Robert McDonald, 1923

Below also see: Eric Alexander Craig, 1924

 

The Illawarra Mercury, Fri 28 Sep 1923 ¹

BRUTAL ASSAULT.
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WOMAN ATTACKED.

    A brutal assault was perpetrated at Port Kembla on Monday evening, which caused a wave of horror throughout the township.

    At about 7.30 Mrs Buchanan, who resides near the Port Kembla Power House, accompanied by his [sic] sister, Miss Heycott, was proceeding towards Port Kembla township when near Salty Creek, a man approached from behind some ti-tree bush and without any warning gave Mrs Buchanan a violent blow on the face, which caused blood to flow from her mouth and nose. He then proceeded to drag his victim by the arms into the scrub, while Miss Heycott hurriedly returned along the road calling for help. The latter had not gone far when she met Mr Alex Wayne of Mount Drummond, who was cycling to work at the State Metal Quarries. Miss Heycott told him of her sister’s predicament, and Wayne hurried towards the scene. Apparently surprised by the light of Wayne’s bicycle lamp, Mrs Buchanan’s assailant left his victim in a state of prostration and made off into the scrub. Word was sent to the police, and soon a number of men, including Mr Buchanan and Sergeant Somerville, commenced a search of the locality. After some time a man answering to the description of Mrs Buchanan’s assailant, was found hiding behind some ti-tree and taken into custody. He gave his name as Robert McDonald, 27 years of age, and stated that he came originally from Scotland to New Zealand. Two years ago he left the latter place for this State.

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AT THE COURT.

    Robert McDonald, 27, and of massive build, was charged at the Wollongong Police Court to-day with unlawfully assaulting Mary Emma Buchanan at Port Kembla on September 24th.

    Mary Emma May Buchanan, a married woman, residing at ort Kembla, deposed that on the evening of the 24th inst she was walking along the road near the Port Kembla Power House, and not far from Salty Creek. The place is a lonely one, and there is ti-tree scrub. At the time she was accompanied by her sister. They met a man (here witness identified the defendant in the dock), who struck her in the face, and catching her by the [arms] and, dragged her off the road, about 12 yards, into the scrub. She screamed for help. Witness’ sister, Ethel Heycott, ran back [to] the road calling for help. The time was about 7.30 pm. Mr Wayne then came along and took her home. Later she went to the police station and to the doctor’s, and she had been in bed till yesterday (Thursday). Her face was still sore from the blow she received. The man did not speak at all. She never previously saw the man.

    When asked how he pleaded the defendant said he did not know how to plead, as he knew nothing at all about it.

    In answer to the Bench Mrs Buchanan said that the defendant was perfectly sober at the time.

    Ethel May Heycott, residing with her parents at Port Kembla, and sister of Mrs Buchanan, gave similar evidence to that of the previous witness. She could recognise her sister’s assailant by his build, but could not see his face too plainly. The man in the dock was of similar build to the man who attacked his [sic] sister. (Here witness broke down in giving her evidence).

    Alexander William Wayne, an engine cleaner, residing at Mount Drummond, deposed that about 6.50 he was going along to work, and when near the overhead bridge, near the Port Kembla Power House, he heard a woman screaming. He hurried along to where he saw a little dog running about on the edge of the ti-tree. He (witness) had a lamp on his bicycle. He came up to where Mrs Buchanan was. She was very excited and blood was coming from her mouth. He (witness) searched the scrub and after a little while he met the defendant.

    Sergeant Somerville deposed that on the evening in question he went along the Port Kembla-Wollongong Road to the ti-tree scrub, near Salty Creek. Here he saw several men. Shortly after he was there he heard someone call out. Met Wayne and defendant now before the court. Wayne said, “I just got this man coming out of the ti-tree. His coat is under his arm and he appears to be dazed or sick.” Witness said to defendant, “What did you hit that woman for a minute ago,” and he replied “I don’t know.” Defendant also said he did not know why he dragged the woman into the scrub, and asked “where am I.” Witness asked defendant where he came from and he replied, “I was discharged from Parramatta on the 19th, and I am tired of walking. I have been walking ever since I came to this b—– of a country two years ago.” I arrived at Newcastle from New Zealand two years ago, and I have been in gaol 18 months out of that time.”

    Defendant was taken to the lockup, where he lay down straight away. Later in the same night witness saw Mrs Buchanan at the Police Station in a state of collapse and she was taken to the doctor. On the following morning witness questioned defendant at the lockup. He said he remembered meeting the woman, but that he did not know why he dragged her into the scrub. The defendant then said, “I have just done 6 month sin [sic ] Parramatta and during the past 6 weeks I have been under observation. They came to my cell one morning and found that I had torn my blankets to shreds and they thought I was going to hang myself. I was put in the observation cell for 6 weeks. I sometimes feel bad in the head.

    At this stage a written statement by the defendant was handed to the Bench, in which he applied to be deported from the country.

    The defendant said he did not want to give evidence, as he knew nothing about it. He was sorry if he had done anything wrong, and he was sure he would not do such a thing in his right mind.

    A sentence of six months imprisonment at Long Bay was inflicted, and the SM suggested that defendant make his application for deportation to the Governor of the gaol.

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South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Fri 28 Sep 1923 ²

WOLLONGONG COURT
————
TO-DAY (FRIDAY)
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STRANGE ASSAULT.

    Robert McDonald, a stranger, was charged that on 24th September, he did unlawfully assault Mary Ellen Buchanan, a young married woman.

    Prosecutrix [Mary Ellen Buchanan] deposed that she resided with her husband at Port Kembla. On the evening of the 24th instant she was walking along the road near the power house; she was in company with her sister. Met a man (pointing to the accused in the dock) who hit her in the face and caught her by the left arm and commenced to drag her towards the tea tree; witness screamed. Mr Wayne came along, and accused ran away. Witness was taken home. She suffered from shock, and her face was still sore; had never seen accused before.

    Accused, when asked by his Worship to plead, said “I can’t plead; I know nothing about the matter.”

    Ethel Heycott, sister of the previous witness, corroborated; she stated she could not see the face of the man who hit her sister; she was not sure that accused was a man.

    Alexander William Wayne deposed that about 10 minutes to 7 he was proceeding to work; heard a woman scream, a girl ran to him and told him something; ran towards the spot and saw Mrs Buchanan, who was in a very excited state; blood was flowing from her mouth; did not see any man then, but saw a dark object moving in the scrub.

    Sergeant Somerville deposed when he and others went to the scrub they located accused; he appeared in an excited state. Asked him what he had been doing with that women a while ago. He replied, “I don’t know.” He gave the same answer to other questions, and asked where he was; he told witness he was discharged from gaol on the 19th, and was tired of walking; he said he had been walking for the past two years and came from New Zealand; he also said he had been in gaol 18 months since he came from New Zealand. The next morning, in answer to questions, accused said he remembered meeting the women, but he did not know why he assaulted Mrs Buchanan; he also said he had just done six months in Parramatta gaol, and after all the trouble he had had he did not know what he had done the previous night.

    Mrs Buchanan, recalled, said she had no doubt about accused being the man.

    Accused was sentenced to six months imprisonment in Long Bay. He made application to the Bench to be deported.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 29 Sep 1923 ³

COUNTRY NEWS.
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…

WOMAN ASSAULTED.

Wollongong, Friday.

    At the police court to-day Robert McDonald [aka Eric Alexander Craig] was charged with assaulting Mrs Buchanan, at Port Kembla on Monday. In evidence it was alleged that Mrs Buchanan and her sister were going along a lonely part of the road when the accused sprang from the bush and struck her on the face. A man was called to Mrs Buchanan’s assistance by her sister. Mrs Buchanan was being dragged into the bush by the accused, who decamped when the man arrived. Accused was subsequently arrested, and stated that he had only been discharged from Parramatta gaol on September 19. Out of 24 months spend in this country since arriving from New Zealand two years ago, 18 had been spent in gaol. Accused asked the bench to make an order deporting him. He was sentenced to six months gaol, and was advised by the bench to make application to the governor of the gaol to be deported.

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Robert McDonald, Gaol photo sheet ⁴ 

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 19666

Date when Portrait was taken: 2-10-1923

Name: Robert McDonald
(aka Rolie McDonald, Roland McDonald, Glen Raynes, Eric Alexander Craig)

Native place: Scotland Year of birth: 27-1-1896 Arrived       Ship: Tainui in Colony }   Year: 1918 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Fireman Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 6' 0" Weight     On committal: 193 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Scar on left trunk

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Newtown PC ditto West Maitland  Werris Creek PC Goulburn PC Ashfield PC Wollongong PC	27 27 29 25   8 20 28	2   2   5   7 11   7   9	1922 1922 1922 1922 1922 1923 1923	Have stolen goods Stealing Stealing Stealing Stealing Malicious Damage Property  Assault female	23/6 or 14 days H.L. 98/6 or 2 months H.L.  |  Con 1 month H.L. 4 months H.L. 6 months HL £5-3-6 or 2 months H.L. 6 months H.L.

 

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Eric Alexander Craig, 1924

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 12 Apr 1924 ⁵

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———

    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.
…

DECLARED SANE—AND CONVICTED.

    Eric Alexander Craig was charged with having assaulted Frederick George Wallace, [13 years of age], with intent to commit an unnatural offence, at Rydalmere, on February 28.

    The accused having raised the question of sanity, his medical examination was ordered.

    Later, Dr E[dwin] C[uthbert] Hall, Government Medical Officer at Parramatta, gave evidence of having examined Craig, whose mental condition he considered sound.

    The trial was then proceeded with.

    Without leaving the box, the jury found the accused guilty, with the recommendation that he be kept under medical observation.

    Accused was sentenced to three years’ hard labor in Grafton Gaol. His Honor recommended that accused be kept continually under medical observation; and gave him leave to petition at the end of one year. The sentence is to date from March 7.

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Eric A Craig, Gaol photo sheet ⁶

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 1581
Parramatta

Date when Portrait was taken: 23-4-1924

Name: Eric A Craig
(aka Roland MacDonald)

Native place: Scotland Year of birth: 27/1/1898 Arrived       Ship: Tainui in Colony }   Year: 1918 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Motor-Driver Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 10½" Weight     On committal: 180 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Scar on left thumb.

(No. of previous Portrait .. 19666) CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Newtown PC ditto West Maitland PC Werris Creek PC Goulburn PC Ashfield PC Wollongong PC Parramatta Q.S	27 27 29 25   8 20 28   7	2   2   5   7 11   7   9   4	1922 1922 1922 1922 1922 1923 1923 1924	Have supposed stolen property Stealing Stealing Stealing Stealing Malicious damage property Assault female Assault with intent to commit buggery	23/6 or 14 days. H.L. 98/6 or 2 months H.L.  |  Concurrent 1 month H.L. 4 months H.L. 6 months H.L. £5. 3. 6 or 2 months H.L. 6 months H.L. 3 years. H.L. to date from 7/3/1924

 

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¹     The Illawarra Mercury, Fri 28 Sep 1923, p. 9. Emphasis added.

²     South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, (NSW), Fri 28 Sep 1923, p. 13.

³     The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 29 Sep 1923, p. 16. Emphasis added.

⁴     SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6110], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 11 Aug 1923-12 Jan 1924, No. 19666, p. –.

⁵     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Sat 12 Apr 1924, p. 6. Emphasis added.

⁶     SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6014], Parramatta photographic description book, 1917-1928, No. 1581, p. 99, R5138.

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