Evening News, Tue 30 Dec 1884 1
ALLEGED UNNATURAL OFFENCE.
In the Central Court, Monday, Robt Roberts was charged on remand with having committed an unnatural offence on a young man named William Vanman. Additional evidence having been given, the accused was committed for trial at the next Court of Quarter Sessions.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 30 Dec 1884 2
POLICE.
———◦———
At the CENTRAL POLICE COURT yesterday, before Mr TK Abbott, SM,
…
Robert Roberts, about 30 years of age, was charged with having, in a lane off Foveaux-street, at half-past 11 o’clock on Christmas Eve, committed an offence of an infamous nature, [indecently assaulting William Vannan 3], an [sic] was committed for trial at the Court of Quarter Sessions, to be held on the 29th January next.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 28 Jan 1885 4
QUARTER SESSIONS.
The following is the list of prisoners for trial at the Court of Quarter Sessions, to commence at Darlinghurst on Thursday before his Honor Judge Forbes:–
…
Robert Roberts, an offence;
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 31 Jan 1885 5
LAW REPORT.
…
METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
FRIDAY.
(Before his Honor Judge Forbes.)
Mr Edward Lee prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…
The following is a list of the cases down for trial on Monday [2 Feb 1885]
…
Robert Roberts, indecent assault.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 3 Feb 1885 6
LAW REPORT.
METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
MONDAY [2 Feb 1885]
(Before his Honor Mr District Court Judge Forbes.)
Mr Edward Lee prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…
INDECENT ASSAULTS.
…
Robert Roberts, a respectable-looking man, was also acquitted upon a similar charge.
1 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 30 Dec 1884, p. 2.
2 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 30 Dec 1884, p. 5.
3 A senior and junior William Vannan appear in the following newspaper reports:
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 17 Jun 1879, p. 6. “At the WATER POLICE COURT, yesterday, before Messrs Brown and Jeanneret, J’sP, William Vannan, Catherine Vannan, and Margaret Vannan, 14 years of age, the latter the daughter of the two first named prisoners, we re charged with having stolen various articles, the property of Eliza Lerden, and also of William G Reading. The latter prisoner was sent to Biloela for three years. The mother and father were committed to take their trial at the next Court of Quarter Sessions at Darlinghurst. Two other prisoners, also children of the Vannans, aged 10 and 11 years respectively, were discharged. This is the case in which it was shown, that the children were in the habit of stealing articles from, different houses while pretending to sell pipeclay for whiting hearths. The reason the younger children were discharged was, on account of their youth.”
The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 19 Jun 1879, p. 11. “The Water Police Magistrate, with Messrs Palmer, Edwards, V Brown, and Jenkins, attended at the WATER POLICE COURT yesterday morning, and disposed of a heavy business sheet. … William Vannan and James Alfred Vannan, two boys of 12 and 10 years respectively, were charged with being children under the age of 16 years, and found living with reputed thieves. The two boys are the children of William Vannan and his wife, who were convicted on Tuesday on three charges of larceny and committed to Quarter Sessions on others. Both the parents are in gaol; and as the children have no home to go to, the Bench decided to send therm on board the Vernon."
4 The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 28 Jan 1885, p. 5.
5 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 31 Jan 1885, p. 9.
6 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 3 Feb 1885, p. 9.