Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Tue 14 Jun 1898 ¹

NEWCASTLE POLICE COURT.
———•———
Monday, June 13.
———
(Before Mr Jas Mair, SM.)
———

DRUNKENESS, &c.

    Hannah Watson, Thomas Jennings, Thomas Donovan, and John McNeil charged with drunkenness, were each fined 5s, in default 24 hours. For a like offence, Thomas McFarlane was fined 10s, in default 48 hours.

    John Conway, charged with using indecent language in Hunter-street West was fined £1, in default seven days’ imprisonment.

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

    Robert Blaxland, charged with an abominable offence, was remanded for two days, on the application of Detective McHattie.

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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 16 Jun 1898 ²

NEWCASTLE POLICE COURT.
———•———
Wednesday, June 15.
———
(Before Mr Jas Mair, SM.)
———

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

    Robert Blaxland, described as a cook, was charged with committing an abominable offence [of buggery on Cornelius McCann] in Newcastle on the 11th.

    Detective [James] McHattie said at 5.30 on Saturday he saw the accused and a boy go into the police station. The boy was crying. Witness followed them into the station, and the accused said he had called to give himself up, as the boy had laid a charge against him.

    The boy McCann explained the whole of the circumstances, the details of which are unfit for publication.

    Charles Davis, another boy, said he saw the parties together in Scott-street, on the afternoon of the 11th instant.

    The accused said he was not guilty of the offence, and did not lay a finger on the boy. The latter asked if 3d was all he had to give him, at the same time striking him on the face.

    The SM committed the accused for trial at the next Quarter Sessions, to be held at Newcastle on September 7, bail being allowed – self in £80, or two sureties of £40 each.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 16 Jun 1898 ³

NEWCASTLE.
———◦———

…

NEWCASTLE HOSPITAL.
———

…
    At the City Court to-day before Mr James Mair, SM, a man named Robert Blaxland, described as a cook, 53 years of age, was committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Newcastle Quarter Sessions on a serious charge. Bail was allowed.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 6 Sep 1898 ⁴

NEWCASTLE.
———◦———

…

NEWCASTLE QUARTER SESSIONS.
———

    The September sittings of the Newcastle Court of Quarter Sessions will be opened att the City Court on Wednesday next. The following is the list of cases set down for hearing:—James Vickers, assault occasioning actual bodily harm; William Irven, escaping from custody; Thomas Gordon, breaking, entering, and stealing; Kanute Anderson, assault; Charles Watts, assault occasioning bodily harm; James Johnson, obtaining money by means of false pretences; Alex Barnett, breaking, entering, and stealing; Jas Landers, larceny; Chas Loumaine, breaking, entering, and stealing; William Thomas Sellars, feloniously wounding; Alex Lowe, assault occasioning actual bodily harm; John Copeland, robbery; Robert Blaxland, indecency.

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Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 8 Sep 1898 ⁵

NEWCASTLE QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———
SEPTEMBER SITTINGS.
———
(Before His Honor Judge Backhouse.)
———

    The September sittings of the Quarter Sessions were commenced yesterday morning. His Honor Judge Backhouse presiding. The members of the legal profession in attendance were: Messrs W Tighe, R Cowan, Atlee Hunt, and C Delohery, barristers at law; and Messrs HJ Brown, J Windeyer, WA Reid, GW Mitchell, JA Wood, HP Abbott, TA Braye, AH James, and T Cronin, solicitors.
    Mr AF Dawson prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, and Mr WH Shaw, Deputy Sheriff, occupied a seat alongside his Honor.
    During the business of the Sessions, Mr Michael Gray, the Mayor of New Lambton, Mr WL Kidd, the Mayor of Newcastle, and Mr Albert Williams, of Tarro, were sworn in as justices of the peace.
    Mr A Langwill was fined 40s for not being present to answer to his name, but the fine was subsequently remitted.
…

A SERIOUS CHARGE.
———
VERDICT OF INDECENT ASSAULT.
———
EIGHTEEN MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.
———

    Robert Blaxland, a man of about 45 years of age, described as a cook, was charged with committing an abominable offence on 11th June last. On a second count he was charged with having committed an indecent assault.

    The jury, after hearing the evidence, returned a verdict of guilty of indecent assault, and the prisoner was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, his Honor expressing his astonishment that anyone could be guilty of such an offence.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 8 Sep 1898 ⁶

NEWCASTLE.
———◦———
THE QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
A LONG LIST.
———

Newcastle, Wednesday.

    The September sittings of the Newcastle Court of Quarter Sessions were opened before his Honor Judge Backhouse at the City Court to-day. Mr Dawson prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…
    Robert Blaxland was found guilty on a charge of assaulting a lad, and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Robert Blaxland, Gaol photo sheet ⁷

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 1087
Maitland

Date when Portrait was taken: 20-9-1898

Name: Robert Blaxland

Native place: England Year of birth: 1845 Arrived       Ship: Matura in Colony }   Year: 1868 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Steward Religion: C. E. Education, degree of: R&W Height: 5' 7" Weight     On committal: 130 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown to Grey Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Minus index finger left hand

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Newcastle Q.S	7	9	1898	Attempt Buggery	18 months HL

 

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¹     Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Tue 14 Jun 1898, p. 6. Emphasis added.

²     Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 16 Jun 1898, p. 6. Emphasis added.

³     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 16 Jun 1898, p. 5.

⁴     The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 6 Sep 1898, p. 5. Emphasis added.

⁵     Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 8 Sep 1898, p. 7.

⁶     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 8 Sep 1898, p. 5.

⁷     SRNSW: NRS2327, [3/5987], Maitland Gaol photographic description book, 1875-1930, No. 1087, p. 144, R5130.

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