Evening News, Tue 13 Apr 1897 1
ARMIDALE ITEMS.
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ARMIDALE, Tuesday.—The Armidale Circuit Court will be opened to-morrow before the Chief Justice with the following list of cases: Edward Croft, indecent assault; Frederick Barnes, stealing by menace; Brigetta Morton, perjury; Ah Cut, attempted murder; George Bowers, bestiality.
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The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, Fri 16 Apr 1897 2
THE [ARMIDALE] ASSIZES.
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Wednesday, April 14.—
(Before his Honor the Chief Justice.) [Sir Frederick Darley]
Mr Murphy, PM, acted as Deputy Sheriff. Associate: Mr EJ Bayley-McArthur. Barristers present: Messrs CG Mason (Crown Prosecutor), J Garland, W McIntyre, Linsley, and Russell. Mr Coffey was present from the Crown Law Office.
…
ALLEGED BEASTIALITY. [sic]
Geo Bowers, a young man about 18 years of age, was charged with beastiality at Big Ridge, near Uralla, on Feb 17.
Mr Garland, instructed by Mr Heydon, appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty.
The following jury was empanelled:—J Page, W Nash, R Moore, GC Ryan, R Monro, T Sisson, WJ Hawke, E Baker, J Porter, JH Williams, H Fittler, and JA McClenaghan.
Evidence was given for the prosecution by Senior-constable Harris and Thomas Dickson.
Mr Garland addressed the jury on behalf of his client contending that the Crown had failed to make out a case, consequently he did not feel called upon to offer any evidence for the defence.
After the Crown Prosecutor had replied and his Honor had summed up, the jury retired for about an hour and brought in a verdict of acquittal.
1 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Tue 13 Apr 1897, p. 5. Emphasis added.