James Belmont and Bert Lee, 1905

Below also see: John Fairall, 1910

 

Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 10 Oct 1905 ¹

GOULBURN POLICE COURT.
Tuesday, Oct 10.

    Before the PM and Mr Belcher.

DISCHARGED.

    Herbert Leigh, or Bert Lee, was charged with stealing, at Goulburn on August 26 one suit of men’s clothes valued at £2, the property of John Spillane.

    Constable Small deposed that about 8 o’clock on Monday night accused called at the police barracks with a man named Lowe and said he wished to see a constable; witness asked what was the matter and accused sais “I believe there is a warrant out for a man named Belmont—I was working with him at Mr Wheatley’s;” accused then went with witness to the lockup, where witness arrested him; a few minutes after accused said “I can easily prove my innocence, as I never Belmont after four o’clock on Saturday afternoon until the following Sunday at Nash’s Hotel;” witness said “What about this coat you sold to Stewart;” accused replied “We decided to go to Victoria and I sold Stewart a macintosh cape of mine and a coat which Belmont gave me for 5s; Belmont said he bought the coat from Mr [John] Knowlman.”

    John Spillane, tanner, deposed that he bought a suit of clothes lately from Mrs Fren; he never saw accused before; on August 26 he left his clothes at Mrs Fren’s, and when he returned to get them two young men were in the shop; the accused was not there; witness went into Carlsen’s with the two young men; accused was not there; witness put his clothes on the counter and had a drink; he went to the door for a moment, and when he returned to the counter the parcel had gone; the parcel contained the coat produced; he valued the full suit of clothes at £2.

    To accused: The men were still in the bar when he returned from the door.

    John Stewart, second-hand dealer, Auburn-street, deposed that accused came to his shop on August 28 and sold witness a suit of clothes, a macintosh coat, and an odd coat; the coat produced was among the clothes; accused was with a friend; witness made an offer for the clothes, but accused was not satisfied and called his mate in; accused’s mate was satisfied with the offer, and the two men agreed to take 5s for the coat.

    Mrs Fren, wife of a second-hand dealer in Auburn-street, deposed that she sold a suit of clothes to Spillane; the coat produced was part of that suit; Spillane left the things in the shop for some time; when he returned two men were in the shop; she did not recognise accused as one of the men; Spillane and the men went to Carlsen’s.

    Mrs Carlsen, wife of the licensee’s of the Federal City Hotel, Auburn-street, deposed that on August 26 Spillane and some other men were in the hotel; Spillane had a parcel; he laid it on the counter; she could not remember seeing the accused there; there were five persons in the bar at the time; some dispute arose, and when it was over the parcel had gone; she saw a man take the parcel from the bar counter; he was a much shorter man than the accused.

    This closed the case.

    The Bench discharged the accused. The coat ordered to be returned to Spillane.

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Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Sat 28 Oct 1905 ²

GOULBURN POLICE COURT.
————
Saturday, Oct 28.

    Before Mr Belcher.

CHARGE OF STEALING.

    James Belmore, alias John Belmore, was charged with stealing at Goulburn on Aug 26, 1905, one suit of clothes valued at £2, the property of John Spillane.

    After evidence had been taken accused was sentenced to four months’ hard labour.

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The Goulburn Herald, Mon 30 Oct 1905 ³

GOULBURN POLICE COURT.
———◦———
Saturday.

BEFORE Mr Belcher.

STEALING.

    James Belmont, alias John Belmont, about 35, was charged with stealing at Goulburn, on 26th August, 1905, one suit of clothes, valued at £2, the property of John Spillane.

    Constable Harrowsmith produced the warrant and remand warrant from Germanton to Goulburn; he also produced swag containing a pair of trousers and vest.

    John Spillane, tanner, deposed that on 26th August he bought a suit of clothes from Mrs Fren, two doors from Carlsen’s hotel; he paid £2 for the clothes, and took them into Carlsen’s, leaving them on the counter; later on he missed them, and two days later he recovered the coat from Stewart, a second hand dealer; he saw the trousers and vest (produced) at the lock-up to-day; they were the same material and same size as those he bought; he gave no one authority to take them.

    To accused: He was not long in the hotel; he did not notice accused there; if he had been there, witness would have noticed him.

    To Senior-sergeant McHardy: Just before he lost the clothes there was some dispute or confusion.

    Saidie Fren deposed that she sold Spillane the suit of clothes produced.

    Elizabeth Ann Carlsen, married woman, deposed that on 26th August last Spillane left a parcel on her bar counter; a man took it away, saying some improper words to her; accused was very much like the man; Spillane afterwards missed the parcel.

    To accused: You were not in the bar long; you look like the man who was in the bar.

    Patrick Cant, labourer, deposed that he knew the accused, and had worked with him at Wheatley’s for three weeks; on Sunday, 27th August, he saw accused at witness’s place and had dinner there; he was looking for a mate named Leigh; accused was wearing trousers and vest like the one produced; accused said he bought a new suit of clothes last night; he had not the coat with him; he left late in the evening; witness again saw accused on Monday with Leigh, and he was still wearing the trousers and vest.

    To accused: On Sunday you walked up and down the main street wearing the trousers and vest, and you passed Carlsen’s twice.

    John Stewart deposed that he purchased the coat produced from the accused, whom he now identified.

    Senior-Sergeant McHardy deposed that he found the trousers and vest in accused’s swag; accused said he bought them from a tramp at North Goulburn railway station.

    Accused elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded not guilty. He stated that he purchased the suit from a tramp, and finding the coat too large he sold it to Stewart.

    The Bench ordered defendant to try on the coat, which was found to fit well.

    Accused was convicted and sentenced to four months’ hard labour in Goulburn jail.

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Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 31 Oct 1905 ⁴

GOULBURN POLICE COURT.
————
Saturday, Oct 28.

    Before Mr Belcher.

LARCENY.

    James Belmont was charged with stealing at Goulburn on Aug 26, 1905, one suit of clothes valued at £2, the property of John Spillane.

    Constable Harrowsmith deposed to bringing the accused over from Germanton, where he had been arrested on a warrant.

    John Spillane, tanner, Goulburn, deposed that on August 26 he bought a suit of clothes from Mrs Fren and afterwards went with it into Carlsen’s Hotel; he left the suit, wrapped up, on the counter, and while engaged with another person he lost sight of the parcel; on the Monday following he recovered the coat (produced) from Stewart, a second-hand dealer; he had seen the vest and trousers at the lock-up; they were of the same material as the coat; he did not know the accused.

    To accused: I did not notice you in the hotel.

    Sadie Fren, residing in Auburn-street, deposed to the sale of the suit (produced) to Spillane.

    Elizabeth Ann Carlsen, married woman, residing in Auburn-street, deposed that Spillane left a parcel on the counter of her husband’s hotel; a man afterwards picked it up and took it away; the man made use of improper words as he was going out the door and witness took particular notice of him; accused was very much like that man.

    Patrick Cant, labourer, residing in Goulburn, deposed that he had been working with accused; on Sunday, the 26th, accused was looking for his mate, Bert Lee or Leigh; the accused was wearing trousers and vest similar to those produced; accused told witness he had bought the clothes the night before at Knowlman’s; on Monday accused was still wearing the same trousers and vest.

    To the Bench: It was on the Sunday that accused said he had bought the clothes.

    To accused: On Sunday you passed within ten yards of the hotel twice; you did not appear at all scared about passing.

    John Stewart, second-hand dealer, Auburn-street, deposed that accused was one of the men who sold the coat to him; another man than the accused came into the shop first; accused afterwards came in and sold the coat.

    Senior-sergeant McHardy deposed that he found the trousers and vest produced in accused’s swag; accused said they were his things, and that he had bought them from a tramp near North Goulburn Railway Station; he also bought the coat from the tramp, but sold it afterwards to Stewart.

    Accused went into the box deposed that he was a labourer and resided at Germanton; while at North Goulburn on Saturday night a man offered him a lot of clothes for sale, saying that he wanted money to get to Sydney; witness bought the coat for 11/-, but found it was too big; Bert Lee met him and told him he was going int the country and had a lot of clothes which were not good to him; these he said he was going to sell; witness then said that the coat he had was too big, and he might as well sell it with Lee’s old clothes.

    To the police: He had never been in gaol; he was never known as Henry Bruce, nor by the name of “Fireworks.”

    The Bench decided to convict, and sentenced accused to four months’ imprisonment with hard labour in Goulburn Gaol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

John Belmont, Gaol photo sheet ⁵

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 1955
Goulburn

Date when Portrait was taken: 9th November 1905

Name: John Belmont
(aka John Wilson, Thomas Tait, John Burns, John Moloney,
John Murphy, Edward Fleming)

Native place: Werrebee [sic] Victoria Year of birth: 31-10-1876 or 1868 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: BS Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: R Catholic Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 5⅞" Weight     On committal: 137 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: Two vaccine marks on upper right arm. Tattoo Jockey standing on 2 whips [remainder of text illegible]

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Victoria North Melbourne Carlton PC Melbourne SC ditto	7 15 15 17	10 10 12   7	1889 1889 1890 1893	Vagrancy Receiving Larceny Unlawful wounding	6 months H.L. 6 months H.L. 3 years L & solitary  | 3 years L & solitary  |  Conduct bad 1st 2 years in irons  |
and other convictions of 3 months and under in Victoria
NSW Wagga Wagga PC Wagga Wagga Q.S Ditto  Goulburn PC	31   8   8 28	5   6   6 10	1897 1897 1897 1905	Stealing Stealing in a dwelling house Receiving Stealing	2 months L. 18 months L.  |  Concurrent Conduct bad 4 months HL.

 

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John Fairall, 1910

Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser, Fri 17 Jun 1910 ⁶

POLICE COURT.
———◦———
Tuesday, JUNE 14th.
————
(Before Mr G Stevenson, PM.)
———

…
    George Jones, alias John Fairhall, [sic] was charged with having committed an unnatural offence on 11th June.

    The evidence of Richard Lawton, a lad of 17, was to the effect that on the night in question he camped with accused and four other men under a bridge on the Gillenbah road. Accused was partly drunk, and left the camp for Narandera [sic] about six o’clock in the evening. He returned to the camp about midnight, when the alleged was committed.

    Accused denied the offence, but reserved his defence, and made application for counsel.

    Accused was committed for trial at the Court of Quarter Sessions at Cootamundra on Tuesday, July 12th.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Cootamundra Herald, Fri 15 Jul 1910 ⁷

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
Tuesday.
———

    Before his Honor Judge Montgomerie Hamilton.
…

Wednesday.

    George Jones [aka John Fairall, etc] charged with at Narandera [sic] he did carnally know and commit an unnatural offence on a boy named Richard Lawton [aka Richard Laughton] on 11th June. Plea, not guilty.

    Jury: AE Davis, DG Harris, JE Miller, TE Fisher, AG Elliott, RF Taplin, SN Ward, PS McBeath, G Meale, EG Noble, D Hallinan, GP Mitchelmore.

    Mr Weigall LLB for the defence.

    (The evidence in this case was of such a filthy nature that we must refrain from publishing.)

    The evidence was concluded at 12.40 pm.

    Mr Weigall addressed the jury at some length, the CP replied.

    His Honor summed up and charged the jury who retired to consider their verdict at 1.20 pm and returned to court at 3 pm with a verdict of guilty.
    Accused was remanded for sentence.
…

SENTENCES.

…
    George Jones was called up for sentence.

    A list of previous convictions was read against him, with sentences from 2 months to 3 years.

    His Honor said the kindest thing he could do for accused was to sentence him to imprisonment for a term long enough to keep him away from the drink. Sentenced to 9 months imprisonment in Grafton gaol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser, Fri 22 Jul 1910 ⁸

COOTAMUNDRA QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———

    The Cootamundra Quarter Sessions opened last week before Judge Hamilton and juries.

    Mr Mason prosecuted for the Crown.
…

————

    George Jones charged on Wednesday that he did carnally know and commit an unnatural offence on a boy named Richard Lawton at Narandera on 11th June.

    Plea, not guilty.

    Mr Weigall LLB for the defence.

    The evidence in this case was unfit for publication.

    His Honor summed up and charged the jury who returned a verdict of guilty of attempted sodomy.

    Accused was called up for sentence on Thursday.

    A list of previous convictions was read against him, with sentences from 2 months to 3 years. Sentenced to 9 months imprisonment in Grafton gaol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

George Jones, Gaol photo sheet ⁹

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 11420

Date when Portrait was taken: 21-7-1910

Name: George Jones
(aka George Maloney, John Wilson, Thomas Tait, John Burns, John Murphy,
John Fairall, John Belmont, Edward Fleming, J Jones)

Native place: Ballarat Year of birth: 1-5-1879 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: B.S. Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: RC Education, degree of: R and W Height: 5' 6" Weight     On committal: 141 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Hazel

Marks or special features: Jockey standing on two whips and two stirrups “EL” outside left upper arm man and woman over woman in wreath on right upper arm both arms profusely tattooed full rigged ship and bust of female on chest. Buffalo Bill and woman on back “NL. I LOVE TO. HEART. NELLIE” Horseshoe & “NED” above right knee.

(No. of previous Portrait .. 1955 Goulburn) CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Cootamundra Q.S	13	6	1910	Attempt buggery	9 months HL
And 7 previous convictions for which see Photo No. As above. And other convictions of 3 months and under in Victoria

 

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¹     Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 10 Oct 1905, p. 2. Emphasis added.

²     Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Sat 28 Oct 1905, p. 2.

³     The Goulburn Herald, Mon 30 Oct 1905, p. 2.

⁴     Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tue 31 Oct 1905, p. 4. Emphasis added.

⁵     SRNSW: NRS2232, [3/5975], Goulburn Gaol photographic description book, 19 Apr 1904-4 Jan 1907, No. 1955, p. 163, R5121

⁶     Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser, (NSW), Fri 17 Jun 1910, p. 4. Emphasis added. The newspaper title is consistently—between 1902 and 1925, the period included in these documents—named ‘Narandera’ and not ‘Narrandera’ as it currently is spelled.

⁷     The Cootamundra Herald, Fri 15 Jul 1910, pp. 2, 4.

⁸     Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser, (NSW), Fri 22 Jul 1910, p. 8. The newspaper title is consistently—between 1902 and 1925, the period included in these documents—named ‘Narandera’ and not ‘Narrandera’ as it currently is spelled.

⁹     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6075], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1910-1911, No. 11420, p. 149, R5114.

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