The Sun, Thu 11 Oct 1928 ¹

PROTECTING WOMEN
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SM GIVES MAN SIX MONTHS

    A sentence of six months’ hard labor was imposed, at the Parramatta Police Court to-day, on William Ernest Lawrence, 28, a plasterer, for indecent exposure at Auburn Railway Station on October 6.

    “If I do not impose the maximum penalty women will think that I am not fit to hold my position,” said Mr Williams, SM. “It is a frightful and shocking thing for women to have to put up with an offence of this nature.”

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 12 Oct 1928 ²

INDECENT CONDUCT.
———◦———

    William Ernest Lawrence, 28, a plasterer, was convicted at the Parramatta Police Court on a charge of indecent conduct on the Auburn railway station on October 6.

    In sentencing the defendant to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour, Mr Williams, SM, said: “If I did not impose the maximum penalty in this case, people would think that I am not fit to keep the position that I hold.”

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The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Thu 18 Oct 1928 ³

SIX MONTHS!
———◦———
DISGUSTING OFFENCE
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    William Ernest Lawrence, at the Parramatta Police Court on Wednesday of last week, was convicted on a charge of having committed a disgusting offence at Auburn railway station on October 6.

    Mr WE Miller, who appeared for the defence, urged the magistrate to bind Lawrence over.

    The Magistrate: I wouldn’t do that. If I did not impose the maximum sentence, the public—especially the women-folk—would say I wasn’t fit to occupy this position.

    The defendant, a young man, who lived at Homebush, was sentenced to six months’ hard labor.

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William Ernest Lawrence, Gaol photo sheet ⁴

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 1643
Parramatta

Date when Portrait was taken: 11-10-1928

Name: William Ernest Lawrence

Native place: Croydon, England Year of birth: 1900 Arrived       Ship: HMS Ophir in Colony }   Year: 1910 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Plasterer Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 7½" Weight     On committal: 168 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Fair Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features:

(No. of previous Portrait Nil – first Timer) CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Parramatta PC	10	10	1928	Expose person	6 months HL (W[ith] bail on appeal 16-10-1928)

 

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¹     The Sun, (Sydney, NSW), Thu 11 Oct 1928, p. 17.

²     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 12 Oct 1928, p. 6.

³     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Thu 18 1928, p. 9. Emphasis in original text.

⁴     SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6015], Parramatta Gaol photographic description book, 1929-1930, No. 1643, p. 16, R5138.

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