The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Wed 9 Apr 1924 ¹

SESSIONS ON FLEET DAY?
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JUDGE WANTS TO SIT.
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WHAT WILL THE JURYMEN SAY?
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    If the criminal list at the Parramatta Quarter Sessions is not disposed of by Tuesday, Judge Armstrong, if the jurymen are agreeable, will continue the dispensation of justice on Wednesday—Fleet Day!

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    It all depends on the jury!

    Apparently, Judge Armstrong doesn’t want to see the arrival of the British Squadron on Wednesday.

    At the Parramatta Quarter Sessions on Monday, the Crown Prosecutor (Mr TS Crawford) asked whether His Honor would make an announcement with regard to Wednesday. For he (the Crown Prosecutor) had “been informed that such day had been proclaimed a public holiday.”

    His Honor glanced hurriedly at the list of cases.

    “There’s a long list of appeals here,” he said; “I would like to take those on Wednesday.”

    Mr Crawford asked whether, in the event of the criminal list being unfinished on Tuesday, the learned judge proposed to hear the balance on Wednesday.

    His Honor said he would seek the opinion of the jurymen on that point; though, personally, he would like to sit on Wednesday.

    Mr Crawford suggested that they should fall into line with the metropolitan courts, none of which would be sitting on Wednesday.

    Eventually, His Honor announced that he would not take the appeal cases on Wednesday.

    Mr Crawford once more asked whether the judge would definitely state that he would not sit at all on Wednesday.

    His Honor: But the criminal cases may not be disposed of in the two days.

    Mr Crawford: Fetch the jurymen back on Thursday!

    His Honor: I won’t decide about Wednesday until I consult the jurymen to-morrow.

    Mr Crawford: The jurymen are here now!.

    His Honor: I will take no cases on Wednesday, except jury cases. And I will only take them at the wish of a majority of jurymen.

    Mr Crawford: The Inspector informs me that a considerable number of the police will be in Sydney on Wednesday. And our work might be inconvenienced.

    His Honor declined to make any more definite announcement with regard to Wednesday. “I hope we shall be finished by to-morrow,” he said.

    And so it all depends upon the jurymen!

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The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 12 Apr 1924 ²

QUARTER SESSIONS.
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    Parramatta Quarter Sessions opened on Monday, Judge Armstrong presiding. Mr TS Crawford was Crown Prosecutor; Mr LJ Utley, Deputy Clerk of the Peace; and Mr JH Murray, Deputy Sheriff.
…

Acquitted—then Convicted.

    Clarence Arrowsmith pleaded not guilty to a charge of having indecently assaulting Jack Drew, [aka Drewe, aged 9 years of age], at Guildford on March 1.

    He was acquitted.

    On a similar charge, with respect to a boy named Frederick Tonks, [aka Tunks, aged 8 years of age], accused was found guilty, and sentenced to a years’ hard labor in Goulburn Gaol.

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Clarence Arrowsmith, Gaol photo sheet ³ 

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 1577
Parramatta

Date when Portrait was taken: 23-4-1924

Name: Clarence Arrowsmith

Native place: NSW Year of birth: 24-12-1895 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Linesman Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 7" Weight     On committal: 140. in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Lt Brown Colour of eyes: Hazel

Marks or special features: Nil

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Parramatta Q.S	7	4	1924	Indecent assault on a male person	12 months H.L.

 

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¹     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Wed 9 Apr 1924, p. 2.

²     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Sat 12 Apr 1924, p. 6.

³     SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6014], Parramatta photographic description book, 1917-1928, No. 1577, p. 95, R5138.

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