see nothing to cast doubt on the evidence. Accused wanted them to infer that he was not responsible for his conduct through drink, but in a charge like this drunkeness [sic] was no excuse at all. When a man did a criminal act he could not excuse himself by saying he was drunk. It was an unfortunate case for a man to be involved in after fighting for his country, but he should have kept off the drink. The Crown case had been amply made out, and the doctor said accused was not drunk.
The jury then retired to consider their verdict. They returned in five minutes with a verdict of “guilty.”
Westcott was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment in Goulburn Gaol.
Ernest Westcott, 1925
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Fri 9 Oct 1925 9
STOLEN TIMEPIECE
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CONSTABLE’S DISCOVERY
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When searched at the Parramatta Police Station, whither he had been conveyed on a charge of drunkenness, Ernest Westcott had in his possession a clock that at once aroused the suspicions of the searcher—Constable Somer.
In reply to the constable’s question, Westcott was somewhat evasive. Somer got busy, found the owner of the clock, and charged Westcott with having stolen it.
Westcott, at the Parramatta Police Court yesterday, pleaded guilty, and was fined £2, in default twenty-one days.
The clock belonged to Thomas Michael Reilly, and was stolen at Granville on October 2.
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Ernest Westcott, Gaol photo sheet 10
![SRNSW: NRS2327, [3/5991], Maitland Gaol photographic description book, 1875-1930, No. 1880, p. 95, R5132. Emphasis added.](../../images/trials/1923-Westcott-5991-gaol-photo-1880.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2327, [3/5991], Maitland Gaol photographic description book, 1875-1930, No. 1880, p. 95, R5132. Emphasis added.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 1880
Maitland
Date when Portrait was taken: 20-2-1924
Name: Ernest Westcott
(aka Joseph Edwards)
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Native place: Newtown Year of birth: 27-7-1887 Arrived Ship: Trade or occupation Religion: C of E. Education, degree of: R & W. Height: 5' 6" Weight On committal: 146 Colour of hair: Dark Brown Colour of eyes: Hazel |
Marks or special features: Star on right forearm. Right leg amputated above knee. Bullet wounds back and right shoulder. |
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(No. of previous Portrait ... ) CONVICTIONS |
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| Where and When | Offence. | Sentence | |||
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Singleton PC Moree PC CPC ditto West Maitland PC CPC Newcastle PC West Maitland PC Tamworth PC Singleton Q.S Parramatta PC Central PC ditto ditto |
16 22 10 28 25 5 9 31 30 20 8 10 16 3 |
8 10 1 5 1 4 8 8 6 11 10 5 7 11 |
1920 1920 1921 1921 1922 1922 1922 1922 1923 1923 1925 1926 1926 1926 |
Drunk Travel by rail & not pay fare Threatening Indecent language Drunk Offensive behaviour Drunk ditto ditto Indecent assault on a male person Have stolen goods in custody Drunk ditto ditto |
5/- or 24 hours H.L. £1-5-3 or 7 days H.L. £2 or 14 days H.L. £1 or 7 days H.L. 13/6 or 3 days H.L. £1 or 7 days H.L. 5/- or R.C. 5/- or 24 hours H.L. 5/- or 24 hours H.L. 15 months H.L. £2-3-6 or 21 days HL 23/6 or 7 days HL 33/6 or 10 days HL £2-3-6 or 14 days H.L. |
1 The Moree Gwydir Examiner and General Advertiser, (NSW), Mon 25 Oct 1920, p. 5. Emphasis added.
2 To view the digitised WWI service record (service number 5927) of Ernest Westcott go to: www.naa.gov.au.
3 The Sun, (Sydney, NSW), Mon 10 Jan 1921, p. 6.
4 The Sun, (Sydney, NSW), Mon 22 Aug 1921, p. 6.
5 The Newcastle Sun, (NSW), Wed 25 Jan 1922, p. 4.
6 Singleton Argus, Thu 22 Nov 1923, p. 2.
7 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Fri 23 Nov 1923, p. 6.
8 The Muswellbrook Chronicle and Upper Hunter Advertiser, Fri 23 Nov 1923, p. 1.
9 The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Fri 9 Oct 1925, p. 2. Emphasis added.
10 SRNSW: NRS2327, [3/5991], Maitland Gaol photographic description book, 1875-1930, No. 1880, p. 95, R5132. Emphasis added.