The Coonamble Times and Castlereagh Newspaper, Sat 20 Jun 1903 1

    FARMRS AND STEALERS ASSOCIATION.—It is announced in our issue of to-day that a meeting of the members of the above Association will be held in the School of Arts on Friday, the 26th instant, at 3 pm, when important business will be brought forward.

    F SEYMOUR HEGARTY, Solicitor, Polin’s Building, Imperial Arcade, Coonamble.

    SUMMONS CASES.—James M McMahon was summoned by Theresa L McMahon for child desertion, three charges. The case was adjourned. Ester Jane Picton summoned William Lawson for support of child case adjourned to July 14th. Both these cases came before the court on Monday. Mr R Giles Shaw, PM, presiding.

    TENNIS, cricket, football. The first and last are now again in vogue. Racquets, tapes, balls in galore, and if you cannot play well now your [sic] will be able to do so if you use material bought at REES.

    GOOD ONES.—Mr Keogh, of Coonamble (says the Windsor “Gazette,” has been parching a lot of draught mares in Richmond lately. This week Mr MJ Waters sold two mares for Mr T Wheeler, of North Richmond, to Mr Keogh, the prices being 55 and 30 guineas respectively. He is leaving a lot of Mares in Richmond, and they will visit Mr Waters’ champion draught stallion, Royalist 11.

     For Bronchial Coughs take
          Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 1s 6d.

    IMPROVEMENTS.—Messrs Hundy and Son have quite renovated their butcher’s shop. The old wooden benches have been replaced with marble slabs, and the shop has been fitted with a new salting bench. The shop now bears a very much improved appearance, being up to the mark of a city establishment. In a hot climate like this the marble slabs, especially, will be a great improvement.

    FOR MEN ONLY.—Ladies say that the Coonamble men always look well when they wear a pair of Thos Harford’s easy fitting and elegantly shaped boots. Try a pair.—0

    POLICE COURT.—On Monday, before Mr H Giles Shaw, PM, John Murray was committed for trial on a charge of beastiality. [sic] Mr Button represented the accused. On Tuesday, also before the PM, Patrick Kinchella, charged with stealing sheepskins, the property of J Hundy and Son, was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions. Mr Hegarty for accused. The charge of wife desertion against Edward Clements Burns was remanded for eight days. Mr Button for defendant. On Thursday, before the PM, Edward Maher, charged with stealing a bicycle from Bibb’s Avenue Hotel some little time back, was remanded for eight days.

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Coonamble Independent and Castlereagh River Advocate, Fri 26 Jun 1903 2

POLICE COURT.
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Coonamble courthouse, built 1881. Photo ID: SRNSW 4346_ a020_ a020000331.jpg
Coonamble courthouse, built 1881.
Photo ID: SRNSW 4346_ a020_ a020000331.jpg

    At the Police Court last week, before Mr H Giles Shaw, PM, John Murray, charged with beastiality, was committed for trial at the next sessions. Mr Button appeared for accused.

    Patrick Kinchella, charged with stealing sheepskins the property of Mr James Hundy, was also committed for trial at the next sessions. Mr Hegarty appeared for accused.

    Edward Clement Burns, charged with wife desertion, was remanded. Mr Button appeared for accused.

    Edward Maher, charged with stealing a bicycle from the Avenue Hotel in November last, was also remanded.

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MUNICIPAL CASES.
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    At the Police Court last week, before Mr H Giles Shaw, PM, HE Hays, P Ozma and Lee Sue were proceeded against by the Inspector of Nuisances for riding bicycles on the footpath. Defendants pleaded guilty, and were each fined 5s with costs of court 4s 10d.

    A charge against Mooy Bros, for allowing offensive matter to remain on premises, was dismissed, the Bench holding that the occupier and not the landlord was responsible.

    On Tuesday last, before the PM, AE Smith pleaded guilty to riding a bicycle on the footpath, and was fined 5s with costs of court 4s 10d.

    Mr Skuthorpe appeared for the Council in the defended cases.

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Coonamble Independent and Castlereagh River Advocate, Fri 25 Sep 1903 3

QUARTER SESSIONS.
Monday, September 21st, 1903.
(Before His Honor Judge Docker.)

    Mr AF Dawson was Crown Prosecutor and Mr WA MacPhee acted as Clerk of Arraigns. The legal profession was represented by Mr Thomas Ross (Barrister), Messrs JDY Button, SR Skuthorpe, FS Hegarty, SJ Salmond, (Solicitors.)
…

BEASTIALITY.

    John Murray, charged with beastiality [on a cow] at Coonamble, on 14th June last, pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr Rose, instructed by Mr JDY Button.

    The jury having been impannelled [sic] the Crown Prosecutor briefly stated the case and called evidence.

    For the prosecution evidence was given by Thomas Whitney (groom at Creek’s Hotel), Constable Sharples and Constable Guerin.

    For the defence evidence was given by Dr Bertram, who examined the accused the following day; by William Crook, who had seen accused two day [sic] before the alleged offence and the accused himself went into the box.

    C Nebe, gaoler, said that the accused was in a stupid state when arrested, and remained in that state for five days.

    John T Chicken, publican; Patrick Ryan, labourer; John Cook, hotel keeper; and William Henry Young, hotel keeper, gave evidence as to having seen the accused some days just prior to his having been arrested; and Joshua Page deposed that accused had been in his employ for about 14 years.

    Mr Ross addressed the jury on behalf of the accused—and His Honor summed up.

    The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the grounds of mental irresponsibility, and His Honor ordered Murray to be detained during the pleasure of the Governor.

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The Coonamble Times and Castlereagh Newspaper, Sat 26 Sep 1903 4

COONAMBLE QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———
Monday, September 21st.
———
(Before His Honor Judge Docker)

    The Court of Quarter Sessions opened in Coonamble on last Monday, before his Honor, Judge Docker.
    Mr H Giles Shaw, PM, represented the sheriff, and Mr WA MacPhee acted as clerk of arraigns.
    Mr AF Dawson acted as crown prosecutor, the other barrister present being Mr Thomas Rose.
    The solicitor sin [sic] attendance were Messrs JDY Button, SR Skuthorpe, F Seymour Hegarty and JS Salmond.
…

BEASTIALITY [sic]

    John Murray, 59 years of age, was charged with beastiality at Coonamble on 14th June last, and pleaded not guilty.

    He was defended by Mr T Rose, instructed by Mr JDY Button.

    After the Crown Prosecutor had stated particulars of the case to the jury, evidence was given by Thomas Whitley and Constables Sharples and Geurin (who arrested the accused), but it is of too disgusting a nature to be published.

    For the defence Dr Bertram deposed that he examined the accused the day after his arrest, and found him in a stupid state.

    Gaoler Nebe gave evidence that for five days after the accused was arrested he was in a stupid state.

    William C Crook, John Chicken, Patrick Ryan, John Cook, WH Young, and Joshua Page gave evidence that they had seen accused a day or two prior to his arrest, and that he did not appear to know what he was doing.

    Mr Rose addressed the jury at some length, and his Honour summed up, and after a brief retirement the jury returned into court with a verdict of “not guilty” on the grounds of mental irresponsibility, and the prisoner was ordered to be detained during the Governor’s pleasure.

 


1     The Coonamble Times and Castlereagh Newspaper, Sat 20 Jun 1903, p. 2. Emphasis added.

2     Coonamble Independent and Castlereagh River Advocate, Fri 26 Jun 1903, p. 6. Emphasis added.

3     Coonamble Independent and Castlereagh River Advocate, Fri 25 Sep 1903, p. 11. Emphasis added.

4     The Coonamble Times and Castlereagh Newspaper, Sat 26 Sep 1903, p. 2.