Below also see: John Joseph Strange, 1910

 

Evening News, Sat 9 Nov 1895 ¹

THE COURTS.
———◦———

…

REDFERN POLICE COURT.

    Captain Fisher, SM, presided.
    John Strange, 15, and Frederick John Cass, 15, charged with having in company assaulted Robert Hamilton, 9 years of age, were remanded till Tuesday, bail being allowed.

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Barrier Miner, Wed 11 Dec 1895 ²

INTERCOLONIAL ITEMS.
———◦———
(By Telegraph.)
————
NEW SOUTH WALES.

Sydney, Wednesday.

…
    John Stranges, [sic] aged 14, and Frederick [John] Cass, 14, public school boys of Redfern, were found guilty at the quarter sessions yesterday of an unmentionable assault upon another boy, Robert Hamilton, within the school grounds. They were remanded for sentence.

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The Daily Telegraph, Wed 11 Dec 1895 ³

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
(Before Judge Fitzhardinge.)

    Mr WL Merewether prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…

JUVENILE DEPRAVITY.

    John Strange and Frederick John Cass, aged respectively 14 and 15 years, pleaded not guilty on two charging them with assaulting with intent a boy named Robert William Hamilton, aged 10 years, in a stall situate within a bottle yard at Redfern, and further with committing an indecent assault. A number of lads, varying in age from 6 to 12 years gave evidence of a deplorable character. The jury after a lengthy retirement, found both the accused not guilty of the first count, but guilty on the second count, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of their youth. They also added a rider, requesting that in view of the facts disclosed by the evidence the matter might be brought under the notice of the Minister for education, as they thought the case arose out of the conduct of the boys at the public school.

    The Judge: It is fair to say that only some of these boys went to the public school, one went to St Benedict’s, and one to St Vincent’s.

    The foreman: Yes, your Honor, but we think attention ought to be drawn to this matter. His Honor assured the jury that this should be done.

    An application was then made by counsel for the lad Cass he should be dealt with under the First Offenders’ Act . Without making any promise the judge said he would consider the application, and remanded accused for sentence.

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Evening News, Wed 11 Dec 1895 4

QUARTER SESSIONS.
————
(Before his Honor Judge Fitzhardinge.

A DISGUSTING CASE.

    John Strange and Frederick John Cass, lads of 14 and 15 years respectively, were charged with assaulting with intent a lad of 10 years named Hamilton, in a yard of a house in Vine-street, Redfern, on the 8th instant. [sic] There was a second count charging them with indecent assault. The evidence disclosed a deplorable state of things as to the filthy and disgusting habits which obtain among the school boys in that neighbourhood. The jury, after a long deliberation, found the accused guilty on the second count of indecent assault, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of their youth. They also added a rider, requesting that in view of the facts disclosed by the evidence the matter might be brought under the notice of the Minister for Education, as they thought the case arose out of the conduct of the boys at the public school.

    The Judge: It is fair to say that only some of these boys went to the public school, one went to St Benedict’s, and one to St Vincent’s.

    The foreman: Yes, your Honor, but we think attention ought to be drawn to the matter. His Honor assured the jury that this should be done.

    An application was then made by counsel for the lad Cass, that he should be dealt with under the First Offenders’ Act . The judge said he would consider the application, and remanded the prisoners for sentence.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 11 Dec 1895 ⁵

QUARTER SESSIONS.
Tuesday.
(Before his Honor Judge Fitzhardinge and juries of 12.)

    Mr WL Merewether prosecuted for the Crown.
…

ALLEGED ASSAULT.

    John Strange and Frederick Cass, two boys of about 14 years of age, were charged with having [indecently] assaulted one Robert William Hamilton, a boy of about 12 years. They pleaded not guilty.

    Mr C Bull appeared for Strange and Mr Cromwell appeared for Cass.

    The accused were found guilty and were remanded for sentence.

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The Daily Telegraph, Thu 12 Dec 1895 ⁶

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
(Before Judge Fitzhardinge.)

…

SENTENCES.

…
    Frederick J Cass and John Strange, two boys, who on the previous day had been found guilty of an indecent assault, were brought up for sentence. In addressing them his Honor said it would have been better for both of them if they had told the truth, as the jury must have come to the conclusion that they had told a number of lies. Had it not been that the jury had recommended them to the mercy of the Court, he would have ordered them a whipping. Strange was then sentenced to six months, and Cass to four months’ imprisonment, with hard labor. An application was made to have the boys dealt with under the First Offenders’ Act , but the Judge said he could not consider the application. He had given the case his deepest consideration, and he feared that if the boys were set at liberty now, the other boys would make heroes of them.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 12 Dec 1895 ⁷

QUARTER SESSIONS.
Wednesday.
(Before his Honor Judge Fitzhardinge and juries of 12.)

    Mr RJ Browning prosecuted for the Crown.
…

SENTENCES.

…
    Fred J Cass and John Strange, two boys, who had been found guilty of assault, were sentenced, the former to four months’, and the latter to six months’ imprisonment.

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John Joseph Strange, Gaol photo sheet ⁸

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 11290

Date when Portrait was taken: 12-4-1910

Name: John Joseph Strange
(aka John Strange)

Native place: Redfern Year of birth: 7-7-1881 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }  Year: B.S. Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Bootmaker Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R and W Height: 5' 6" Weight     On committal: 142 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: “I. LOVE. LS” alongside two leaves inside left forearm faint tattoo spot inside left forearm. Scar on bridge of nose and above right elbow. Long scar front of right thigh scar above left knee scar left cheek of posterior

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S Newtown PC Redfern PC ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto Children’s Court Central PC ditto Redfern PC Central PC Central PC Redfern PC ditto Sydney Q.S	10 3 16 28 8 2 14 15 7 2 23 30 5 30 2 11 27 1 4 14 12	12 7 7 12 1 9 6 6 5 4 4 12 12 12 12 9 11 6 8 12 4	1895 1896 1896 1896 1897 1897 1900 1900 1901 1902 1902 1902 1906 1907 1907 1907 1908 1908 1909 1909 1910	Indecent assault on a male person Indecent language Have supposed stolen property Riotous behaviour ditto Stealing ditto ditto Drunk & disorderly Play headng (?) Play headng (?) Disobey order of constable Disobey for maintaining and education of child Indecent language Not paying costs Drunk and disorderly Keep unregistered dog Riotous behaviour Indecent language Riotous behaviour Assault occasioning actual bodily harm	6 months HL £ 2.4.10. Or 14 days HL. Paid fine 1 months imprisonment £ 1.2.6. or 14 days Hl. Paid fine £ 1.2.6. or 14 days C. Served 2 months HL 3 months HL 3 months HL  | accumulative 10/- or 2 days HL. Paid fine 15/- or 3 days H.L. Paid fine ditto 27/6 or 21 days HL. Paid fine Imprisonment till £3.8.0 be paid £ 2.6.0 or 14 days HL £ 1.11.6 or 7 days HL | concurrent 10/- or 4 days HL. Paid fine £ 1.1.0 or 3 days HL £ 1.0.0 or 7 days HL | concurrent £ 1.6.0. or 14 days HL. Paid fine £ 1.8.6 or 14 days HL. Served  12 Months H.L.

 

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John Joseph Strange, 1910

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 13 Apr 1910 ⁹

QUARTER SESSIONS.
————
(Before Judge Backhouse and juries.)

    Mr Mason acted as Crown Prosecutor.
…

ASSAULT CAUSING BODILY HARM.

    John Joseph Strange, charged with having at Redfern, on December 27, committed an assault occasioning actual bodily harm upon Alexander Stewart, was found guilty, and remanded for sentence.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 22 Apr 1910 ¹⁰

QUARTER SESSIONS.
————
(Before Judge Backhouse.)

    Mr R Browning was Crown Prosecutor.
…

SENTENCES.

…
    John Joseph Strange, convicted of occasioning actual bodily harm to Alexander Stewart, was sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour.

 

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¹     Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Sat 9 Nov 1895, p. 5.

²     Barrier Miner, Wed 11 Dec 1895, p. 2.

³     The Daily Telegraph, Wed 11 Dec 1895, p. 3. Emphasis added.

⁴     Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Wed 11 Dec 1895, p. 5. Emphasis added.

⁵     The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 11 Dec 1895, p. 4.

⁶     The Daily Telegraph, Thu 12 Dec 1895, p. 3.

⁷     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 12 Dec 1895, p. 7.

⁸     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6075], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1910-1911, No. 11290, pp. 2 & 3, R5114. Emphasis added.

⁹     The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 13 Apr 1910, p. 6.

¹⁰   The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 22 Apr 1910, p. 5.

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