Below also see: Sydney Mills, 1887

 

The Daily Telegraph, Wed 30 Jan 1884 ¹

SYDNEY QUARTER SESSIONS.

    The Sydney Quarter Sessions commenced on Thursday, the 31st January, under the presidency of his Honor Judge Dowling. Crown prosecutor, PJ Healy, Esq. The following is a list of names of prisoners, and their offences:–
…
    Sydney Mills, larceny;

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 30 Jan 1884 ²

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.

    The Court of Quarter Sessions will be opened at the Darlinghurst Courthouse on Thursday morning. His Honor Judge Dowling will preside, but will be relieved by his Honor Judge Wilkinson on Monday next, and on the following Wednesday his Honor Judge Forbes will take up the business and finish the remaining cases. Mr Healey will prosecute on behalf of the Crown.
    The following is a list of the cases down for trial:–
…
    Sydney Mills, larceny;

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The Daily Telegraph, Fri 1 Feb 1884 ³

QUARTER SESSIONS COURT.
Thursday, 31st January.

    His Honor, Judge Dowling presided at the Quarter Sessions Court yesterday, and Mr Clarke Irving prosecuted on behalf of the Crown. The following prisoners pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them.
…
    Sydney Mills, larceny;

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 1 Feb 1884 ⁴

LAW REPORT.
METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
Thursday, January 31.
(Before Mr District Court Judge Dowling.)

    Mr Irving prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
    The following prisoners pleaded guilty to their respective charges:–
…
    Sydney Mills, larceny.

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Sydney Mills, Gaol photo sheet ⁵

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 2964

Date when Portrait was taken: 22-1-1884

Name: Sydney Mills

Native place: BC Queensland Year of birth: 1866 Arrived       Ship: – in Colony }   Year: – Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Bootmaker Religion: Church of England Education, degree of: R&W Height: 5' 2" Weight     On committal: 121 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey Marks or special features: –

Where and when tried: Sydney Quarter Sessions 31 January 1884 Offence: Larceny Sentence: 1 year H.L. Sydney Gaol Remarks: Plead Guilty

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Redfern PC ditto	12 28	10 11	1883 1883	Play at pitch and loss Riotous	7 days C 7 days C

 
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Parramatta Lunatic Asylum medical case book, 1882-89 ⁶ 

 

 Parramatta Lunatic Asylum Admission File, 24 Apr 1884 ⁷

[On the admission file cover sheet is the following]

Sydney Mills
4th April 1884 24.4.’84
Sydney Mills
Criminal Xo Free Hosp
Reg: No:: 182 1395 Case Book 2 page 85
14.11.’84
discharged
Sentence
One year for Larceny
Date of conviction
31st January 1884
Adm., 24th
From Crimil Division
Reg No. 1395

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G 234

Sections 59 & 60

LUNACY ACT OF 1878.—FOURTEENTH SCHEDULE

Statement respecting the Criminal Insane.
(If any of the particulars in this Statement be not known, the fact is to be so stated.)

Name in full?  Age Married, single, or widowed? Number of children? Age of youngest child? Previous occupation? Native place? From whence brought? Religious persuasion? Supposed cause of insanity? How long has the attack lasted? Has he been insane before? State numbers of attacks? Age, if known, at first attack? Has he any insane relations? Has he ever been an inmate of any Institution for the Insane? Is he subject to fits? Is he dangerous to others? Crime or offence? Verdict of Jury? Sentence? Name and address of nearest relations and friends? 6e 100-79

Sydney Mills 18 Single — — Bootmaker Queensland Redfern Police Office Church of England Masturbation Not known Not known Not known Not known Not known Not known No No Larceny Plea Guilty One (1) year Hard Labor James Mills Walker St. Waterloo Sydney [signed] J[ohn] C[ecil] Read, Governor

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Section 8   (a) Give date. (b) Give particulars of place of examination, street, number of house, and any other particulars.	G 234 LUNACY ACT, 1878.—SECOND SCHEDULE Medical Certificate to accompany Order or Request for Reception into an Hospital for the Insane or Licensed House. I, the undersigned, being a Medical Practitioner, hereby certify that I, on the (a) Twenty sixth day of (a) March one thousand eight hundred and (a) Eighty four, at (b) H.M. Gaol Darlinghurst separately from any other Medical Practitioner, personally examined (c)
(c) Name of patient. (d) Residence and profession or occupation (if any). (e) Name of patient. (f) Insane, or an idiot. (g) Here state facts.	Sydney Mills of (d) H.M. Gaol Darlinghurst and that the   said (e) Sydney Mills is (f) insane and a proper person to be taken charge of and detained under care and treatment; and that I have formed this opinion upon the following grounds, viz.:—     1. Facts indicating insanity observed by myself (g) 1st He has a weak silly expression. 2nd He bursts into tears without cause. 3rd He speaks in a silly disconnected manner thinks he is going to be hanged or that some other harm is about to happen to him.
(h) Here state the information, and from whom. [Mn] True Copy [signed] J[ohn] C[ecil] Read Governor   (i) Give date.	2. Other facts (if any) indicating communicated to me by others (h) From the warder in charge, it appears that he is much addicted to masturbation, wets his trousers, cries without cause, tears his clothes, denudes himself and behaves generally like an insane person        (Signed) F Norton Manning      (Place of abode) Hunters Hill DATED this Twenty sixth day of March     one thousand eight hundred (i) Eighty four

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Section 8   (a) Give date. (b) Give particulars of place of examination, street, number of house, and any other particulars.	G 234 LUNACY ACT, 1878.—SECOND SCHEDULE Medical Certificate to accompany Order or Request for Reception into an Hospital for the Insane or Licensed House. I, the undersigned, being a Medical Practitioner, hereby certify that I, on the (a) 26th day of (a) March one thousand eight hundred and (a) 84, at (b) H.M. Gaol Darlinghurst separately from any other Medical Practitioner, personally examined (c)
(c) Name of patient. (d) Residence and  profession or occupation (if any). (e) Name of patient. (f) Insane, or an  idiot. (g) Here state facts.	Sydney Mills of (d) H.M. Gaol Darlinghurst and that the   said (e) Sydney Mills is (f) insane and a proper person to be taken charge of and detained under care and treatment; and that I have formed this opinion upon the following grounds, viz.:—     1. Facts indicating insanity observed by myself (g) He is extremely fretful, and fancies some great evil is going to happen to him. He commences to cry without any apparent reason, talks in foolish manner and it has been found necessary to apply "muffs" in order to prevent him from practising masturbation.
(h) Here state the information, and from whom. [Mn] True Copy [signed] J[ohn] C[ecil] Read Governor   (i) Give date.	2. Other facts (if any) indicating communicated to me by others (h) The warder in charge of observation ward informs me that this boy is extremely melancholy, bursts into tears without any apparent reason, has loss of memory and is very childish and silly in his behaviour.        (Signed) Maurice I O'Connor      (Place of abode) 26 College St. DATED this 26th day of March     one thousand eight hundred (i) 84

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HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE

     Admitted 4/4/84
     Reg. No.– 182
     Care Book ( ?) 182 II Page 85

REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF PATIENTS
            ON ADMISSION

Name of Patient           Sydney Mills

Date and hour when admitted   April 4th 84 10am

No. Of Ward               5

Cuts or Wounds—where         Nil

Bruises—where                   ditto

Other Injuries—where          ditto

Eruptions or Marks—where   ditto

Bodily Condition         Fairly good

     (Signature) James Wharf [Chief Attendant, Parramatta Hospital for the insane]

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NEW SOUTH WALES

EXTRACT from RETURN of PRISONERS CONVICTED before His Honor Judge
Dowling at the Quarter
Sessions holden at Sydney
in the month of January 1884

Name of Prisoner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sydney Mills
Offence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larceny
Date of Conviction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31st January 1885
Sentence . . . . Imprisonment with Hard labor in Darlinghurst Gaol for one year
Recommendation or Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Plea Guilty
Disposal

True Copy [signed] J[ohn] C[ecil] Read Governor

The Gaoler, Governor Sydney Gaol       A Correct Extract,

                                   [signed] Henry Wager

Exd. [initial illegible]     D[eputy] C[omptroller] G[eneral]

                                   For Comptroller General.

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G.221

Information respecting persons of unsound or supposed unsound mind being conveyed through Police Stations or Prisons, to be passed on from Station or Prison with every such person. A fresh form to be filled in at each place of stoppage, and all to accompany the person to his or her destination.

  Place Darlinghurst Gaol
Date      4th April 1884
 

Length of time in Police Station House or Gaol Whether under Medical treatment Whether taking stimulants Whether refusing food General conduct and habits by day And by night Further remarks

Eighty days Yes No No Quit Restless and dirty He occasionally wets his clothes while at exercise, he is not violent

(Signature of Police or Prison Officer) [signed] J[ohn] C[ecil] Read Governor

5g 17–77

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LIST of MONEY and other PROPERTY forwarded with PRISONERS from the Gaol
     at Darlinghurst to Parramatta Lunatic Asylum on 4th day of April 1884

No.	Name.	Money.			Other Property.
	Sydney Mills		Nil		2 coats, 1 pair trousers, 1 shirt, 1 Hat, 1 pair Boots
	12 months H. Labor				1 pair Braces
					[initialled] JR 2-4-84
					4 Rings

[Signed] J[ohn] C[ecil] Read Gaoler. Governor

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H.M. Gaol Sydney NSW
No. 429
3.4.84

Department of Prisons
No. 1223
3/4/84
84/1158
Section 4.

LUNACY ACT AMENDMENT ACT, 1881.

[Mn] BC The Governor Darlinghurst Gaol [signed] Henry Wager D[eputy] C[omptroller] P[risons] 3-4-84

WHEREAS it has been duly certified under Section 4 of the Lunacy Act Amendment Act, 1881, that Sydney Mills a prisoner in Sydney Gaol, is insane, I hereby order that the said Sydney Mills to be removed to the Hospital for the Criminal Insane at Parramatta, there to remain until he has become of sound mind, or until he be otherwise discharged by due course of law. GIVEN under my Hand, at the Colonial Secretary’s Office, Sydney, this 3rd day of April 1884 [Signed] Alex[ander] Stuart, Colonial Secretary.

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1395
Section 62.

LUNACY ACT OF 1878.

[Mn] JS Dodson 22.4.84. Transferred to Free Hospital 24/4/84. [Initial illegible]

WHEREAS it has been duly certified under Section 62 of the Lunacy Act of 1878, that Sydney Mills at present confined in the Hospital for the Criminal Insane at Parramatta — is demented, and not dangerous, I hereby order the removal of the said Sydney Mills from the said Hospital for the Insane at Parramatta. GIVEN under my Hand, at the Colonial Secretary’s Office, Sydney, this Twenty first day of April 1884 [Signed] Alex[ander] Stuart, Colonial Secretary.

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G. 232

Lunacy Act, 1878
Sections 51, 87, and 91.

[Mn] Admitted 24/4/84. (a) Hospital for the Insane, Licensed House, Reception House, Gaol, or Public Hospital. (b) In the case of Reception House,, Gaol, or Public Hospital insert “he is of sound mind.” [Mn] Discharged 14/11/84 [Initialled] EB.

Having personally examined Sydney Mills as well as the several persons under whose immediate care he has been since his admission into this (a) Hospital for the Insane certify that (b) he is of sound mind there is no longer sufficient cause for his detention, and I recommend that he be discharged.     (Signed) Edwin Godson [Medical Superintendent, Parramatta lunatic asylum]     I hereby order the discharge of Sydney Mills now a patient in the Hospital for the Insane at Parramatta       (Signed) F[rederic] Norton Manning [Inspector-General of the insane]

 

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Sydney Mills, 1887

The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 22 Nov 1887 ⁸

POLICE.
———◦———

    Mr Clarke, SM presided in the Charge Division of the CENTRAL POLICE COURT yesterday.
…
    Mr TK Abbott, SM, presided at the NEWTOWN POLICE COURT, and disposed of the business on the charge sheet.
…
    Sydney Mills, 20, charged with committing an unnatural offence, was sent to stand his trial at the next Court of Quarter Sessions.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 8 Dec 1887 ⁹

QUARTER SESSIONS.

    The Metropolitan Court of Quarter Sessions opens to-day at Darlinghurst. His Honor Mr District Court Judge Docker will preside. There are 47 cases set down for trial, as follow:–
…
    Sydney Mills, sodomy;

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 16 Dec 1887 ¹⁰

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
Thursday.
(Before Mr District Court Judge Docker.)

    Mr WH Coffey prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…

UNNATURAL OFFENCE.

    Sydney Mills, charged with this crime, was found guilty. On his behalf it was urged that he was not in his right mind, having two years ago been an inmate of the Lunatic Asylum, but it was proved that he had been several times convicted since he left Gladesville. Mr Coffey, on behalf of the Crown, said he would be content if the jury took the view of the case that the prisoner was not in his right mind, and his Honor charged the jury somewhat to the same effect, but the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, quite setting aside the insanity plea, as they said they considered he was quite sane. He was remanded till the following morning for sentence.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 17 Dec 1887 ¹¹

METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
Friday.
(Before his Honor Mr District Court Judge Docker.)

JURORS FINED.

    John Thorpe and George Franklin Garton were each fined 40s. For absenting themselves from the Court.
…

SENTENCES.

…
    Sydney Mills, who on the previous day was convicted of having committed an unnatural offence, was sentenced to five years’ penal servitude. In passing this sentence, his Honor said there was no doubt that the prisoner was in 1884 a inmate of a lunatic asylum. Since that time he had received several sentences for larceny, and the medical officer of Darlinghurst goal was of the opinion that he was perfectly sane. It was for the authorities to say whether such a man was insane or not. At any rate, he was not fit to be at large among his fellow men.

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Sydney Mills, Gaol photo sheet ¹²

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 4039

Date when Portrait was taken: 22-11-1887

Name: Sydney Mills

Native place: BC Queensland Year of birth: 1867 Arrived       Ship: – in Colony }   Year: – Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Bootmaker Religion: C of E Education, degree of: RW Height: 5' 2" Weight     On committal: 123 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey Marks or special features: –n

Where and when tried: Sydney Quarter Sessions 31 Dec ‘87 Offence: Attempt at Buggery Sentence: 5 years P.S. Remarks: Guilty

(No. of previous Portrait .. 2964 ) PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Redfern PC ditto Sydney Q.S Redfern PC Redfern PC CPC	12 28 31 27   8 16	10 11   1   3   4   9	1883 1883 1884 1885 1885 1885	Play pitch and loss Riotous Larceny Riotous Throw stones Expose person & obscene language	7 days C 7 days C 1 year H Labor. To Parramatta Lunatic Asylum 4 April 1884 7 days C 7 days C 6 Months Labor

 

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¹     The Daily Telegraph, Wed 30 Jan 1884, p. 2.

²     The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 30 Jan 1884, p. 7.

³     The Daily Telegraph, Fri 1 Feb 1884, p. 2.

⁴     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 1 Feb 1884, p. 3.

⁵     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6045], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1883-1884, No.2964, p. 185, R5101.

⁶     SRNSW: NRS5114, [6/5389], Parramatta lunatic asylum medical case book, 1882-89, pp. 85-6.

⁷     SRNSW: NRS5080, [12/744], Parramatta lunatic asylum admission files, 1884, No. 30.

⁸     The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 22 Nov 1887, p. 3.

⁹     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 8 Dec 1887, p. 6.

¹⁰   The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 16 Dec 1887, p. 4.

¹¹   The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 17 Dec 1887, p. 8.

¹²   SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6049], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1887-1888, No.4039, p. 35, R5102.

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