Below also see: John Thomas Quinn, 1952
The Macleay Argus, Tue 24 Mar 1925 1
QUARTER SESSIONS.
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Kempsey, March 23rd, 1925.
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The above Court opened on Monday, before his Honor Judge Mocatta. Mr N Parker, deputy-sheriff, occupied a seat on the bench. Mr RJ Browning was Crown Prosecutor; and the following local solicitors were present: Messrs HJ Stewart, LJ Hardiman, WH Sheridan and DJ Vine Hall. Mr AE Lyon was sheriff’s officer.
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A SERIOUS CHARGE.
John Quinn (on bail), and wearing a returned soldier’s badge, 2 was arraigned on a serious offence [bestiality with a cow, ] to which he pleaded guilty of intent.
Following this the remainder of the jurymen were released from further attendance, much to their delight.
Mr J St Clair Leonard, instructed by Mr LJ Hardiman, appeared for Quinn.
The Crown Prosecutor said he understood accused was very drunk and had several convictions for drunkenness.
Dr [Joseph B] McElhone gave brief evidence. He said he had known Quinn for about six years. He was a good worker when he got it to do but a few drinks made a different man of him altogether. Drink appeared to lead him to sexual excess.
His Honor: Under the influence of drink would he be a danger to the public?
Dr McElhone: Without drink I think he would be perfectly normal.
His Honor: I think the only way to deal with this case will be to bind him over for a long period, and if he breaks that in the meantime to bring him up for sentence.
Mr Leonard said accused parents were very respectable people, and the shock he had would make it most unlikely that he would repeat the offence.
Constable Donovan was called. He said since accused returned from the was he had kept fairly sober. Before the offence he had only been drinking for bout a day. His relatives were very respectable people.
Addressing accused his Honor said he supposed he had realised what a shocking thing he had done and it should be unlikely that it would occur again. It was against the instincts of all human beings. From what he had heard the accused had lost his sense of manhood and become like a brute beast, or worse. He hoped that in his sober senses he would realise the enormity of his offence. He would not pass sentence then but would order that accused enter into a recognisance of £100 and find a surety of £100 to come up for sentence at any time within five years. If the accused was found guilty of drinking in that period he would have to come up for sentence. Had his legal adviser pleaded insanity he would have to be sent to an asylum. That would be placed him among lunatics but the course he was taking, he thought would be the better one.
Mr Browning suggested that as the Good Templers’ Lodge was being resuscitated it would be a good thing for accused to join it.
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The Macleay Chronicle, Wed 25 Mar 1925 3
QUARTER SESSIONS.
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Kempsey Quarter Sessions opened on Monday morning last before His Honor Judge Mocatta, who was accompanied on the Bench by Mr NL Parker, Deputy Sheriff.
Among the legal gentlemen present we noticed Messrs LJ Hardiman, WH Sheridan, DJ Vine Hall and HJ Stewart and also Mr J St C Leonard, barrister, of Sydney, Mr RH Browning was Crown Prosecutor as usual.
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Mr EE Trees, was fined 40/- for non-attendance as a jurymen; and Mr CS Cliff was excused from attendance as a juryman.
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J[ohn] Quinn, [33], who pleaded guilty to intent to an offence, was bound over in self £100 and a surety of £100 to be for good behaviour for a period of 5 years.
John Thomas Quinn, 1952
The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 5 Jun 1952 4
DEATHS
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Quinn, John Thomas.—June 3, 1952, late of Kempsey, loved brother of Charles, Harry, Frank, James, Stanley, Eileen, Dolly, and Lorna. RIP.
1 The Macleay Argus (Kempsey), Tue 24 Mar 1925, p. 2. Emphasis added.
2 To view the digitised WWI service record (service number 6207, barcode 8021934) of John (aka John Thomas) Quinn go to: www.naa.gov.au
3 The Macleay Chronicle (Kempsey), Wed 25 Mar 1925, p. 4.
4 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 5 Jun 1952, p. 18.