Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Thu 30 Nov 1871 ¹

POLICE COURT.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29th.

    Before the Police Magistrate.
…

ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO COMMIT A RAPE.

    Thomas Hough was brought up charged with assaulting Ann Maria Wilson of Goulburn, with the intent to commit a rape. (We refrain from publishing the particulars.)

    Ann Maria Wilson, a girl 12 years of age, residing with her parents about two miles out of town, gave evidence to the effect that the prisoner met her on the road to Goulburn, threw her down, and attempted to commit the capital offence.

    John Hurley, employer of the prisoner, also gave evidence to the effect that he saw the prisoner leaving the girl when he rode up near them; but the girl did not cry until he put some questions to her.

    Mrs Wilson, mother of the prosecutrix, stated that when the girl got home she told her what had happened.

    Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the ensuing quarter sessions. Bail allowed—prisoner in £50 and two sureties of £25 each, or one in £50.

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Empire, Mon 4 Dec 1871 ²

WEEKLY REGISTER.
————

…
    A man named Thomas Hough, charged with having, on the 20th November, assaulted one Anna Maria Wilson, a girl under fifteen years of age, with intent, near Goulburn, has been apprehended at Burrowa, and remanded to the former place for examination.

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Evening News, Mon 4 Dec 1871 ³

WEEKLY REGISTER.
————

…
    A man named Thomas Hough, charged with having, on the 20th November, assaulted one Anna Maria Wilson, a girl under fifteen years of age, with intent, near Goulburn, has been apprehended at Burrowa, and remanded to the former place for examination.

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Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 20 Feb 1872 ⁴

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1872.

QUARTER SESSIONS.
TUESDAY, 20th FEBRUARY.

    The first sittings of this court was commenced this morning at 10 o’clock, before his Honor Judge McFarland.

    Captain Rossi acted as clerk of arraigns; Mr JJ Allman, sheriff; Mr Lee prosecuted for the crown; Attorney’s [sic] present, Messrs Gannon and Betts.

    T Lee and Chamney Leicester were fined £5 each, for not being in attendance as jurors when their names were called. Mr Leicester came in at one minute past ten o’clock, and his Honor said it would be necessary for him to make an affidavit before the fine could be withdrawn.
…

ATTEMPTED RAPE.

    Thomas Aough [aka Hough] was placed in the dock charged with attempting to commit a rape on a girl named Ann Maria Wilson, 12 years old, in Goulburn on 30th November, 1871.

    Mr Gannon appeared for the prisoner and Mr Lee opened the case on behalf of the Crown.

    James Carnet, being sworn, said: I am sergeant of police at Burrowa, and apprehended prisoner there; I charged him with attempting to commit a rape; he made a statement, which I took down in writing; the one produced is the same. (The document was here read, which was to the effect that the girl was to an extent a consenting party.)

    To Mr Gannon: I have known prisoner for many years; he was brought before the bench at Burrowa once for using obscene language and was fined £5 or three months in gaol.

    Ann Maria Wilson, on oath, said: I am 12 years of age; my father and mother live at the residence of the anglican bishop’s; I know the prisoner; I remember meeting him on the road some time ago; I was coming in Goulburn at the time; prisoner was driving a buggy; he said “good morning;” I never answered him, but kept walking on; he followed me and put his hand on my neck, threw me down, and put his knee on my chest.

    The Crown-Prosecutor here drew his Honor’s attention to the fact of a number of children and women being present in court listening to the case, which was unfit for them to hear.

    His Honor then ordered them out.

    [The girl then described the attempt at an assault]; prisoner’s master was coming long the road, and he jumped up at once and drove away; he gave me an orange while I was down; I threw it away; he then gave me another and made me keep it; he asked me if the boy on the hill was my brother; I never told prisoner where my father lived; when I went home I told my mother; when prisoner’s master came up I told him what had happened; I never saw the man before that day; my hat and sash got torn while I was trying to resist.

    To Mr Gannon: All this occurred outside the fence on the road; prisoner was trying to get me into the bush; he put his arm around my neck; I did not tell him where I lived; all I said was “let me go;” I did not tell him where my father lived; when I told my mother she told father; they did not get a warrant then; I came to the police-office to give evidence the first time; there were a number of persons outside; I did not tell them how the affair was done; I came into town after it took place; I went home again very soon and told my mother; she came into town; I stayed at home; Sergeant Fenton came out next day; I told Mr Hurley my name and where I lived; I told him what my father was; prisoner held the orange in my hand with his hand.

    John Hurley, sworn, said: I am farmer near Burrowa; I have known the prisoner many years; he has been in my employ a long time; I remember riding on the Nummell road in November last; when some distance on the road I saw my buggy about five hundred yards off; I got within two hundred yards, when I saw prisoner rising off the ground; he got into the buggy and drove away; I afterwards saw the girl getting up from the ground; I asked the girl what she was doing with the prisoner; she said he threw her down; and she commenced to cry; I rode after prisoner and told him the police would be after him and he would have to answer for injuring the little girl; he said the little girl was as safe as when he met her, I saw a person driving a dray before I got up to them.

    To Mr Gannon: When I got up the girl was not crying; she appeared excited; I asked her what she was doing with the boy; it was then she began to cry; she said the boy threw her down; she had an orange in her hand; prisoner is 18 years old; if the girl had screamed out loud I could have heard her; the girl did not tell me her name; she said her father lived at the Bishop’s, but did not say in what capacity; I never told the prisoner girl’s name was Wilson; prisoner told me so himself; he also told me the girl’s father was a gardener at the Bishop’s.

    To the Crown Prosecutor: I am sure I could have heard the girl screaming 200 yards away, if she screamed loud; there is a slight bush each side of the road; it was at the place we camped that he told me the girl’s name; prisoner is a stranger in Goulburn; in the night prisoner said “where’s the police that were coming after me;” I said they might be after you yet; I will swear that prisoner told me the girl’s name.

    To his Honor: If the girl told me I don’t recollect; when I got up her face was flushed; she had her hat in her hand, and her hair was disturbed; she had the appearance of a girl who had been pulled about.

    Julia Wilson, sworn, said: I am mother of the girl; I recollect the girl going to Goulburn on the 30th November; she returned in the afternoon and was crying; she said some man had pulled her about on the road; the girl goes to church regular; she was in the habit of going into town.

    Mr Gannon addressed the jury for a short time and endeavoured to show the contradictory nature of the girl’s evidence, saying she never told prisoner her name nor where she lived, still prisoner could tell Mr Hurley the girl’s name; he also referred to other portions of the evidence.

    His Honor summed up, and the jury retired at twenty minutes to twelve o’clock and returned at twenty minutes to one with a verdict fo guilty.

    Sentenced to fifteen months in Darlinghurst gaol.

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Thomas Hough, Gaol photo sheet ⁵

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 316
Number on Gaol register: 949/72

Admitted: 7th March 1872

Name: Thomas Hough

Native place: Burrawa NSW Year of birth: 1853 Arrived        Ship:  in Colony }   Year:  Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: R Catholic Education, degree of: Nil Colour of hair: Black Colour of eyes: Blue Height: 5' 4" Weight     On committal: 147 lbs in lbs     }  On discharge:

Special Marks: Two slight scars on left arm. Several moles on left arm. One tooth out of the right front. General Description:

(Previous Number ... ) PRISON HISTORY
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Goulburn Q.S.	20	2	1872	Attempted rape	15 months Labor

 

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¹  Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Thu 30 Nov 1871, p. 2. Emphasis added.

²  Empire, Mon 4 Dec 1871, p. 4.

³  Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Mon 4 Dec 1871, p. 4.

⁴  Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 20 Feb 1872, p. 2. Emphasis added.

⁵  SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/14030], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1866-1873, No. 316, p. 29, R5097.

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