The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 10 Nov 1887 ¹

CASINO QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———
[By Telegraph.]
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
——

Casino, Wednesday.

    The Quarter Sessions were concluded on Tuesday night. T Stapleton, P Stapleton, and P Kinnife, charged with several cases of cattle and horse stealing, were, on the application of Mr Norrie, remanded till next court, on the ground that the prisoners had not had time to procure witnesses or prepare their defence. Judge Murray at first agreed to grant the prisoners bail, but afterwards, in consequence of representations made by a large number of local magistrates, he cancelled the order.

    J Sheehan, charged with stealing cedar log, was acquitted.

    J Lawson, charged with robbing a jeweller’s shop at Ballina, was acquitted.

    W King was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for robbing a store at Tweed River Heads.

    Two elderly man, named R Johnson and W[illiam] Carroll, [the latter charged with attempting to commit buggery on William Bennett], were found guilty of an indecent assault, and were sentenced to three and five years’ penal servitude respectively. Judge Murray severely commented on the bad character of the general arrangements in the courthouse, and especially the size of the dock, the acoustic properties of the room, &c.

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The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser, Fri 11 Nov 1887 ²

CASINO QUARTER SESSIONS.
————

THIS Court opened at Casino before His Honor Judge Murray on Tuesday last. Mr Harris was Crown Prosecutor, and Messrs Gordon, O’Mara, and Fitzhardinge were also present.

    We are indebted to a correspondent for the following information in regard to cases tried:—
…
    The prisoner [William] Carroll, from the Brunswick, for an unnatural offence, was found guilty, and sentenced to five years penal servitude.

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Northern Star, Sat 12 Nov 1887 ³

ODDS AND ENDS.
————
(Original and Extracted).

…
    The District Court Sittings commenced on Thursday morning, and will probably last until Saturday, there being sixteen defended cases yet to hear.
    His Honor Judge Murray is looking much better, and is patient and punctual, as usual.
    There is, also, a full attendance of barristers and solicitors
    Full particulars of the proceedings in our next issue.
…
    The cases heard at the Casino Court of Quarter Sessions, should have been tried at Lismore, as they came from the lower portion of the district.
    However, it is stated that the residents of the Tweed River will have their own District Court, next year.

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Northern Star, Wed 16 Nov 1887 ⁴

ODDS AND ENDS.
————
(Original and Extracted).

…
    Stated that the District Court Bailiff has ridden over 2600 miles serving summonses, &c, during the last six months.

    District Court sittings lasted from Thursday morning until Saturday evening, averaging 11 hours daily.

    During the sitting Judge Murray said that it appeared to him that the people have appeared to quarrel more than in any other part of the Colony.

    That gentleman also said, that if matters went on as they were going at present, in his department, it would be better to make Lismore the capital of a new Colony, with a permanent Judge.

    That at one time two Courts a year were deemed sufficient, but now that four Courts a year were hardly enough.

    Fortunately several cases fell through, so that his Honor did not have to sit until 12 o’clock on Saturday night as was anticipated.

    Upon being asked to assess the costs in some cases heard, his Honor stated, that if he had to do so, he would have to stay here all the year round.

    The gentlemen of the long robs, and the legal gentlemen, appeared to find ample employment during the late Court sittings, as a large majority of the cases were defended.

    Commenting upon the slander cases heard, his Honor thought that people should be more careful in what they said about each other.

    At the Court Sittings, His Honor complained of the “Mill Whistles,” which blow, how they do blow, just in the middle of the evidence of a witness who won’t speak up.

    During the hot wind blowing on Saturday, the Court appeared haunted with the ghosts of bygones, as it creaked and groaned as if in agony.

    The windows rattled, and the blinds clattered, and the Court official was kept going in fixing matters up.

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William Carroll, Gaol photo sheet ⁵

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. –

Date when Portrait was taken: 25-11-1887

Name: William Carroll

Native place: Ireland Year of birth: 1831 Arrived       Ship: Maitland in Colony }   Year: 1848 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: RC Education, degree of: R&W Height: 5' 5" Weight     On committal: 147 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Gray Colour of eyes: Gray Marks or special features:

Where and when tried: Casino Q.S. 8 March 1887 [sic–8 Nov 1887] Offence: Indecent assault on a male person Sentence: 5 years Roads Remarks: Discharged by add[itional] remission 18th September 1891

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