Nepean Times, Sat 21 Apr 1906 1
LOCAL BREVITIES
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Weather rather warm. Thursday lot of wind and dust. Most extraordinary for this time of the year.
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The Bio-Pictroscope and Vaudeville Company gave two first-class entertainments at the Temperance Hall on Saturday and Monday nights. Good attendance each night.
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A kiss on the lips is considered by a woman in Finland to be the greatest insult a man, including her own husband, can offer her. In Penrith it is considered a great luxury by both parties.
At the Penrith Police Court on Wednesday, before Mr RG Green, JP, John Dwyer, a stranger, was charged with indecently assaulting William Mitchell. Remanded till next Monday, bail not applied for.
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Nepean Times, Sat 28 Apr 1906 2
PENRITH POLICE COURT
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Monday.
Before Mr FR Wilshire, PM.
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John Lamming, charged with having light weights in his possession, pleaded guilty, and stated that some of the weights were only a quarter of a dram short.
Defendant was fined £2-10-6s costs of court; in default, two months.
On a further charge of having incorrect weights un-stamped, defendant again pleaded guilty, and stated that 12 months ago he had these adjusted, but owing to the illness of the late Sergeant Morris they were not stamped. He produced a receipt for the payment for adjustment Fined 5s, 6d costs of court; in default, 21 hours.
He was further charged with having incorrect scales, and was fined 5s, 6s costs of court; usual default. Fines and coats paid.
Robert Hand pleaded not guilty to a charge of disobeying an order of the court, and applied for a remand for a week which was granted.
John Blunt pleaded guilty to a charge of using profane language at Mulgoa on 8th April, and whs fined 10s, costs of courts 6s; in default, 48 hours. Fine and costs paid.
John Blunt and Walter Snodgrass pleaded guilty to charge of riotous behavior at Mulgoa on 8th April, and were fined 5s, 8s coats of court each; in default, 48 hours. Fines and costs paid.
Charles Hedley pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a riotous manner in the bar of the Strangers’ Home Hotel, St Marys, on 17th April, and was fined 10s, costs of court 6s; in default, 48 hours. A second charge of using obscene language, and to which he pleaded not guilty, was dealt with later.
William B Thomas for furiously driving a horse on the Great Western-road, St. Marys, on 16th April, pleaded guilty, and stated the horse was suffering from gripes. He hoped the Bench would deal leniently with him, as he had been put to great expense, Fined 20s, coats of court 6s, two witnesses 12s 6d; in default, 14 days.
The same defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of cruelly ill-treating a horse on the occasion.
It was explained the horse dropped dead at Rooty Hill. Fined 40s, costs of court 6s, three witnesses 12s; in default, 14 days.
Walter Williams pleaded not guilty to a charge having light weights in his possession.
Mr D McDonald appeared for defendant.
Senior-Sergt Peterswall, sworn, stated: I am the duly-appointed inspector of weights and measures for the district of Penrith; on 6th April I went to the premises ocoupied by defendant at St Marys, and inspected a patent spring-balanced counter weighing machine; I showed defendant my authority; I noticed a bench behind the counter in which was some salt beef; I produce the scales and weights that were on the bench; I examined and compared the weights with the standard weights, and found all the weights proiduced light; they were weighed before the defendant, who admitted they were wrong; they are avoir-dupois weights and very short defendant admitted be used the weights and scales for weighing salt meat.
By Mr McDonald: The patent machine was incorrect, but it was adjusted; the defendant showed me how to adjust it; hey are easily adjusted or unadjusted; the most valuable machines are the easiest doctored; it is a fact that, a requisition was sent to me by some St Marys storekeepers to go down and examine their weights; one of the weights of these parties I condemned, and put the condemned mark on it; others were examined that had been adjusted, but were not correct; two parties wrote to me; about the time there was an adjuster in the town; he had been to Williams’, I knew that from a conversation between him and Williams; the adjuster said “I’ve been in town for a week, everybody should have known”; the adjuster’s name is Sands; some of the weights he adjusted had to be altered; there is no connection between the adjuster and me; the man is not here to defend himself; the weights produced were used for weighing salt beef; I do not know who stamped the weights; the stamp is only a certificate that the weights were correct at a time; there is a wonderful shortage, as much as 12 drams in one weight; under ordinary conditions the weights should not be in the state they are; the parties I have proceeded against I believe were wilfully using false weights; the defendant had a set of brass weights packed away in a box.
This was the case for the prosecution.
Sydney Wallace Egbert Williams, sworn, stated I am the person referred to as Walter Williams; I am a butcher residing at St Marys; I remember the sergeant inspecting my weights, they were light according to his weights; I did not know they were light or I should not have had them on the premises; I knew the sergeant was coming an hour before be did come; I did not send for the adjuster; I expected him to call; I did not know where he was staying; I have no idea why he called with the sergeant; I did not send for the sergeant to come down and inspect my weights; I heard the sergeant say that morning that certain persons had sent for him; I did not know on the 6th that had been done; I knew the sergeant was coming a few hours before he arrived; I did not put any weights away; I bought one set of weights about two years ago, and the others with the business about five years ago; the large brass weight was not used as a weight, but for pressing brawn; brass weights would be dangerous to use with salt beef on account of the verdigris; I always allow a quarter to two pounds over in all salt beef sent out; I allow the extra weight for drainage; the adjuster charges very high fees; the reason I did not use the brass weights is that I have a new counter scale.
By the Senior-Sergt: I had the set of weights I purchased two years ago tested before they were sent me, that was a condition of purchase; the large weight is not un-stamped to my knowledge; I was told in the barber’s shop that morning that you were coming down; I showed yon how to adjust the machine; I did not see the machine tested by the standard weights; some of my customers have complained about short weight; corned beef waste a good deal when hung up.
Mr McDonald addressed the Bench at length, pointing out that his client had not wilfully kept light weights, and asked for a light penalty.
Fined 40s 6s costs of court; in default, 14 days.
In a second case he was fined 5s, 6a costs of court; in default, 48 hours.
Charles Healey pleaded not guilty to a charge of using obscene language.
Emily Cott, sworn, stated: l am the licensee of the Strangers’ Home Hotel, St Marys; I remember 17th April, defendant Healey came to my place, and asked for a drink on tick; I refused; at half-past five he came in again and threw 1s on the counter; a man named Carpenter came in, and I bought a clock off him for 1s 6d; I ordered Healey away; he said to Carpenter, “You’ve put my b — pot on” and caught hold of him, shook him and said “I'll shake — — out of you,” threw him on the floor, left him and cleared out; I previously told Healey I would send for the police; Carpenter did not interfere with him.
William Carpenter, sworn, stated: I am a wood cutter and reside at St Marys; I was at the Stranger’s Home Hotel last Tuesday and saw Healey there; this was about 3 o’clock; I saw Mrs Cott there, and there was a bit of a barney between them; Healey said to me “Did you say that, you b — I’ll shake — — out of you,” and threw me on the floor, and I next found myself on a bed at Mrs Cott”; I afterwards saw Constable Woods and showed him my head/
By Healey: I think it was 3 o’clock when I saw you at the hotel first.
Constable Woods, sworn, stated: I know Healey and Carpenter; I had a conversation with Healey on the 18th; he said “There has been a barney between Carpenter, Mrs Cott, and myself”; he said “I have been at the hotel and pushed Carpenter down with his head on the floor.”
Charles Healey, sworn, stated: I am a laborer and reside at St Marys; I never used the words I am charged with; I was not at the hotel after 3 o’clock, when I left to burn a horse; the hotel was closed when I came back; the only thing I said to Carpenter was “You’re a nice man to put my pot on, stealing money out of the till.”
Fined 5s. 6s costs, and 7s witnesses’ costs, in default 48 hours lockup.
John Dwyer was charged with an indecent assault on a male, and after the evidence of Constable Easterbrook, William Mitchell, Bramwell Payne, and Robert Cooper had been given, the accused, who pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence, was committed for trial at Parramatta Quarter Sessions, to be held on 16th July.
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The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Wed 2 May 1906 3
PARRAMATTA POLICE COURT.
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Saturday, April 28.
(Before Mr TE MacNevin, SM.)
John Dwyer, who had been arrested by Constable Gimbert, was remanded to Penrith Court on a charge of indecent assault.
A more serious charge had been preferred against the same man on which he had been committed; but the Attorney-General had decided not to file a bill in regard to that charge, and had directed that the accused should be proceeded against in the matter of the less serious charge.
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Nepean Times, Sat 5 May 1906 4
PENRITH POLICE COURT
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Monday.
Before Mr FR Wilshire, PM.
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John Dwyer, who was last week committed for trial on a charge of indecent assault, and against whom the Attorney-General refused to file a bill, was brought before the Court at the request of the Crown authorities, on 10th April, 1906, and charged with indecency. He pleaded guilty and handed in a statement in writing showing he had “Gone off his head” through drink. He was sent to tho lockup for seven days, with hard labor.
1 Nepean Times, (Penrith, NSW), Sat 21 Apr 1906, p. 3. Emphasis added.
2 Nepean Times, (Penrith, NSW), Sat 28 Apr 1906, p. 6. Emphasis added.
3 The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Wed 2 May 1906, p. 1.
4 Nepean Times, (Penrith, NSW), Sat 5 May 1906, p. 4.