Below also see: William Bleasdale 1892
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 28 Apr 1891 1
DISTURBANCE AMONGST NAVVIES
AT SPRINGWOOD.
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(By Telegraph.)
(From Our Correspondent.)
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Springwood, Monday.
A disturbance was caused at Springwood to-day by a number of navvies who were paid off on Saturday night. On a previous occasion some residents assisted the police, and these men vowed vengeance. They met one of the men to-day and cruelly ill-treated him. The navvies demanded an extra supply of liquor at the Royal Hotel, which the landlord refused. They then commenced to abuse the landlord, broke bottles and glasses, threw stones, and generally created a disturbance. Eventually the landlord closed the bar. They then threatened violence, and as the only policeman here was away at Penrith with a prisoner a telegram was set for protection. After the closing of the bar the men forced an entrance; but they were beaten back by the landlord’s brother. On the arrival of the police three men were arrested, and some of the others were warned. Fifty men were paid off at the Zigzag deviation. The residents of Springwood were greatly alarmed by the outbreak, but matters are now quiet. The police at [sic–Constables] Illingward [aka John Illingworth] and [William] Bressington have done good service in restoring order.
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Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 2 May 1891 2
SPRINGWOOD.
April 28.
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SOME OF THE RAILWAY NAVVIES working here have created much disturbance on pay days. A fortnight ago several of them were locked up for drunkenness, riotous conduct, and resisting the police. On Monday night last there was a serious row amongst them. The invaded the Royal Hotel, and caused the landlord much loss by breaking his glassware, bottles, &c, and for a while they were masters of the situation, as the constable was in Penrith. The landlord got them outside and locked his bar door. They resented this by smashing the panels of the door and breaking up the verandah seats. A wire was sent to Penrith for police assistance, and, with the help of some of the villagers, four of the worst offenders were put in the local lockup, and to-day they were conveyed to the police court at Penrith. More police are required here on pay days, one man being quite inadequate.
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Evening News, Sat 2 May 1891 3
THE RIOT BY NAVVIES.
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PENRITH, Saturday.—William Bleasdale, Thomas Smith, and Thomas Baker have been committed for trial for rioting. For assault, Bleasdale was fined £5 or two months’ in Parramatta Gaol, and Baker and Smith £2 each with costs. For damaging property, Bleasdale was fined £1 and ordered to pay £3 as his share of the damage, or 14 days; Smith and Baker were fined 10s each and their shares of the damage, £1, or 14 days; for indecency Bleasdale was sent to Parramatta Gaol for two months. Thomas Smith, for assaulting George Rees, was fined £10 and doctor’s fee, one guinea, or three months in Parramatta Gaol. John Denny was also charged with rioting, assault, and damage to property. For the first offence the case was postponed till Monday; for assault he was fined £2 or 14 days; and for damage to property 10s, and his share of the damage, £1, or 14 days.
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Nepean Times, Sat 2 May 1891 4
PENRITH POLICE COURT.
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MONDAY.
Before Mr JK Cleeve, PM.
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TUESDAY.
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Wm Bleasdale, Thomas Smith and Thomas Baker were indicted on separate charges of having on 27th April unlawfully assaulted James Mutch at Springwood; that they had riotously and tumultuously assembled together and disturbed the public peace and damaged the Royal Hotel at Springwood; also that they did with malice injure and destroy property, glassware and spirits, to the value of £10 at the Royal Hotel, Springwood.
Thomas Smith was charged on a separate count of having unlawfully assaulted Geo Rees.
On the application of Mr Hill, who appeared for the plaintiff, the case was adjourned till Friday to admit of witnesses being procured for the prosecution, bail was being refused.
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FRIDAY.
Before Mr JK Cleeve, PM.
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The cases against Wm Bleasdale, Thos Smith and Thos Baker on the charge of rioting at Springwood as detailed above, were then gone on with, and lasted the greater portion of the day. An extended notice of the evidence will appear in our next issue. In the assault case, Bleasdale was ordered to pay £5, or undergo two months at Parramatta; Smith and Baker 40s, or 14 days each, with solicitors fee £1 1s. For damaging property Bleasdale was fined 20s and ordered to pay £3 as his share of the damage; or 14 days; the other two being fined 10s, and ordered to pay £1 each, or 14 days. On the charge of riotously assembling together and damaging properties the three were committed for trial. Bail being allowed.
Thomas Smith was then charged separately with having assaulted Geo Rees and was fined £10 with an alternative of three months, with doctor’s fee, £1 1s.
On a separate charge of exposure of the person Bleasdale was sentenced to two months in the Parramatta gaol; the sentences in each and every case to be cummulative. [sic] John Denny was brought down by warrant from Lithgow to answer charges of assault, injury to property, and rioting on the same occasion. For the assault he was fined 40s or 14 days; and for injury to property was fined 10s and ordered to pay 20s or 14 days. The charge of rioting was postponed till Monday next.
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LOCAL NEWS.
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CROWDED OUT.—Owing to a pressure on our space we are compelled to hold over full report of the Springwood riot cases, several locals and letters of general interest.
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SPRINGWOOD.
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From Our Own Correspondent.
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Another disgraceful bout of drunkenness amongst the railway navvies here, occurred last Monday. It appears that they were paid on Saturday night, and some of them could not rest until they got infuriated with drink, so that by Monday afternoon they were like demons. They flocked in at both of the hotels, but principally at the Royal the proprietor of which refused after a while to supply any further liquor to some of them. This maddened them for they found the constable was away from the village and “played up” accordingly. Mr Mutch’s glassware was sent flying and bottles of beer were scattered all over the bar. They managed to get behind the bar, and in fact took possession of the hotel. Sticks and stones were used, the wonder being that the landlord was not seriously hurt, and a threat was made that the place would be burnt down unless drink was supplied. Seeing a cask or two in the verandah they thought they saw a good chance of obtaining free drink, and they all went outside to sample the casks, which however, proved to be empty. Mr Mutch had shut and bolted the door to keep them our, and a telegram had been sent to Penrith for the police. The rowdies then banged the casks against the door which they did not succeed in forcing open, but they broke the panels of it. They also broke a verandah seat. At the Oriental Hotel some of them saw Mr Rayner, a baker, and swore he was one of those who had assisted constable Illingworth at the last outbreak a fortnight before. In this they were mistaken, but that did not matter to them. They set on to the baker and he was unfortunate enough to receive an ugly gash in his cheek. Constables Illingworth and Bressington having arrived in response to the telegram, four of the worst offenders were with the aid of some of the residents, secured and placed in the lockup. Warrants we believe were issued for the arrest of others, but it is said that they have left the district. Those who were apprehended were sent to Penrith on Tuesday and before this is in type they will probably have been found guilty and punished. A number of the navvies were dismissed on Saturday night and it is said that those principally were the disturbers. Well, it is to be hoped so, for we don’t want any repeat of the dose. The residents speak highly of the conduct of the police in this business; would it not be as well, seeing that we have experienced the outbreaks on two occasions after pay had been distributed, for the “powers that be” to ensure sufficient police protection in future?
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 2 May 1891 5
SECOND EDITION.
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LATE CABLE NEWS.
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(From Our Correspondent.)
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THE LATE DISTURBANCE AT
SPRINGWOOD.
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(By Telegraph.)
(From Our Correspondent.
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Penrith, Friday.
In connection with the recent disturbance at Springwood, Wm Bleasdale, Thos Smith, and Thos Baker were charged on remand with rioting at Springwood, and were committed for trial. In an assault case, Bleasdale was fined £5 or two months in Parramatta gaol, and Smith and Baker £2 or 14 days, with solicitors’ fees. For damaging property, Bleasdale was fined £1, and £3 as his share of the damage, or 14 days. The other two were fined 10s, and £1 each as their share of the damage, or 14 days. Thomas Smith, charged with assaulting George Rees, was fined £10 or three months’ gaol. John Denny was brought by warrant from Lithgow charged with assault and injury to property and rioting on the same occasion. He was fined for the assault £2, or 14 days, for injury to property 0s and £1 as his share of the damage, or 14 days. The charge against him for rioting was postponed until Monday. The cases lasted all day, and were heard before Mr Cleeve, PM.
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Evening News, Fri 8 May 1891 6
PARRAMATTA QUARTER SESSIONS.
At the Quarter Sessions, held at Parramatta,
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Thomas Smith, Thomas Baker, William Bleasdale, and John Denny, were charged with disturbing the peace and damaging a building at Springwood, on April 27. Prisoners had been drinking at the Springwood Hotel, and conducted themselves in such a disorderly manner that the publican turned them out, and locked the door against them. They, not to be denied, knocked the door in. Each prisoner was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.
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The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 9 May 1891 7
PARRAMATTA QUARTER SESSIONS.
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THE Parramatta Quarter Sessions were commenced at the Courthouse on Tuesday morning before His Honor Judge Backhouse. Mr Beaver acted as Clerk of the Peace. Mr Coffey appeared as Crown Prosecutor and the other members of the legal profession present were Messrs Moriarty, Gannon, Roberts, sen, Richardson, Belbidge and Jhonson.
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TUESDAY, MAY 6.
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DISTURBING THE PEACE.
John Denny, William Bleasdale, Thomas Smith and Thomas Baker, were charged with disturbing the peace and damaging a building at Springwood on 27th April last.
Mr Jhonson appeared for defendants Bleasdale, Smith and Baker.
David Much, licensee of the Royal Hotel, Springwood, deposed that his house abutted on the main road and was opposite the railway station; accused were navvies; about 2 or 3 o’clock on the day mentioned in the information the accused (whom he had refused to serve with more liquor, as they had neglected to pay for what they had had) commenced to break the glasses; one threw a stone at witness, he then put the accused out and closed the bar door—had previously closed all the other doors; they called to him to open the door and he said he would when they came in a respectable manner; went upstairs and saw Bleasdale dash a cask against the door; one of them said “now boys if you’re all of my mind you’ll soon get in;” they were making a great noise—battering the doors &c, two panels of the door were broken and the lock of the door was wrenched off; witness barricaded the door; accused said if they could get the door down they would help themselves; they said they had half killed one man up the road and if they got hold of him they would kill him entirely; the disturbance lasted three quarters of an hour; witness was in bodily fear and in fear of damage to his property; sent word to Constable Illingworth. The witness was severely cross-examined by Denny on his own behalf and by Mr Jhonson on behalf of the other accused.
Gordon Clark, in the service of the Railway Department, Springwood, gave evidence in support, but could not identify Denny as having been present.
William Gibbs identified Bleasdale, Smith and Denny as three of those concerned in the disturbance.
Henry Walker have evidence to the effect that Denny, Bleasdale and Smith were concerned in battering the door, etc; heard Baker encouraging the others.
Mr Jhonson asked His Honor’s ruling as to whether the information could lie, in view of the decisions in the English Courts on similar cases—the colonial legislation being based on the English Act. He contended that accused had not assembled for an unlawful purpose.
His Honor held that a riot had occurred. The accused, for whatever purpose they had originally assembled, had afterwards, according to the Crown, combined to break in the door of the public house and to do this in a manner such as to terrified some one concerned.
After hearing further argument and after some hesitation His Honor ruled that the indictment was sustained, and he should allow the case to go to the jury.
At the request of Mr Jhonson he made a note of the objection.
[John] Denny addressed the jury on his own behalf.
His Honor summed up and expressed his regret that the accused had been proceeded against in that Court. He pointed out that to find the accused guilty under the section—guilty of riot—they must find certain things established.
The jury, after a retirement of about half an hour, returned into Court with a verdict of guilty against each of the accused, with a strong recommendation to mercy.
[William] Bleasdale made a statement on his own behalf, pointing out that the publican and his brother had incited them to drink, &c, in the house. Several convictions against Denny were read out. His Honor said that, though Denny’s character was the worst, yet the evidence against him did not show that his conduct in that particular case was so bad as some of the other accused. He should therefore deal with them all alike. His Honor then made the declaration that the case was not one calling for the minimum penalty under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act, and sentenced the accused to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
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Nepean Times, Sat 9 May 1891 8
SPRINGWOOD.
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From Our Own Correspondent.
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After the sensational events which have occurred here during the past few weeks it is a relief to have a period of tranquillity again. The drunken freaks of the railway navvies last Monday week have not been repeated, but the effects are being felt; some of those who misconducted themselves so grossly having been heavily fined, with the option of going to gaol; whilst four of them were committed for trial at the Parramatta Session, found guilty, and sentenced to two months imprisonment. For these fellows we have not much sympathy, but in order to prove the cases against them, several of our residents have hade to absent themselves from their ordinary callings to attend the sundry courts, which is always an inconvenience, and it is doubtful if host Mutch will be recouped for the damages his property sustained.
It is on the card that Constable Illingworth is to be translated to Katoomba. There is no doubt the position will be a more “elevated” one for him, however much we may regret his departure, and we wish him good luck. We hear that the vacancy here is to be filled by Constable Hamilton from Katoomba, who is understood to be a vigilant officer.
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Eighty-five minutes from Sydney to Springwood! That we are told is all the time that will be taken to do the journey by train when the Lapstone Hill deviation is completed. We had hoped this would have been accomplished by January next, but from the dilatory way the works are progressing at present we fear we shall have to wait a little longer. Anyway, a wonderful saving of time will be experienced when it is completed. Two or three years ago the journey occupied 2¾ to 3 hours.
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PENRITH POLICE COURT.
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FRIDAY, MAY 1st.
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Before Mr JK Cleeve, PM.
Wm Bleasdale, Thomas Smith and Thomas Baker were charged with unlawfully assaulting David Mutch, of the Royal Hotel, Springwood, on Monday 26th April. All pleaded not guilty.
Mr Hill appeared for the prosecution and stated his case.
David Mutch, sworn, said: Know prisoners before the Court; saw them on Monday last at Springwood; they went to my hotel in the forenoon and then between two and three in the afternoon; they came to the bar demanding liquor; there were about seven of them; did not get paid for the liquor; Bleasdale, who was the ringleader, again called for drinks; I refused to give them any more till they had paid for the last; they told me that if I didn’t serve them and they had half killed a man up the road already, and if I was not very quiet they would kill me altogether. I then ordered them outside and told them to go away; they were not drunk only excited; they said if I didn’t b—– well fill up their glasses they would smash my face with the glasses on the counter; no one was with me in the bar at the time; Bleasdale then threw some beer in my face nearly blinding me; he then tried to get over the bar and I prevented him; he struck me on the face with his hand saying he would smash my face; a man called Paddy, advised him to stop; Bleasdale upset the filter and then commenced throwing glasses; He threw one at me which lodged in a shelf and broke, after which he threw all the rest on the counter—about six or seven—in my direction, one of them striking me on the side of the head; the rest were prancing about in the bar some of them saying “give it to him” and urging the others on. Smith was not so wild as the rest; he advised them to “keep at it” but he didn’t do much himself; they were using bad language all the time. Before going away Bleasdale threw a glass jug at me and I caught it; he then picked up a match stone and threw it at me; it was about 40lbs in weight; I dodged that; if it had struck me it would have hit me on the side; after this I picked up a stick and struck Bleasdale on the side of the head; I then jumped over the bar and used the stick on all of them and they cleared out; I then locked the door and communicated with the police.
To Bleasdale: Yes, you have always visited my house since you have been at Springwood; you have always paid what you owed; I do not think I sang out in the morning as I past your tents “Come down to-day lads you will get plenty of drinks. It’s not Sunday to-day.” Was friendly with you; I am friends with anybody so long as they treat me well; I may have caught hold of you by the neck in the general scuffle.
To Smith: You came to my house about seven o’clock; there were others with you, I do not notice everyone who comes in; you did not strike me at the time when the assault took place, but you advised others to do so; I did not hear you tell Bleasdale to be quiet when he was struggling with me.
To Baker: You came in with the rest on Monday morning and were one of the crowd that came in; you were one of the biggest advisers in the crowd, and your actions on this occasion assisted the others in the assault.
David Craig, by affirmation, stated: Was at Springwood till three o’clock on Monday last; I recognise Bleasdale and Smith; saw them about the Royal Hotel; they were slightly excited, but not drunk; did not see Mr Mutch in the bar; saw prisoners come out of the bar, and heard the sound of breaking glasses; very shortly after hearing these sounds I saw prisoners come out of the bar; saw a man getting over the bar but could not say who it was; heard a big noise but no bad language; by what I could see there were about six or seven in the bar at this time; saw them put out and the door closed; saw Mr Mutch on the balcony shortly afterwards; I then saw the prisoners trying to smash the door in; I afterwards saw a paling thrown towards the balcony but do not consider it was thrown with any bad intention but merely in fun or to frighten the people on the balcony; I was standing under the balcony at the time; the accuseds’ conduct was rather disturbed; did not see Mutch assaulted by any of the accused.
For the defence John Butler was called by Bleasdale; He knew Bleasdale; was at Springwood on the day of assault, but was not cognisant of anything bearing on the case.
On being asked if he had anything to say, [William] Bleasdale said: Yes, I have always dealt square with the man and always paid him for what drink I had; I got about twelve or fifteen drinks into me, and went into his hotel; he got hold of me by the neck and the scuffle started; I always work for my living and am not in the habit of going about rioting.
Thos Baker said: I did not assault him; I was there with two or three, but when the row started I walked away.
His Worship intimated that he would hear the other charges before giving judgment on this one.
The three were then arraigned on the charge that they did riotously and tumultuously assemble together and disturb the peace and damage property at Springwood, belonging to David Mutch.
David Mutch, on oath, gave evidence much to the same effect as that given by him on the previous charge. He stated: After I had put the accused out I closed and locked the door; I did not wish to let them in again because I thought my life was in danger; had given them no provocation to commit the offence; saw each of the three prisoners and others go and get a cask each and smash them against the door; I then went down stairs and barricaded the door with a pair of steps; they used all the force they could to procure an entrance; they eventually knocked the panel out and smashed the lock; they saw they couldn’t get in and one of them put his hand through the broken door and tried to push away the steps; I struck the hand with a stick and then went away; I heard voices say “Go it Denny! Go it Baker!” while they were breaking in the door; while I was on the balcony one of them said “Go it boys if your all of one mind you can easily get in”; Bleasdale had given the door a kick or two with his foot before this; they were guilty of riotous behaviour and were creating a disturbance of the peace; the whole of the people in Springwood were crowded round frightened to come near; I cried for assistance but no one came; they also smashed two of the verandah seats six feet long in trying to smash in the door.
To Bleasdale: I was the only one in the bar at the time; I saw you throw a barrel at the door.
To Smith: Saw you handling a barrel.
To Baker: I also saw you handling a barrel.
To His Worship: I told them to clear away, but they wanted me to give them drink, and would not do so; they cried “Smash the door open, and then we will get the bar open and help ourselves;” after Bleasdale was struck with the stick they all went away; I don’t think Bleasdale was drunk, but he was the most excitable of the three.
Gordon Clark of the Railway Department, sworn deposed: Saw two of the accused on the day of the assault; saw a disturbance going on; I am not unfriendly with Mutch; there were four or five at Mutch’s hotel at one time; Bleasdale and Smith were there; was on the verandah at the time Smith smashed the door; only saw one barrel there; saw two forms on the verandah, but did not see them used; was standing about a chain and a half away at the time; one of the forms was broken when I first saw them; saw the accused put out of the hotel; when I came there two bottom panels were out of the door; Bleasdale struck the first blow with a cask, and Smith kicked the door with his feet; when the cask struck the door it sprung from top to bottom; did not remain all the time from the time they were put out, as I had to attend to a train; they were at it for three quarters of an hour while I was there, and were still at it when I left; during the three-quarters of an hour I was there nothing was broken, and the door was sound when I went away; the panel was broken whilst I was away, which was about half an hour; they were standing in front when I came back, and two panels were out of the door; the night the men were misbehaving themselves very much; heard Smith say “Come on lads and stand by me, and I will help you through;” this was after the door was smashed; after this Bleasdale rushed across the street and kicked the door backward; the accused was very drunk at the time; did not hear anybody say “In the name of God lads smash the door in;” couldn’t recollect whether he made this statement in the presence of Constables Illingworth and Bressington; the prisoners were jumping about cursing and swearing that they would do for Mutch one time or another for shutting the door; only saw Smith and Bleasdale smashing the door; the others had left whilst I had gone to the door; the men were disturbing the public peace by their actions and conduct.
To Bleasdale: The police station was about 150 yards from the hotel; have always seen you working up then steady.
To the Bench: One of the accused kept kicking at the door, while the other stood in the middle of the street.
William Gibbs, sworn, deposed: Saw the men at the hotel opposite the station; was sitting in a buggy at the time and I saw Smith standing in front of the door and kicking it violently several times with the evident object of forcing an entrance; this continued for three or four minutes; saw Bleasdale throw a beer cask at the door; he was about a couple of feet from the door at the time and the door flew open about six inches; I think it burst the lock; saw Baker there but do not know if he was in company with the others, but he seemed to be so; there were four or five casks; if one cask was discernable the others must have been also; saw several men sitting on the casks but accused were standing up; was not there when the door was closed; did not see the previous witness there; the men were partly drunk and were using a little bad language and some were making a little noise; did not hear any threats used; I think they were behaving in a riotous manner and their conduct was likely to cause a breach of the peace; there were ten or twelve persons, young and old, looking on altogether; three were actually engaged in smashing the door and several others were creating a disturbance; saw Mr Mutch on the balcony at the time.
To Bleasdale: I think Mr Mutch was on the balcony when you threw the cask; did not see you go to the door afterwards.
To Smith: Saw you kicking the door; could not tell whether you called to the publican to open the door as there was so much noise.
Wm Croucher, letter carrier, sworn, deposed: Saw the three men on the verandah of the hotel; Bleasdale picked up a ladder and threw it over the fence into the garden; he next rolled some casks out into the road; he picked the casks up and threw them over the fence; did not see him do anything else with them; saw Smith kicking the door but did not see Bleasdale do anything; saw Baker at the station but not at the hotel; saw Smith kick one of the panels in; when I saw them again they were standing at the back of the station; they were not very noisy but they were not very quiet; I looked at them because one was kicking the door and the other was throwing a cask over the fence; they were not very noisy but were excited.
Patrick Hughes, sworn, deposed: Saw Bleasdale and Smith come out of the door; was not sure that Baker came out, but I saw him with them afterwards standing on the footpath; when they came out Bleasdale picked up a garden seat and placed it across the verandah; I then saw Bleasdale rolling the cask towards the door when Smith stopped it and sent it back; he then took up a mat and threw it up saying “this is a bit of Donald Dinny”; I went away and when I came back the panels of the door were kicked in; they didn’t seem to be very drunk, but were skipping about and seemed playful; I saw three casks there.
By Bleasdale: Didn’t see you throw a cask at the door, but saw you playing amongst yourselves in front of Rayners’ store.
To His Worship: Heard a noise of singing out in the bar as I first past, and I saw Mutch there but I did not see the accused till they came out.
His Worship intimated a prima facie case had been made out and commit the accused for trial at the Quarter Sessions to be held ay Parramatta on Tuesday 5th inst.
In answer to the usual formula, Bleasdale and Smith were silent. [Thomas] Baker said: All I have to say is that I am innocent. I was not there, I was standing on the railway platform at the time.
The case of malicious injury to property, value £10, was then proceeded with.
David Mutch, sworn, deposed: The defendants entered the hotel at three o’clock; they had drinks and didn’t pay for them, and so I wouldn’t serve them any more; Bleasdale said “We have half killed a man up the road already and if you don’t keep quiet we will kill you altogether.” Bleasdale then threw a glass of beer in my face; Denny saying to him “Go it Bill”; Bleasdale took up a tray containing about three dozen glasses and threw them over the counter; he threw all the glasses off the counter; they then smashed about a dozen and a half bottles of spirits; they threw the match stone and a glass jug at me, the latter of which I caught; two forms were also smashed; I gave them no provocation to commit the offence.
To Bleasdale: The match stone fell on the counter and made a hole in it; I kept about a dozen bottles on the counter.
To Smith: You urged Bleasdale on while he overturned the filter and threw beer at me.
To Baker: You were saying “Go at him Bill” when the struggle was on.
Mr Hill at this stage asked to have the damage reduced to £5, thus enabling Mr Cleeve to decide the case.
All pleaded not guilty.
[William] Bleasdale stated that the affair occurred in a general scuffle with Mutch and that there was not 5s worth broken altogether.
His Worship then sentenced the three prisoners as follows:—For assaulting David Mutch Bleasdale was ordered to pay £5 or undergo two months at Parramatta; Smith and Baker 40s or 14 days each with solicitor fee £1.1s. For damaging property value £5, Bleasdale was fined 20s and ordered to pay £3 for his share of the damage, or 14 days; the other two being fined 10s and ordered to pay £1 each or 14 days.
Thomas Smith was separately charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on Geo Rees on Monday last.
On the application of Mr Hill the charge was altered to one of common assault.
Smith pleaded guilty.
Mr Hill, for plaintiff, stated that on the day of the assault several men went up to plaintiff (who is in the employ of Mr Rayner, Springwood, as a butcher), crying “Here’s the man with the starched jacket, give it to him.” (This referred to the baker who had previously assisted to arrest one of their number.) Plaintiff replied “I’m not the baker, I’m the butcher.” The men said “It doesn’t matter, give it to him, he’s one of the firm.” Then followed the assault, in which Smith was the ringleader.
Dr Brady have evidence as to the damage which consisted of a very badly cut and blackened eye; the left arm very much swollen and bruised; the right shin abraised and a swelling at the back of the knee; he explained with reference to the arm, the injury was caused through its being twisted.
[Thomas] Smith stated that plaintiff struck him first, but this was disproved.
Fined £10 or three months imprisonment, and doctor’s fee £1. 10s.
Wm Bleasdale was then charged with indecent exposure and was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.
Wm Denny, who had been remanded from Lithgow, in charge of Constable Rex, on similar charges to Bleasdale, Smith and Baker, was then dealt with, the evidence against him being a recapitulation of that adduced against the three former. He pleaded not guilty and asked prosecutor a number of questions which were answered as follows: you came in with the rest and went out with the rest; you did ask me for drinks and with the others refused to pay for them; you did not commit the actual assault yourself, but you urged Bleasdale to do so by calling out “Go at him, Bill, give it to him and we will take possession of the bar.”
The accused called Walter Clark and Peter McCormick, but the former was unable to throw any fresh light on the case; the latter appearing considerably mixed as to what really did occur.
For being accessory to the assault of David Mutch, Denny was fined 40s or 14 days, with £1 professional fee, and for damages to property 10s, and ordered to pay 20s or 11 days, professional fee £1.
The charge of rioting in the absence of an important witness was adjourned till Monday.
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MONDAY.
Before JK Cleeve, PM.
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William Denny on the adjourned charge of rioting, was on the hearing of further evidence formally committed for trial.
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William Bleasdale, Gaol photo sheet 9
![SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6009], Parramatta photographic description book, 1880-1891, No. 276, p. 41, R5136. Emphasis added. A Laborer ](../../images/trials/1891-Bleasdale-3_6009-gaol-photo-398.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6009], Parramatta photographic description book, 1880-1891, No. 276, p. 41, R5136. Emphasis added. A Laborer ") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 398
Parramatta
Date when Portrait was taken: 15th May 1891
Name: William Bleasdale
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Native place: England Year of birth: 1859 Arrived Ship: Aberdeen Trade or occupation Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 9¼" Weight On committal: Colour of hair: Fair Colour of eyes: Blue Marks or special features: |
Where and when tried: Parramatta Q.S. Offence: Riotously & tumultuously assaulted & unlawfully damage of property Sentence: 2 Months H.L. Remarks: Concurrent with sentence prisoner now serving |
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(No. of previous Portrait ... ) PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS |
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| Where and When | Offence. | Sentence | |||
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Penrith PC |
1 |
5 |
1891 |
Injure property |
14 days C |
William Bleasdale 1892
Evening News, Mon 2 May 1892 10
LANGUAGE AND ASSAULT.
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William Bleasdale, 27, laborer, was charged before Mr J Giles, at the Central Police Court, on Saturday, with having been drunk and disorderly, and was fined 10s, or the rising of the court. He was further charged with having assaulted Constable Simmons in the execution of his duty. The constable [ Simmons] stated that when arrested accused threw himself down, and kicked him. Constable John Hart having given corroborative evidence, accused was fined £5, or two months.
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 28 Apr 1891, p. 5.
2 Australian Town and Country Journal, Sat 2 May 1891, p. 16.
3 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Sat 2 May 1891, p. 4. Emphasis added.
4 Nepean Times, (Penrith, NSW), Sat 2 May 1891, pp. 3, 4. Emphasis added.
5 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 2 May 1891, p. 10.
6 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Fri 8 May 1891, p. 3. Emphasis added.
7 The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Sat 9 May 1891, p. 7. Emphasis added.
8 Nepean Times, (Penrith, NSW), Sat 9 May 1891, pp. 4, 6. Emphasis added.
9 SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6009], Parramatta photographic description book, 1880-1891, No. 276, p. 41, R5136. Emphasis added.
10 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Mon 2 May 1892, p. 6. Emphasis added.