George Henry Victor Groome, 1928 – Indecent assault
George Henry Victor Groome, 1930,
George Henry Victor Groome, 1931,
Below also see: George Henry Victor Groome, 1933,
Groome v. Groome, 1934 – Divorce
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 1 May 1928 1
LAW NOTICES.
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Tuesday, May 1.
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QUARTER SESSIONS.
George Stewart Graham, indecent assault on a male person; Charles Fusco, burglary; Thomas Connelly and Meredydd Williams, robbery; John Riley, break, enter, and steal; George Henry Victor Groome, indecent assault on a male person; Arthur Cunningham, break, enter, and steal.
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THE MERIMBULA.
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Cause of Stranding.
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FINDING REDELIVERED.
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The Court of Marine Inquiry, comprising Judge Scholes, with Captains W Newton and CV Wood as assessors, which on Thursday last gave a finding respecting the stranding on March 27 last of the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company’s steamer Merimbula, took the unusual course yesterday of amplifying its finding.
Judge Scholes stated that after the Crown adjourned on Thursday he became aware that the report of the Court did not contain any adequate statement of the facts adduced in evidence.
After recapitulating the evidence as to the navigation of the vessel prior to the stranding on Fisherman’s Point at 1 am on March 27, his Honor continued: “The course alleged to have been followed must have taken the vessel two miles clear of Fisherman’s Point, but she struck one mile within that point which shows that between Kiama and Fisherman’s Point the ship was three miles inside her set course. No one on board can account for this. Captain Stuart, of the trawler Bearamul certified that on the same night he was off Montague Island. At 1am he found his ship six and a half miles inside of where she should have been. On this evidence it was pressed upon the Court that there was on this particular night a set of the sea landward which caused the drift of the Merimbula three miles inside and landward of the ship’s course. It was admitted that such a motion of the sea had never before in the whole period of navigation been experienced on this coast. This evidence and contention the Court considered unconvincing. The ship’s compass had been taken by the master on the previous Friday, and, by all accounts, was correct.
His Honor then repeated the finding of the Court as given on Thursday to the effect that the Court found itself unable to state with any degree of accuracy what was the cause of the casualty.
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SCOUT MASTER.
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FINED FOR THEFT.
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Allan Vivian Kelly, 33, a clerk, was charged at the Central Court yesterday with having stolen material valued at £95 from the New South Wales Boy Scouts’ Association.
Detective-Sergeant Barrett stated that the equipment was stolen when Kelly was a scout-master of the Enmore division. He had confessed to having stolen the goods, and said that he had given some of the material to poor boys in the district. Most of the missing goods had been recovered, and Kelly had to raise £20 in restitution.
A fine of £5 was imposed.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 2 May 1928 2
QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Cohen.)
Crown Prosecutor, Mr VH Treatt.
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ACQUITTED.
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George Henry Victor Groome, 21, was charged with committing an indecent assault upon a boy, [William Thomas James Williams], at Campsie, on March 29.
The accused was acquitted and discharged.
George Henry Victor Groome, 1930
The Illawarra Mercury, Fri 3 Oct 1930 3
POLICE COURT.
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WOLLONGONG.—Monday.
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(Before Mr Chapman, SM.)
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BOUND OVER.
George Henry Victor Groome (24) was charged with unlawful assault.
Defendant pleaded guilty.
His Worship bound defendant in the sum of £20 to be of good behaviour for six months, in default 14 days imprisonment.
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South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Fri 3 Oct 1930 4
WOLLONGONG COURT
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Monday
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(Before Mr Chapman, SM.)
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DEFENDANT BOUND OVER.
George Henry Victor Groome (24) was charged with unlawful assault at Wollongong, on Sept 24.
Mr Statham appeared for the complainant, and said he was quite prepared to withdraw the prosecutions if the defendant was prepared to be bound over.
Groome pleaded guilty and was bound over in the sum of £20 to be of good behaviour for six months.
Mr Statham stated the defendant was a man of excellent character, but had had a row with his wife and that was the cause of the trouble.
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Groome was also charged with using insulting words in Keira-street, Wollongong, on Sept 24th.
Mr Statham withdrew this information.
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The Illawarra Mercury, Fri 14 Nov 1930 5
POLICE COURT.
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WOLLONGONG.—Monday.
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(Before Mr Chapman, SM.)
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ALLEGED ASSAULTS.
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George Henry Victor Groom (24) was charged with unlawful assault, at Wollongong, no November 8.
Remanded until December 8, as defendant had been bailed out on his own recognisance to be operated upon for appendicitis.
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South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Fri 14 Nov 1930 6
WOLLONGONG COURT
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Monday.
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(Before Mr Chapman, SM.)
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ADJOURNMENTS.
George Henry Victor Groome (24) was charged with unlawful assault at Wollongong, on November 8th.
Sergeant Cahill said Groom [sic] had taken ill in the cells and had been admitted to hospital suffering from appendicitis. He had been bailed out to appear on Dec 8th.
George Henry Victor Groome, 1931
South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Fri 2 Jan 1931 7
WOLLONGONG COURT.
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Monday.
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(Before Mr Chapman, SM.)
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ASSAULT AND MALICIOUS
DAMAGE.
George Henry Victor Groome (24) was charged (1) with maliciously damaging two doors, valued at £1, the property of FW Rose; (2) with resisting Constable Bennett; (3) assaulting Ronald Frederick Rose; and (4) with assaulting FW Rose at Wollongong, on Dec 29.
Defendant pleaded not guilty to all four charges, which by consent, were heard together.
Frederick William Rose, monumental mason, of Church-street, stated the defendant was his son-in-law, and witness had had trouble with him during the past three or four months. On two separate occasions witness had given Groome in charge for assault but each time the charge was withdrawn on condition that he kept away from Wollongong. On the first occasion the defendant had been bound over to keep the peace. The defendant had promised the court too keep away from witness’ house. About 10 pm on Dec 28th, witness saw Groome who woke him up and said “I have come to se Dorothy (defendant’s wife).” Witness replied “You can’t see her.” The defendant’s wife was in delicate health and defendant again demanded to see her. Witness refused to allow him and Mrs Rose then called out, “Dorothy has gone to the front door.” The defendant then went to the front and witness went around the back. He remained there and heard Groome make insulting remarks to his (Groome’s) wife, to the effect that he hoped she would die. Groome then left but returned shortly afterwards when his wife spoke to him through the door. They were talking together till about midnight when witness heard Groome trying to force the door. He could not get inside but only strained the door.
Witness then notified the police. About 7 o’clock the next morning, Groome returned to the house and met witness on the verandah. The defendant was sitting on a chair opposite his wife. Witness’ wife then assisted Mrs Groome inside and witness held the door open. The defendant said he was coming in and threatened to knock the damn door down. He then put his foot through the wire gauze and as he did so witness closed the inner door. The defendant then broke the glass penal on the front door, opened the door and came inside the house. He pushed witness up against the door, skinning the latter’s right elbow, and finally pushing him on to the bar. Groome then rushed forward and struck Ronald F Rose in the eye. Both men got into holts and witness went to his son’s assistance. Groome then put his arm around witness’ neck and endeavored to put his fingers into his (witness’) left eye. The defendant then went inside and complained of cutting himself. Witness then notified the police and Groome was given in charge.
In answer to the SM, witness said Groome and his wife had been living apart since September. Groome was not supporting his wife.
Questioned by the defendant, witness denied that he was trying to get the parties separated and divorced.
Ronald Frederick Rose, monumental mason, of Keira-street, and a son of the previous witness, stated early on the Monday morning his father came to his home and as a result witness went to his father’s home where he saw the defendant. They had no conversation but when witness heard the glass breaking he went outside and saw Groome attacking his father. Witness went to his father’s assistance and Groome struck him in the eye slightly breaking the skin. When Constable Bennett arrived and attempted to arrest Groome, the latter resisted violently and had to be hand-cuffed. After Groome had been hand-cuffed he struck witness again and also kicked him.
Constable Bennett stated at 7 am on Dec 29th he went to Mr FW Rose’s residence where he saw a broken gauze door, also a broken glass panel. He went inside where he saw the defendant who said “Well you’ve got the —– police again.” Mr Rose told witness he wanted to give Groom in charge for assault. Witness then said he would take Groome to the station. The latter refused to move, so witness took hold of him. He struggled fiercely and after wrestling for some time witness handcuffed him. As Groome was being taken out through the hall way he suddenly pulled away and jabbed Ronald Rose in the face with [some text illegible here] and then kicked him in the stomach. Witness then pulled Groome out through the door and as they were crossing the footpath, Groome tried to trip witness, but missed and fell on the roadway. He refused to get up so witness lifted him into the car. On the way to the station, Groome said, “I’d murder that old Rose, only I know what I’d get for it. I’d sooner scratch his eyes out.” Witness told him he should be ashamed of himself, and Groome then made some more insulting remarks about his wife. Witness accused him of being a “miserable thing” making such remarks. When charged, Groome made no reply.
In answer to defendant, witness denied striking him.
The defendant [George Henry Victor Groome], a grocer, of Camperdown, but at present out of employment, stated he had tried hard to get work, but had been unable to do so. On Sept 29th witness admitted being bound over to be of good behaviour for six months. The whole trouble was that his father-in-law was trying to separate them. If given a chance witness said he would cable to England and try and go back home, as it now appeared his wife did not want him. The whole trouble was due to him not being allowed to see or speak to his wife.
Questioned by Sergeant Pye, witness said he had been worried over the loss of his grocery business. His father-in-law had put up £400 for this project. He denied being quarrelsome but said he had been very worried of late.
The SM,—The case appears to be a mental one.
Sergeant Pye—No, the defendant is of a vicious, quarrelsome nature and what is really wanted is someone to give the father of a hiding every time he carries on like this.
Continuing, witness said when the door was shut he lost his temper and broke the panel.
Mr FW Rose said the only reason for bringing the case on was to protect his wife and daughter who were terrified of him.
Groome was convicted and was fined £2 or 14 days on the first charge and ordered to pay £1 compensation; £3 or 21 days on the second charge; £2 or 14 days on each of the third and fourth charges.
Defendant said he would “take it out.”
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South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Fri 6 Feb 1931 8
WOLLONGONG
COURT.
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Friday.
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(Before Mr Chapman, SM.)
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ASSAULT.
George Henry Victor Groome (24) was charged with unlawfully assaulting Dorothy Mary Groome, at Wollongong on Jan 27th. He pleaded guilty under provocation.
Sergeant Pye said Mrs Groome was confined in hospital. The defendant gained admittance and knocked her about and as a result she will be in hospital for another fortnight.
The defendant: That is not true.
Sergeant Pye: We are not prepared to go on at present. Groome has threatened to murder his wife and has told the matron at the hospital so.
Groome said he went to see his wife and when she rang the bell he lost his head and grabbed her by the shoulders. He came to Wollongong with good intentions each time he had come down.
Sergeant Pye: And every time he either finishes up in goal or else the police order him out of town.
On the matter of bail, Sergeant Pye asked for a heavy one as the family were terrorised.
Groome asked that the case be dealt with at once and pointed out that he had already been locked up for four days.
Constable Readford stated as the result of a phone message he and Constable Selwood went to a private hospital in Wollongong and later saw defendant who said “I went to the hospital to see my wife. I went into her room, walked over to the bed. She smiled at me and I pressed my thumb on her nose. She still smiled at me in a sarcastic way so I got hold of her hair and belted into her. I did my block.” Groome said she had a baby only ten days’ old. Witness pointed out “You might have killed her” and defendant replied “I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Groome said he went to the hospital to see his wife the previous Monday and she was quite nice to him. However on Tuesday she told him she was going for a divorce and he did not know what to do.
The SM.—I’d like to have a doctor’s report on this case.
Sergeant Pye said the whole trouble was that defendant had a terrible temper.
Groome asked to be bound over and promised to go away.
Sergeant Pye said he must ask for a heavy penalty. The defendant had no intention of leaving his wife alone.
Fined £15 or four months’ imprisonment.
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The Illawarra Mercury, Fri 14 Aug 1931 9
POLICE COURT.
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WOLLONGONG.—Friday.
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(Before Mr Chapman, SM.)
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CHARGE OF ASSAULT.
At the Wollongong Police Court on Friday, George Henry Victor Groome (25) was charged with an unlawful assault at Wollongong, on August 1st. He pleaded not guilty.
It was stated in evidence that the defendant forced his way into his father-in-law’s residence, where his wife was living. He pushed his father-in-law aside and threatened to kill him and his (defendant’s) wife. He also said that if they sent for the police he would kill them as soon as he got out.
Defendant was fined 10/-, in default 24 hours, and was ordered to enter into a recognisance of self in £10 and one other in £10, to be of good behaviour for 12 months, in default one month’s imprisonment.
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South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, Fri 14 Aug 1931 10
WOLLONGONG COURT.
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Friday.
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(Before Mr Chapman, SM.)
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Assaulting Wife.
George Henry Victor Groome (25) was charged with assault at Wollongong, on August 1st. He pleaded not guilty.
The complainant, stated the defendant was his son-in-law and was separated from his wife, who was residing with witness. Groome had given an undertaking to keep away from the house but on August 1st he came to the house about 3 o’clock. Witness heard a commotion and saw Groome with his wife in his arms, rushing her towards the back door. Witness tried to prevent Groome from entering the doorway but he was struck on the chest and forced away. Groome called out “I’ll kill her, I’ll kill both of you, and if you send for the police, I’ll kill you when I come out.” Groome then rushed through into the front bedroom. Witness’ wife followed them in but Groome pushed her outside and she was rather badly bruised as the result of the rough handling.
Mrs Dorothy Mary Groome, wife of defendant, stated she was in the yard when he came up and caught hold of her. He dragged her through the house. She had not invited him to enter the house and he threatened to kill her if her parents interfered. Witness was in absolute terror of her husband and on previous occasions she had had to have him locked up for assaulting her. Groome had given an undertaking to keep way on that occasion.
The defendant stated he came to Wollongong on August 1st, to offer to work for no wages whatever. He also wanted to see the baby, and when he saw his wife she invited him inside.
Fined 10/- or 24 hours and to enter into a bond of £10 to be of good behaviour for twelve months, in default one month.
George Henry Victor Groome, 1933
The Sun, Mon 17 Jul 1933 11
ASKED FOR CASH
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DARLING Pt. “VISITOR”
IN COURT
On George Henry Victor Croome, [sic] 27, giving an undertaking at Paddington Court To-day that he would desist from visiting houses in the Darling Point and Bellevue Hill districts, asking for money, the magistrate (Mr Reed) discharged him on a charge of vagrancy.
“Why have you been going to houses cadging?” the police prosecutor asked Groome. “Because the dole is not sufficient,” he replied. “I always ask for work first.”
Police Prosecutor: Isn’t it your practice to put your foot inside the door so that it cannot be closed on you?”
Groome: No.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 18 Jul 1933 12
POLICE COURTS.
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“DOLE NOT SUFFICIENT.”
At the Paddington Court yesterday George Henry Victor Groome, 27, was charged with vagrancy. When asked by the police prosecutor why he had been “going to houses cadging,” Groome replied, “Because the dole is not sufficient. But I always ask for work first.” Upon Groome giving an undertaking to desist from visiting houses in the Darling Point and Bellevue Hill districts asking for money, he was discharged.
Groome v. Groome, 1934
The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 30 Jun 1934 13
IN DIVORCE.
(Before the Judge in Divorce, Mr Justice Boyce.)
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Groome v. Groome
Dorothy Mary Groome (formerly Rose) v George Henry Victor Groome. Marriage, November, 1929, at Sydney, Church of England rites. Issue, desertion. Decree nisi. Mr SV Toose (instructed by Messrs Charles A Morgan and Stevens) for petitioner.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 16 Feb 1935 14
IN DIVORCE.
(Before the Judge in Divorce, Mr Justice Boyce.)
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DECREES ABSOLUTE.
Decrees absolute were pronounced in the suits of
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Dorothy Mary Groome v. George Henry Victor Groome.
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 1 May 1928, p. 8. Emphasis added.
2 The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 2 May 1928, p. 12.
3 The Illawarra Mercury, Fri 3 Oct 1930, p. 2.
4 South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, (NSW), Fri 3 Oct 1930, p. 5.
5 The Illawarra Mercury, Fri 14 Nov 1930, p. 3.
6 South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, (NSW), Fri 14 Nov 1930, p. 22. Emphasis added.
7 South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, (NSW), Fri 2 Jan 1931, p. 18. Emphasis added.
8 South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, (NSW), Fri 6 Feb 1931, p. 21. Emphasis added.
9 The Illawarra Mercury, Fri 14 Aug 1931, p. 3. Emphasis added.
10 South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus, (NSW), Fri 14 Aug 1931, p. 4.
11 The Sun, (Sydney, NSW), Mon 17 Jul 1933, p. 4. Emphasis added.
12 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 18 Jul 1933, p. 6.
13 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 30 Jun 1934, p. 10.
14 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 16 Feb 1935, p. 12.