Henry Threlfall, 1927 – Buggery
Below also see: Henry Threlfall, 1927 – Indecent assault
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 14 Jul 1927 1
NEWCASTLE POLICE COURT
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Wednesday, July 13.
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(Before Mr HH McDougall, SM.)
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REMANDED.
Henry Threlfall, 42, pensioner, was charged with an abominable offence at, [buggery with his wife Edith Threlfall ], Mayfield on or about June 15. Defendant was remanded until July 20, for medical observation.
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The Newcastle Sun, Wed 20 Jul 1927 2
ASSAULT ON WIFE
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War Pensioner for Trial
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“REVOLTING OFFENCE”
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Henry Threlfall, 42, pensioner, on remand, was charged before Mr McDougal, SM, at Newcastle Police Court to–day, with having at Mayfield on June 15, committed an assault on his wife.
Threlfall, who pleaded not guilty, was committed for trial at Newcastle Quarter Sessions on August 9.
Bail was allowed, self in £150, and two sureties of £75 each.
Detective-sergeant Ryan said he questioned Threlfall about his conduct towards his wife and children, who, he told Threlfall, had made serious allegations against him. “According to your daughter, your conduct towards her was most revolting, while your wife says that, owing to your conduct towards her, she has been very unhappy for 12 months, and three weeks ago you committed a most abominable offence on her against her will,” said the sergeant.
“I have made a profound study of physiology and such an offence is an utter impossibility,” replied Threlfall.
At this stage the court was cleared.
Edith Threlfall said she had been married 18 years. Her husband was badly gassed at the front.
“In January he came home drunk and interfered with their little girl, and when witness remonstrated with him he used filthy language.
Continuing, Mrs Threlfall gave an account of her husband‘s conduct.
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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 21 Jul 1927 3
NEWCASTLE POLICE COURT
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Wednesday, July 20.
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(Before Mr HH McDougall, SM.)
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COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.
Henry Threlfall, 42, pensioner, on remand, was charged with having committed a serious offence at Mayfield on or about June 15. Detective-sergeant Ryan gave evidence of arrest. The defendant was committed for trial at the Newcastle Quarter Sessions on August 9, bail being allowed, self and surety in £150 each, or two sureties of £75.
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The Newcastle Sun, Wed 10 Aug 1927 4
UNFIT TO PLEAD
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Prisoner’s Mental State
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MEDICAL EVIDENCE
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A case, in which medical evidence showed that the defendant, charged with having committed a crime of a perverted sexual nature, was unfit mentally to plead, or answer the charge, was before Judge White, at Newcastle Quarter Sessions to-day.
A peculiar feature in the evidence was that the man would have no memory of having committed the sexual offences. He was declared by the jury to be unfit to plead.
Before Henry Threlfall was asked to plead to a charge of having indecently assaulted a girl under the age of 16, at Newcastle Quarter Sessions to-day, Mr Braye made an application that the issue be tried as to whether Threlfall was in a fit mental condition to plead.
“After reading the depositions in this case,” said Mr Braye, “I made inquiries as to the mental condition, and I am satisfied that he is unfit to plead.”
Dr Morgan said that he had known Threlfall for three years, and had had him under observation during the whole of that time. At one period said the doctor, Threlfall had been confined to a medical asylum. He had been looking after Threlfall, who was a returned soldier, 5 on behalf of the local repatriation department.
WOULD NOT REMEMBER
From representations made to him, he said, he examined him, and found him to be suffering from a form of sexual insanity, and asked the police to take him in hand on the grounds that, in the condition he was in, he might commit a serious offence upon any member of his family.
Both he and another doctor, said Dr Morgan, formed the opinion that Threlfall was suffering from a form of sexual insanity, peculiar in that he would not have the slightest recollection of having committed any offence of a sexual nature.
The repatriation department took Threlfall as a voluntary patient, continued the doctor, to a home at Callan Park. Later he was allowed to leave.
Later he was taken to the Reception House, and after a consultation, Dr Bostock formed the opinion that he was insane, and had no memory of his offences.
Mr Braye: In your opinion, is he in a fit condition to stand his trial?
Dr Morgan: No. He is not.
During all these proceedings Threlfall stood in the dock, perplexed and frowning. Several times he dropped his head and rubbed it dazedly.
The jury conferred without retiring, and announced that they were agreed that Threlfall was unfit to plead.
Threlfall was committed to custody during the Governor’s pleasure.
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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 11 Aug 1927 6
QUARTER SESSIONS.
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Wednesday, August 10.
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(Before His Honor Judge White.)
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Mr TS Crawford, Crown Prosecutor.
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UNFIT TO PLEAD.
Henry Threlfall was charged with having committed a serious assault at Mayfield during February.
Prior to accused entering a plea, Mr Braye said he had made inquiries regarding the mental condition of the accused, and his inquiries revealed the fact that accused was not in a fit state to plead.
A jury was empanelled to try the issue of accused’s sanity.
Dr Idris Morgan said he knew the accused, and had him under observation for three years. Accused was a returned soldier, and was in receipt of a pension from the military authorities. Accused was frequently under medical observation, and it was agreed by the medical profession that accused was sexually insane. The jury agreed that accused was not in a fit state to give his plea. Accused was committed the custody awaiting the Governor’s pleasure.
Henry Threlfall, 1927
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 13 Dec 1927 7
LAW NOTICES.
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Tuesday, December 13.
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QUARTER SESSIONS.
Alfred Wells and David Hammond, break, enter, and steal (part heard); Henry Threlfall, indecent assault on a girl under 16 years; Frederick Smith, August John Goesch, George Jenkinson, and William Clancy, conspiracy to defraud.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 14 Dec 1927 8
QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Cohen.)
Crown Prosecutor, Mr Neil McTague.
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ACQUITTED.
Henry Threlfall, 42, military pensioner, was charged with committing an indecent assault upon his daughter, a child of 10 years.
Accused, who conducted his own defence, was acquitted. On a further charge of committing an unnatural offence upon his wife, the accused was remanded for trial, bail being allowed.
1 Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 14 Jul 1927, p. 8.2 The Newcastle Sun, (NSW), Wed 20 Jul 1927, p. 5. Emphasis added.
3 Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 21 Jul 1927, p. 7. Emphasis added.
4 The Newcastle Sun, (NSW), Wed 10 Aug 1927, p. 5. Emphasis added.
5 To view the digitised WWI service record (service No. 3677, barcode 8390608) of Henry Threlfall go to: www.naa.gov.au
6 Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 11 Aug 1927, p. 7. Emphasis added.
7 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 13 Dec 1927, p. 8. Emphasis added.
8 The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 14 Dec 1927, p. 12.