The Maitland Daily Mercury, Mon 16 Dec 1901 1
LOCAL AND GENERAL ITEMS.
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CASSOCK POLICE COURT.—At the Cessnock Police Court on Saturday, before Messrs GF Scott, PM, and G Brown JP, John T Drummond was charged with having committed a serious offence at Waronga, Rothbury, the residence of Mr WJ McDonald, on the 25th November, 1901. Sub-inspector Sykes conducted the case for the prosecution, and Mr TA Hill, of West Maitland, appeared on behalf of the defence. After hearing the evidence forthcoming, accused was committed for trial, bail being allowed, self in £200, and two sureties of £100 each. Bail was forthcoming.
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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Mon 16 Dec 1901 2
MAITLAND DISTRICT
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(From our Special Representative.)
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ALLEGED OFFENCE.
At the Cessnock Police Court on Saturday, before Messrs GF Scott, PM, and G Brown JP, John T Drummond was charged with having committed a serious offence at Waronga, Rothbury, the residence of Mr WJ McDonald on the 25th November, 1901. Mr TA Hill, of West Maitland appeared for the defence, and Sub-inspector Sykes conducted the prosecution. Accused was committed for trial, bail being allowed, self in £200, and two sureties in £100 each. Bail was immediately forthcoming.
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The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wed 2 Apr 1902 3
MAITLAND CIRCUIT COURT.
The April sitting of the Maitland Circuit Court opened at East Maitland this morning, before his Honor Justice GB Simpson. Mr EF Scarvell was the Judge’s Associate and Clerk of Arraigns. Mr H Crothers, JP, was Deputy Sheriff, the Sheriff (Mr CEB Maybury), having wired yesterday that owing to illness, he could not be present at the court. Mr White was Crown Prosecutor. Other barristers present were Messrs W Edmunds and W Cowan. Mr VDH Besnard was present as Crown Prosecutor’s Clerk. The solicitors in court were: – Messrs RW Thompson, JHF Waller, WJ Enright, TA Hill, WVW Thompson, DLB Glasheen, WH Mullen, and W Johnston.
William Richards, a juror, was fined 40s for non attendance. His Honor intimated that the fine would be increased to £3 tomorrow, if the juror was still absent. One juror was excused for illness, and another because he had left the district. In the case of a bank manager, his Honor said he was inclined to think he should not have been included in the jury list; and he excused him from attendance. After dinner, William Richards was present. Mr RW Thompson explained that Richards was under a misapprehension, being also summoned on the civil list. His Honor remitted the fine imposed in the morning.
His Honor said, as to-morrow would be taken up with the criminal cases, civil jurors would not be required to attend till Friday morning.
Mr Cecil Alban White handed in his appointment as Crown Prosecutor.
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The Maitland Daily Mercury, Thu 3 Apr 1902 4
Thursday, April 3.
The Court re-opened at 9.45 this morning.
John Thomas Drummond, a young man, was charged with attempting to commit an act of bestiality. A verdict of not guilty was returned.
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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Fri 4 Apr 1902 5
MAITLAND CIRCUIT COURT.
Thursday, April 3.
(Before His Honor Mr Justice GB Simpson.)
The court was re-opened at the courthouse, East Maitland, this morning at ten o’clock.
ALLEGED OFFENCE.
John Thomas Drummond was charged with having at Weronga, Rothbury, on the 25th November, 1901, attempted to commit an unnatural offence. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr TA Hill.
The witnesses for the Crown were George J Pinchin, a young man who alleged he saw the offence committed, and Constable McRae, who arrested accused. He admitted that at the Police Court he said it was what an ordinary man would do. Accused smacked him in the face, and gave him a week to apologise for having talked about him. It was after that, or a week after the alleged offence, that he told the police. Constable McRae deposed that Pinchin told him of the matter on the 9th December, or a fortnight after the date of the alleged offence. Accused denied the charge to the constable. Mr McDonald, accused’s employer, gave him an excellent character.
The accused [John Thomas Drummond], on oath, deposed that for seven years he worked for Mr McDonald at Weronga, and for twelve years previously with Mr JB Holmes, of the Wilderness. Those gentlemen were his sureties when he was released on bail after the Police Court proceedings. On the morning in question he saw Pinchin coming towards the cow-bail. A week after he heard that Pinchin was making charges against him. He saw Pinchin, and slapped him in the face, and told him to apologise or he would hide him. Pinchin used to talk a good deal at random.
After hearing addresses by counsel and his Honor’s summing up, the jury retired, and after an hour returned with a verdict of not guilty. Drummond was then discharged.
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The Maitland Weekly Mercury, Sat 5 April 1902 6
MAITLAND CIRCUIT COURT.
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(Before His Honor Justice GB Simpson.)
The April sitting of the Maitland Circuit Court opened at East Maitland on Wednesday, before his Honor Justice GB Simpson. Mr EF Scarvell was the Judge’s Associate and Clerk of Arraigns. Mr H Crothers, JP, was Deputy Sheriff, the Sheriff (Mr CEB Maybury) having wired yesterday that owing to illness, he could not be present at the court. Mr White was Crown Prosecutor.
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ALLEGED BESTIALTY.
John Thomas Drummond, a young man, was charged with attempting to commit an act of bestiality. A verdict of not guilty was returned.
1 The Maitland Daily Mercury, Mon 16 Dec 1901, p. 2.
2 Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Mon 16 Dec 1901, p. 6.
3 The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wed 2 Apr 1902, p. 2.
4 The Maitland Daily Mercury, Thu 3 Apr 1902, p. 2.
5 Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Fri 4 Apr 1902, p. 6. Emphasis added.
6 The Maitland Weekly Mercury, Sat 5 April 1902, p. 8.