Below also see: James Arahill, 1917,
James Arahill, 1918,
James Arahill, 1920,
James Arahill, 1935,
James Arahill, 1938
James Arahill, 1939,
James Arahill, 1940

 

The Maitland Daily Mercury, Fri 14 Sep 1917 ¹

TICKET COLLECTOR
INSULTED.
————
RETURNED SOLDIER FINED.
————

    James Arahill [aka James Bourke] (26), a returned soldier, ² appeared before Mr Payten at the Central Police Court, Sydney, on a charge of having used insulting language to the chief ticket collector on the Central Railway premises.

    Evidence was given that Arahill entered the chief ticket collector’s office on Tuesday, and, producing a second-class single ticket to Gosford, asked to be allowed to travel on the Brisbane mail. On being told that this was against the regulations, he said “— — the Government, and you, too.” The accused added that he was going to Gosford to work as a loyalist porter.

    Arahill, who pleaded guilty, said he had been working as a loyalist coal lumper at Pyrmont for a bout three weeks. He was fined 50/-.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The National Advocate, Sat 15 Sep 1917 ³

LOYALIST FINED.
————

Sydney, Friday.

    James Arahill (26) was charged before Mr Payten, SM, at the Central Police Court yesterday with having used indecent language to the chief ticket collector’s office at the Central Railway Station on September 12.

    The chief ticket collector stated that accused came into his room and produced a second-class single ticket to Gosford. He asked witness to allow to travel on the Brisbane mail. When it was explained to him that he could not travel on the mail, accused replied, “— the Government and — you.” He also said he was going to Gosford station to act as a loyalist porter.

    Accused, who is a returned soldier, said that he had been working as a loyalist coal lumper, on one of the Pyrmont wharves, for the last three weeks. He was fined 50s, in default 21 days.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Gosford Times and Wyong District Advocate, Thu 20 Sep 1917 ⁴

LOYALIST FINED.
———◦———

    James Arahill (26) was charged at the Central Police Court, Sydney, on Thursday, with having used indecent language in the chief ticket collector’s off at the Central Railway Station on September 12.

    The chief ticket collector stated that accused came into his room and produced a second-class single ticket to to [sic] Gosford. He asked witness to allow to travel on the Brisbane mail. When it was explained to him that he could not travel on the mail, accused replied, “— the Government, and — you.” He also said he was going to Gosford station to act as a loyalist porter.

    Accused, who is a returned soldier, said that he had been working as a loyalist coal lumper, on one of the Pyrmont wharves, for the last three weeks. He was fined 50s, in default 21 days.

 

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James Arahill, 1918

The Sun, Tue 29 Jan 1918 ⁵

GOVERNMENT CLOCKS STOLEN
————
TWO MEN FINED
————

    To-day, at the Central Police Court, James Arahill, 24, a clerk, and Ernest Grainger, 28, a laborer, were charged with stealing, on January 14, two marble clocks, valued at £8, the property of the New South Wales Government, a kit-bag, and two thermos flasks, the property of Henry Young, of the total value of £9 15s.

    Evidence was given that the clocks were stolen from the Chief Secretary’s Department and that the kit-bag, containing the thermos flasks, was the property of Henry Young, an official in the Chief Secretary’s Office.

    Each of the accused was fined £5, in default two months imprisonment. 

 

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James Arahill, 1920

Daily Observer, Tue 16 Nov 1920 ⁶

SIX MONTHS FOR STEALING.

    James Arahill alias J Allen, was charged at the Tamworth Police Court yesterday, before Mr WM Minchen, PM, with stealing one revolver and one blanket valued at £4, the property of Arthur Ernest Grayston. The evidence showed that the accused went to the house in Marius Street on November 10, and finding it empty stole the articles mentioned and then sold them to a second hand dealer. When Constable Slusher was tasking him to the lock up accused admitted stealing the revolver and blanket, saying that when he found no one at home he pushed up the window and climbed through. Accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in Tamworth gaol.

 

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James Bourke, 1925

The Daily Telegraph, Thu 19 Feb 1925 ⁷

CRIMINAL
———

…

(Before Judge Rolin.)

    Crown Prosecutor: Mr WT Coyle, KC.
…

INDECENT ASSAULT.

    James Bourke pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault, and was remanded for sentence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 19 Feb 1925 ⁸

QUARTER SESSIONS.
No. 1 COURT.
(Before Judge Edwards.)
Crown Prosecutor, Mr JL McKean.

JUROR COLLAPSES.

    For the second time this week a juror collapsed in the jury box at this Court. Last Monday the same thing occurred, and the jury had to be discharged and the trial discontinued. Yesterday morning during the hearing of the charge against George Albert White for assaulting a little girl, 8 years and 11 months of age, in Mosman Park, North Sydney, on November 13, a juror collapsed in the jury box. The case had almost concluded, the accused having given his evidence. His Honor said that, in the circumstances, he had no option but to discharge the jury, and remand the accused to a future sitting of the Court.
…

No. 2 COURT.
(Before Judge Rolin.)
Crown Prosecutor, Mr WT Coyle, KC.

INDECENT ASSAULT.

    James Bourke pleaded guilty to indecent assault, [on Charles Goldsworthy, 9 years of age], at Sydney on November 25.

    Prisoner was remanded for sentence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Evening News, Fri 20 Feb 1925 ⁹

SENTENCED AT THE
SESSIONS
————

    At the Darlinghurst Sessions to-day, Judge Rolin passed the following sentences:—

    James Bourke, 31, a laborer, indecent assault, 12 months’ hard labor.

    Samuel John Devitt, 30, a clerk, theft, 12 months’ imprisonment, sentence suspended upon prisoner making restitution of £100 to the Mort’s Dock and Engineering Co., Ltd.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Daily Telegraph, Sat 21 Feb 1925 ¹⁰

CRIMINAL
———

…

(Before Judge Rolin.)

    Crown Prosecutor, Mr RJ Browning.
…

SENTENCED FOR SERIOUS OFFENCE.

    James Bourke (31), labourer, for having committed a serious offence was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.
…

FLOGGING AS A DETERRENT
———◦———

    Many people, alarmed by the wave of crime that has been passing over Australia, and particularly in Melbourne, for some time past, have advocated that flogging should be re-introduced as a deterrent. Sir William Irvine, Chief Justice of Victoria, evidently agrees with this view, for yesterday he imposed the maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment, with three floggings each of 15 strokes, in the case of Francis Perkins, convicted of the manslaughter of the bank teller, William C Almeida. ¹¹

    We believe that the public will heartily approve the sentence. Here was a case in which a bank teller was held at the muzzle of a revolver, with a view to the robbing of the bank. The man, or men, concerned wanted money, at whatever cost. No armed robber, it may be said, wants to shoot if he can avoid it, but the fact that he is armed is evidence that he is prepared to use the weapon if put to it. In the case under notice he was put to it, owing to the bravery of the bank’s officer, who refused to desert his post. When the robber made off, the teller, though mortally wounded, followed him, and he was arrested. The gallant officer died.

    Bank officers have a sacred trust to discharge, and it is to the credit of the Australian banks that they have such a fine body of men in their service—men who are at all times prepared to do their duty. Considering their responsibility and the risks they run, it is a question whether they are adequately remunerated for their work. However that may be, it is essential that they should be provided with the means to defend themselves in case of emergency. The large number of bank robberies during recent months has emphasised this necessity.

    But the wave of crime is by no means confined to bank robberies. The number of cases in which men and women have been held up at all hours of the night by armed robbers in Melbourne and its suburbs has assumed alarming proportions. It would almost seem that no decent citizen can go about his, or her, business without running the risk of being “held up” at the muzzle of a revolved. Despite the heavy terms of imprisonment inflicted in some of the cases outrages of this kind continue. Something more than imprisonment appears to be needed. Probably the flogging ordered by Sir William Irvine in this bank case will have the desired affect.

    So far as Sydney is concerned, we have not forgotten the murder of Mr Kemmis, of the Hornsby Bank. That mystery has not been cleared up. There are other serious crimes in which the police have failed to bring the perpetrators to justice. Just at present Sydney, fortunately, appears to be free of the more serious criminal element, but we may at any time be visited by some of the armed highwaymen who have been creating something like a reign of terror in Melbourne.

    If, however, the example set by the Chief Justice of Victoria is followed by the judges in other States we may hope for an improvement in the statistics relating to crime of the more serious kind. To be confined in gaol, with plenty of good food to eat (even if there is a little work to be done) is no great hardship to the criminally minded, but they have a wholesome fear of the lash. There is no deterrent like a flogging.

    Those kind souls who are so fond of advocating more “humanitarian” methods of treating prisoners may object to the re-introduction of flogging, but the safety of the State is the supreme law. The protection of our citizens is the first duty. And, after all, if the murderous ruffian who robs and slays will only stay his hand his hide will be safe. It is his look-out.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 21 Feb 1925 ¹²

QUARTER SESSIONS.
No. 1 COURT.
(Before Judge Edwards.)

    Crown Prosecutor, Mr FJ Newell.
…

No. 2 COURT.
(Before Judge Rolin.)

    Crown Prosecutor, Mr RJ Browning.

SENTENCES.

    The following persons who were convicted during the week were dealt with as stated:—
…
    James Bourke (31) labourer, assault on a male person, 12 months’ imprisonment, with hard labour, in Bathurst Gaol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

James Arahill, 1935

South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Fri 2 Aug 1935 ¹³

STEALING CHARGE.
————

    James Arahill was charged with stealing three boxes of fishhook valued at 15/4 the property of Percy Harlow; also with indecent behaviour. He pleaded guilty to both charges.

    Detective Sergeant Devine stated defendant walked into Harlow’s shop and took the hooks. He was seen by Mr Barnes and dropped the boxes and ran away. Later he was arrested and some hooks were found in his possession.

    Constable Barwick gave evidence of the other offence.

    Sergeant Pye said there were 30 previous convictions, including stealing.

    Sentenced to two months’ imprisonment on the first charged and fined £2 or four days on the second.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Thu 28 Nov 1935 ¹⁴

FROM EVERYWHERE
———◦———

…
HAWKING WITHOUT LICENCES.

    When asked by Detective Bodel and Constable Noble to go to the police station after admitting that they had been hawking without licences, two men decamped in the opposite direction. They were later located at North Goulburn and appeared at the Goulburn Police Court this morning, when each was fined £1, in default two days’ gaol. The men were James Arahill, 42, and William McGee, 50, and they pleaded guilty to charges of hawking without licences at West Goulburn.

 

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James Arahill, 1938

Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 4 Oct 1938 ¹⁵

FROM EVERYWHERE
———◦———

…
REMAND GRANTED

    At the Goulburn Police Court this morning James Arahill, 45, was remanded to Monday next on charges of indecent language and obscene behaviour. The offences, it was alleged, took place in Clinton Street yesterday.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 11 Oct 1938 ¹⁶

STRANGER EARNS TERM
IN GAOL
————

  James Arahill, 45, who was sentenced to six months’ hard labour when he appeared at the Goulburn Police Court yesterday, was described by Sergeant Barnes as a menace to the community.

    Arahill, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted on a charge of wilful and obscene exposure.

    Sergeant Barnes said he saw the defendant committing the offence in Clinton Street at 4 pm on October 3. Witness went to the street in answer to two complaints. Arahill was calling out to children, using disgusting language, which was also addressed to witness.

    “On the way to the lock up he used filthy language,” continued the sergeant, who said that defendant had a small bottle of adulterated methylated spirits in his hip pocket. He was under the influence of liquor, but was not drunk.

    Each time Arahill had been in town similar complaints had been received. He had been released from the lock up on the morning in question and on that occasion had informed the bench that he would leave the city immediately.

    Arahill, in a statement from the bar table, said that at the time of the offence he was making out to the Yass Road after collecting his swag from his camp at the Kenmore Bridge. He was a war pensioner and his downfall was the result of a war complaint, added witness, who submitted that the case was one [of] indecent behaviour.

    In addition to the sentence stated Arahill was also fined £5, or 10 days’ on a charge of having used indecent language on the same date.

 

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James Arahill, 1939

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Wed 1 Nov 1939 ¹⁷

‘GENERAL NUISANCE’
———◦———
HAD METHYLATED SPIRITS
————

  “They were drinking methylated spirits. They are a general nuisance, and have been driven away from this place a number of times.”

    Detective-sergeant McCarthy, at Parramatta Court last Wednesday, thus described James Arahill (46) and Leslie Wallace (42), who had pleaded guilty to a charge of having used indecent language in George-street, Parramatta; also to a charge of drunkenness.

    The defendants were each fined £3 for language and £1 for drunkenness.

 

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James Arahill, 1940

 Lithgow Mercury, Fri 13 Sep 1940 ¹⁸

BREVITIES.
———◦———

…
    James Arahill was admonished and discharged when he appeared before Mr AG Morgan, JP, at Lithgow court to-day, to answer a charge of drunkenness.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

James Bourke, Gaol photo sheet ¹⁹

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 20685

Date when Portrait was taken: 19-2-1925

Name: James Bourke
(aka James Arahill, Arrahill)

Native place: Queensland Year of birth: 7-4-1893 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: BS Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Clerk Religion: RC Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 5⅜" Weight     On committal: 165 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Scar on pupil right eye. Flesh mole left side throat. Both little fingers crooked

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Central PC ditto ditto ditto ditto       lodged  Tamworth PC Central PC  ditto ditto ditto Sydney Q.S Central PC  Central PC ditto Parramatta PC North Sydney        exec Central PC	13 29   3 18 31   1 15 20 27 18 26 18 12 22   4 12 30 22 29	9   1   7   7   9   4 11   4   6   3   6   2 10   4   5 12 12   ?   3	1917 1918 1918 1918 1919 1919 1920 1923 1923 1924 1924 1925 1927 1932 1932 1932 1932   1933	Indecent language 1) Stealing, 2) Stealing, 3) Have stolen goods Indecent behaviour Trespass on railway 1) Malicious damage property 2) Stealing   Stealing Indecent behaviour ditto Malicious damage property Attempt to travel by rail did not pay fare Indecent assault on a male person Beg alms Drunk ditto Beg alms Travel by rail with intent to defraud Drunk	£2.10.0 or 21 days HL 1) £5 or 2 months HL 2) £5 or 2 months HL  |  Con 3) £2 or 1 month HL £2 or 14 days HL £5 or 6 weeks HL £5.10.0 or 2 months HL, 2 months HL  |  Concurrent   6 months HL 23/- or 7 days HL £2.3.6 or 21 days HL £3.13.6 or 14 days HL £1.6.10 or 7 days HL 12 months HL to date from 15-1-1925 1 months HL 24/- or 2 days HL 34/- or 3 days 14 days HL 2 days HL 44/- or 4 days HL

 

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

James Arahill, prisoner, letter 20 Nov 1938 

 

James Arahill, prisoner, letter 3 Dec 1938 

 

James Arahill, prisoner, letter 8 Feb 1939 

 

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¹     The Maitland Daily Mercury, (NSW), Fri 14 Sep 1917, p. 5.

²     To view digitised WWI service records (service number 155, barcode 3034645 and MT1486/1, barcode 6527112) for James Arahill go to: www.naa.gov.au

³     The National Advocate, (Bathurst, NSW),  Sat 15 Sep 1917, p. 4.

⁴     The Gosford Times and Wyong District Advocate, (NSW), Thu 20 Sep 191, p. 11.

⁵     The Sun, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 29 Jan 1918, p. 5.

⁶     Daily Observer, (Tamworth, NSW), Tue 16 Nov 1920, p. 1.

⁷     The Daily Telegraph, Thu 19 Feb 1925, p. 2.

⁸     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 19 Feb 1925, p. 5.

⁹     Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Fri 20 Feb 1925, p. 7. Emphasis added.

¹⁰   The Daily Telegraph, Sat 21 Feb 1925, pp. 10, 13.

¹¹   See The Argus (Mel), Sat 21 Feb 1925, p. 33.

¹²   The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 21 Feb 1925, p. 14.

¹³   South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, (NSW), Fri 2 Aug 1935, p. 18.

¹⁴   Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Thu 28 Nov 1935, p. 2.

¹⁵   Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 4 Oct 1938, p. 4.

¹⁶   Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 11 Oct 1938, p. 1. Emphasis in original.

¹⁷   The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Wed 1 Nov 1939, p. 9. Emphasis in original.

¹⁸   Lithgow Mercury, (NSW), Fri 13 Sep 1940, p. 2.

¹⁹   SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6113], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 11 Oct 1924-26 Mar 1925, No. 20685, p. 220. Emphasis added.

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