Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent, Thu 28 Feb 1929 1
SERIOUS OFFENCE
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YOUTH’S UNACCOUNTABLE CONDUCT
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JUDGE’S LENIENCY
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When a young man, Neil Ernest Innis [aka Innes] was charged with a very serious and revolting offence, [indecent assaulting Leslie Simpson], in the Quarter Sessions on Tuesday, he pleaded guilty and was treated with great leniency by the Judge, who bound him over to come up for sentence if called upon.
After Innis had pleaded guilty to the charge, the Rev CW Leavers entered the witness box and appealed to the Judge for leniency. The youth, he said, was a source of great anxiety to his people, and was receiving an invalid pension for heart trouble. If his Honour would see fit to make any concession in the case, accused’s brother at Brewarrina was quite willing to take him to his place and make him work.
Innis did not seem to realise the seriousness of his offence, went on the minister, and he would suggest that his invalid pension be taken from him.
His Honour here remanded accused for sentence until yesterday morning, when he told him that he could consider himself very lucky that he had such a good friend as the Rev Leavers, who had offered suggestions which, his Honour found, commended themselves to him.
“I intend to punish you in such a way as to bring out the good qualities, and have this disgusting habit overcome,” he told Innis.
He bound accused over to be of good behaviour for 2 years, and to come up for sentence if called upon in that time, recognizance of £25 self and one surety of £25 was required. His Honour also recommended to the jurymen that the invalid pension should be withheld from Innis for 2 years.
“I do hope this will act as a warning to you,” said the Judge when he had passed sentence. “I don’t think you are the least criminally declined, [sic] and I do hope that when you are placed under your brother’s care you will allow for his control of you.”
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Narromine News and Trangie Advocate, Wed 6 Mar 1929 2
DUBBO
QUARTER SESSIONS
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(Before His Honor, Judge Thomson)
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Quarter Sessions opened in Dubbo last week, before His Honor, Judge Thomson. Mr Stacy acted as Crown Prosecutor.
The following cases were dealt with:—
…
SERIOUS OFFENCE.
When a young man, Neil Ernest Innis, [sic] was charged with a very serious and revolting offence on Tuesday he pleaded guilty and was treated with great leniency by the Judge, who bound him over to come up for sentence if called upon.
After Innes had pleaded guilty to the charge, the Rev CW Leavers entered the witness box and appealed to the Judge for leniency. The youth he said, was a source of great anxiety to his people, and was receiving an invalid pension for heart trouble. If his Honour would see fit to make any concession in the case, accused’s brother at Brewarrina was quite willing to take him to his place and make him work.
Innis did not seem to realise the seriousness of his offence, went on the minister, and he would suggest that his invalid pension be taken from him.
His Honour here remanded accused for sentence until Wednesday morning, when he told him that he could consider himself very lucky that he had such a good friend as the Rev Leavers, who had offered suggestions which, his Honour found, commended themselves to him.
“I intend to punish you in such a way as to bring out the good qualities, and have this disgusting habit overcome,” he told Innis.
He bound accused over to be of good behaviour for 2 years, and to come up for sentence if called upon in that tome, cognizance of £25 self and one surety of £25 was required. His Honour also recommended to the jurymen that the invalid pension should be withheld from Innis for 2 years.
“I do hope this will act as a warning to you,” said the Judge, when he had passed sentence. “I don’t think you are the least criminally inclined, and I do hope that when you are placed under your brother’s care you will allow for his control of you.”
1 Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent, Thu 28 Feb 1929, p. 1. Emphasis in original text.
2 Narromine News and Trangie Advocate, (NSW), Wed 6 Mar 1929, p. 8. Emphasis added.