The Moree Gwydir Examiner and General Advertiser, Sat 13 Dec 1902 1
LOCAL AND GENERAL.
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AMDC.—The musical and dramtic entertainment last night was enjoyed by a very large audience. Full report next issue.
POLICE COURT.—At the Police Court yesterday Thomas Fitzpatrick was remanded for eight days on a charge of committing an unnatural offence.
LAND OFFICE.—There were no applications for land this week at the Crown Land Office.
CHRISTMAS CAKES.—Mr Ferguson is busily arranging a grand display of Christmas cakes of all sorts, from the homely family sort which children enjoy and don’t suffer from, to the rich and delicious variety so dear to the epicure. To avoid disappointment orders should be sent in early.
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The Moree Gwydir Examiner and General Advertiser, Tue 16 Dec 1902 2
LOCAL AND GENERAL.
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WOOL.—Up to date about 13,000 bales of wool have been received at the Railway Station, being a shortage of about 17,000 bales on last seasons returns.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND.—The Rev Mr Abe wishes us to state that he will be out of town until Saturday. He started yesterday on a trip through Garah, Boomi and Kunopia.
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TRUCKINGS.—The following are the truckings for the week: 29 sheep, 1 cattle, starving stock, Pedley and Garland to Inverell; 32 sheep starving stock, B Richards and Son to Singleton; 190 sheep starving stock, Gurley Station to Brankston.
POLICE COURT.—At the Police Court yesterday, before JW Fletcher Esq, PM, Thomas Fitzpatrick was committed for trial on a charge of committing an unnatural offence. The case was heard with closed doors.
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The Moree News, Tue 10 Feb 1903 3
MOREE QUARTER SESSIONS.
Monday, Feb. 9, 1903.
Before his Honor Judge Gibson. Mr PC Watt, JP, occupied a seat on the Bench.
Crown Prosecutor, Mr JHP Murray.
Legal gentlemen present were: Mr Thompson (barrister) and Messrs Stirton, Zlotkowski, Avern and TR Hogan (solicitors).
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ALLEGED UNNATURAL OFFENCE.
Thos Fitzgerald was charged with that he did, on the 11th December, 1902, at East Moree, attempt to commit an unnatural offence, [bestiality ].
Accused pleaded not guilty, and was undefended.
The jury were: Messrs AA Glennie, Wm Poland, ER Campbell, W Dunlop, AC Reid, JTW Scott, WH Wilson, R Magee, AE Kemp, Eli Davis, Wm McLaughlin, and DB Suttie.
Frederick Stanling gave evidence to the effect that he was in company with Alfred Freeman, and he saw the accused go to the stable. Witness went to the front door and Freeman to the back of the stable, when he saw the accused commit the alleged offence.
By accused: I did not see you the night before at the hotel, and I never played a game of cards with you; I never asked you for money and I never saw you with a watch and chain; I know nothing of any mate saying to you, “If you square yourself we’ll let you go”; my mate never said anything to you like that.
By His Honor: (?) was shearing about the middle of Nov last; I am connected with race horses and I never saw accused before; I have only had three weeks and three days work since November, and I had about 10s on me when I saw accused.
Alfred Freeman stated that he was a groom and lived in Sydney, and was at East Moree on the 11th December last. The remainder of witness’s evidence was corroborative of that given by Stanling.
By accused: I saw you the night before the offence and I don’t know where you slept that night; I was groom at the hotel; I didn’t notice that you had £1 and a sovereign on you that night; I accused you at the stable door, but I didn’t ask you to square it and let you go; I didn’t want to fight you; you were about five minutes in the stable altogether; I saw you committing the offence from the back of the stable; I swear I never asked you to square yourself and I’d let you go.
By His Honor: I went to the back of the stable and the other man to the front, because I thought he was planting money there ; he was staggering when he was going down to the stable.
Constable Hodgkinson gave evidence as to the arrest of the accused, and stated when he read the charge to accused he said nothing in reply.
By accused: You said you would come quietly if I had anything against you.
By His Honor: I saw no horse hair on accused and saw nothing out of the common.
Accused made a lengthy statement from the box, and the jury returned after 10 minutes’ retirement with a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was discharged.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 11 Feb 1903 4
COUNTRY NEWS.
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QUARTER SESSIONS.
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Moree, Tuesday.
At the Quarter Sessions Court Alfred Williams was found guilty of receiving, and sentenced to two and a half years’ hard labour. Florence Russell was charged with stealing £17 12s, and found not guilty. Thomas Fitzpatrick was charged with a certain offence and found not guilty.
1 The Moree Gwydir Examiner and General Advertiser, Sat 13 Dec 1902, p. 2. Emphasis added.
2 The Moree Gwydir Examiner and General Advertiser, Tue 16 Dec 1902, p. 2. Emphasis added.
3 The Moree News, Tue 10 Feb 1903, p. 2. Emphasis added. There is considerable confusion in this case’s report as to who said what to whom.
4 The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 11 Feb 1903, p. 5. Emphasis added.