The Western Herald and Darling River Advocate, Wed 5 Feb 1896 ¹

BOURKE QUARTER SESSIONS.
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Monday, February 3, 1896.
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  The Bourke Quarter Sessions were opened on Monday last, before Mr District Court Judge Gibson. Mr Bevan prosecuted for the Crown; and all the local solicitors were present. Mr Lynch, of Brewarrina, was also present.
…

BEASTIALITY. [sic]

    Samuel Hummerston [aka Samuel Hummerstone] was charged with committing an unnatural offence [bestiality] at Wanaaring on November 18th.

    Senior-Constable Burrows, on oath, deposed that at Wanaaring on the 18th November about dusk, he saw the accused in the yard of Page’s Victoria Hotel; accused was lying against the fence, on the outside of the yard; witness and another constable were on the outside; there saw accused commit the offence.

    Constable P[atrick] A[rthur] C[ampbell] Mann corroborated the previous witness’ evidence.

    For the defence.

    Accused, [Samuel Hummerston] on oath, deposed that he arrived in Wanaaring on the 18th of November from his camp; while in Wanaaring he was drinking; he became drunk, and about sundown he started home for his camp; he felt sick and laid at the back of Page’s hotel; he was asleep some time; he woke up and was making water, when Burrows asked him what he was doing there; witness replied that he was making water; Burrows took him to the police station, and after a while charged him with the offence stated; he hadn’t seen the slut yet; he had never been before a Court before; he produced a character from Mr WW Davis, a JP and late MLA; witness wrote for it while awaiting trial.

    The jury, after a retirement, returned with a verdict of intent, and His Honor addressing accused said that he did not intend to address him at any length; the jury had [text missing here] but he did not intend to do so; accused was a man who had evidently lost all self-respect. It was a most disgusting case. He then sentenced accused to 12 months imprisonment.

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Samuel Hummerstone, Gaol photo sheet ²

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 1091
Bathurst

Date when Portrait was taken: 1-4-1896

Name: Samuel Hummerstone

Native place: W. Australia Year of birth: 1850 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Cook Religion: Church of England Education, degree of: R. & W. Height: 5' 5¾" Weight     On committal: in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Hazel

Marks or special features: Tattooed on left forearm Heart and “S” “The”. Scar left side of nose. Scar inside left shin

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Bourke Q.S	3	2	1896	Attempted beastiality [sic]	12 months H.L.

 

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¹     The Western Herald and Darling River Advocate, Wed 5 Feb 1896, p. 2. Emphasis added. One line of text missing.

²     SRNSW: NRS1998, [3/5960], Bathurst Gaol photographic description book, 1874-1930, No. 1091, p. 13, R5085.

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