John Thomas Harrington, 1901

Below also see: John Thomas Harrington, 1904 – Indecent assault

 

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Wed 20 Nov 1901 ¹

CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT.

    At the Newcastle Police Court yesterday, before Mr MS Love, SM, John Thomas Harrington, described as a journalist, was charged by warrant that he did at Newcastle on or about September 1, 1901, being then collector of moneys for Thomas Snipe and others, as the trustees of the Northern District Eight Hours’ Demonstration Committee, fraudulently embezzle three sums of money, £2 2s. in each sum, the property of the said trustees.

    Accused was also charged that he did at Newcastle on or about September 1, fraudulently embezzle the sum of £3 3s. the property of the trustees of the Northern District Eight Hours’ Demonstration Committee.

    Mr W Sparke appeared for the prosecution, and accused was undefended.

    Detective [James] McHattie said that about 6.30 pm on Tuesday night, 12th inst, he saw the accused at the residence of Mr Struck, in Bolton-street, and told him a warrant had been issued that day for his arrest for embezzling moneys, the property of the Eight Hours’ Demonstration Committee. In reply, he said, “Yes, I only came back from Sydney this morning. I did nothing to run away for. I met the committee at a meeting after I was robbed of the money, and at that meeting they gave me a definite time to pay the money.” At the lock-up accused made no reply to the charge. Upon being searched accused had in his possession 2s 6d and sundry letters. On the following day he served accused with a copy of the notice (produced), also a copy of the list (produced), detailing certain items which had been prepared by Mr Spark. In answer to witness accused said he received £2 2s from Dalgety and Co, £2 2s from Mr S Field, £2 2s from J and A Brown, £2 2s from the secretary of Tattersall’s Club, and a cheque for £1 1s from the Hon John See. Accused added. “I admit having received all the amounts on the list.” He also reminded witness that he had reported a robbery at his house, when the books of the Coaltrimmers’ Union were stolen, and 14 £1 notes, and the lists of the Eight Hours’ Committee. Accused said he could not produce the certificates mentioned in the list as it had been stolen. On Sunday morning, October 13, he (witness) examined the place where the robbery was alleged to have taken place. Accused pointed to a cupboard in one of the rooms at Mr Struck’s residence, and said “This is where I kept the money and books, and it was there they were stolen from. I saw the money and books which were alright at 7 o’clock last night.” witness examined the lock of the cupboard, but found no marks upon it or anything to denote that it had been tampered with. The books reported to have been stolen were found in a furnace on Saturday, October 12th, and handed to the police. At the police station the previous night he charged accused with embezzlement of £3 3s.

    William Dent, secretary of the Eight Hour [sic] Demonstration Committee, said the rules (produced) were those of that committee, and were registered under the Trades’ Union Act . The trustees of the committee were Thomas Snipe, John Houston, Thos H Hilbert, William Brennan, Jas Kerr, and Thomas Atkinson. The first trustees were appointed on August 1, 1900. He knew the accused, who was a member of the Eight Hour Committee as a delegate representing the Coaltrimmers’ Union. His first appearance at the committee meeting was on August 1, 1901. And it was at that meeting he was elected a trustee to act in conjunction with the Trades Hall trustees. On August 15 he was appointed one of the canvassers. Harrington told the committee that he had been offered trophies, but did not feel justified in taking them until provided with the necessary credentials, which he afterwards received. Canvassers were paid 10 per cent on all cash collected. Harrington received a list certifying that he was a duly authorised canvasser. Each list was signed by the president, treasurer, and secretary. On October 10, the president asked for the return of all canvassers’ lists by the next night of meeting. On October 16 accused made a statement to the effect that there had been a robbery at his place. His books and lists were stolen, and £14 in notes (part of the money collected by him as donations). He added that he was preparing a list which he would have ready by Saturday, and all he asked was that the committee would grant him an extension of time until Monday to enable him to pay over all the moneys he had received. The committee agreed to the extension of time being granted. On the Monday, Harrison did not hand over the moneys he had collected. All moneys were banked to the credit of the trustees. No money or cheques had been handed in by accused, but he had given in a list showing the moneys he had collected. All moneys were banked to the credit of the trustees. No money or cheques had been handed in by accused, but he had given in a list showing the amounts he had collected. Accused had no authority from the committee to cash cheques.

    Thomas Snipe, one of the trustees of the Eight-Hour Demonstration Committee, said he laid the information.

    Lou Solomon, secretary of Newcastle Tattersall’s Club, said he knew the accused, whom he saw in his office about October 2. Accused asked for a subscription for the Eight-Hour Demonstration, and witness handed him £2 2s in cash on behalf of the club.

    Everett Sharp, clerk at J and A Brown’s, said he saw the accused at the office on two occasions early last month. He called with another man for a subscription for the Eight-Hour Demonstration, and Mr Brown told witness to give them £2 2s. One of the men received the money, he could not say which.

    William Henry Rickard, clerk to Mr S Field, said he saw the accused on October 11 or 12. Witness received instructions to pay £2 2s, and he handed the money over to a man who said he was Harrington.

    Henry Giles, licensee of the Central Hotel, Hunter-street, said he knew the accused, whom he had seen at the hotel. On one occasion he cashed a cheque for accused which was signed “John See and Co.”

    Edwin James Brent, treasurer of the Eight-Hour committee, said he received all moneys, which he banked. The sports were held on October 23. He had only received one cheque, which had been paid in by Harrington.

    Hon Alexander Brown, MLC, managing director Dalgety and Co Ltd, said he had seen the accused before. Shortly before Eight-Hour Day, on October 2nd, he called at the office and asked for the usual subscription for the Eight-Hour movement, and witness gave him £2 2s in cash. Accused gave the receipt (produced) which he received the money.

    Martha Struck said the accused was lodging at her mother’s place. She knew a cupboard in the house in which accused kept his books. On Sunday morning, October 13, she went to the cupboard and found it was locked. She saw Harrington that morning, but he did not say anything about the cupboard. Harrington came down stairs about a quarter of an hour after she had been at the cupboard. There was nothing wrong with the house when she got up on the morning of the 13th, all the doors being locked.

    This was the case for the prosecution.

    The accused [John Thomas Harrington] reserved his defence, but denied the statement made by Mr Sparke that he received £1 1s from Henry Giles, declaring it to be incorrect.

    After argument, the SM altered the charge to embezzling the sum of £9 9s, and in reply the accused said he would reserve his defence.

    At the request of the accused, Mr Giles was recalled, and in reply to Harrington said he did not remember giving him the sum of £1 1s at any time.

    By Mr Sparke: He cashed Mr See’s cheque for £1 1s and handed to accused the amount less 6d for exchange.

    The SM then committed accused for trial on the altered charge, bail being allowed, self in £80, or two sureties of £40.

    The accused said he decided to ask a favour of his Worship. As it was more than likely that he would be undefended at the Sessions, he would like to obtain a copy of the depositions.

    The SM: Certainly; make an application to the police. As for the fee, you can arrange about that also.

    Mr Sparke: There is a bill before the House now to give copies of depositions free to prisoners.

    The SM: And quite right, too.

 

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John Thomas Harrington, 1904

 

The Daily Telegraph, Wed 8 Jun 1904 ²

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

    Mr H Harris prosecuted for the Crown.
…

GUILTY OF ASSAULT.

    John Thomas Harrington, who described himself as a Domain orator, offered a plea of not guilty to a charge of indecent assault, in the Botanic Gardens, Sydney, on May 17.

    The accused was found guilty by the jury, and remanded.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 8 Jun 1904 ³

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Backhouse and juries.)

    Mr Herbert Harris was Crown Prosecutor.
…

ASSAULT.

    John Thomas Harrington, a man about 50 years of age, pleaded not guilty to having assaulted in the Botanic Gardens on the afternoon of May 17, a lad named Frank Sloss, aged 15. Accused was found guilty, and remanded for sentence.

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The Daily Telegraph, Thu 9 Jun 1904 ⁴

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

    Mr H Harris prosecuted for the Crown.
…

SENTENCES.

    Sentences were passed as follows:—
…
    John Thomas Harrington, indecent assault, two years hard labor.

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Evening News, Thu 9 Jun 1904 ⁵

DARLINGHURST SESSIONS.
————

    The following cases were disposed of before Judge Backhouse, at the Darlinghurst Sessions.
…
    John Thomas Harrington, who had been found guilty of assaulting Frank Sloss, at Sydney, on May 17, was sentenced to two years’ hard labour.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 9 Jun 1904 ⁶

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Backhouse and juries.)

    Mr Herbert Harris prosecuted for the Crown.
…

SOME SEVERE SENTENCES.

…
    John Thomas Harrington, who was convicted of assaulting a lad, aged 15, in the Botanic Gardens, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with hard labour, in Darlinghurst Gaol.

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John Thomas Harrington, Gaol photo sheet ⁷ 

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 9374
E.B 04/2278

Date when Portrait was taken: 7-6-1904

Name: John Thomas Harrington

Native place: Ireland Year of birth: 1856 Arrived       Ship: Hartinger in Colony }   Year: 1882 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Journalist Religion: R. C. Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 7" Weight     On committal: 154 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Grey Colour of eyes: Light blue

Marks or special features: Minus 4 teeth from upper and 5 from lower jaw. 2 large vaccine marks one above the other outside left upper arm. Slightly crossed eyed. Scar under lower lip. 2 boil scars on back of neck. Flesh mole on right shoulder blade. Deep horizontal scar under left knee.

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S	7	6	1904	Indecent assault on a male person	2 years H.L.

 

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¹     Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Wed 20 Nov 1901, p. 3. Emphasis added. Also see: ‘Charge against a trades union official.’ The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 20 Nov 1901, p. 10; ‘Alleged Embezzlement.’ Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Fri 6 Dec 1901, p. 7; ‘The Quarter Sessions.’ The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 6 Dec 1901, p. 6;

²     The Daily Telegraph, Wed 8 Jun 1904, p. 10.

³     The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 8 Jun 1904, p. 6.

⁴     The Daily Telegraph, Thu 9 Jun 1904, p. 8.

⁵     Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Thu 9 Jun 1904, p. 6.

⁶     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 9 Jun 1904, p. 4.

⁷     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6069], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1903-1904, No. 9374, p. 203, R5110.

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