Below also see: Ernest Frederick Rankin, 1922

 

The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 24 Jan 1905 ¹

PARRAMATTA DISTRICT.
———◦———

    The Parramatta Court of Quarter Sessions was opened on Monday morning, before Judge Docker. Mr AF Dawson was Crown Prosecutor; Mr Jac Watt, CPS, clerk of the peace; and Mr DD Henderson, JP, Judge’s associate.

MALICIOUSLY SHOOTING.

    Ernest Frederick Rankin [aka Ranken; Renken] pleaded guilty to a charge of maliciously shooting at George Willis, at Burragorang, on December 28, 1904. He was remanded for sentence. He also pleaded guilty to charges of breaking and entering and stealing in the premises of the said George Willis, and bestiality. The prisoner, who is 18 years of age, was remanded for sentence.

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The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Wed 25 Jan 1905 ²

PARRAMATTA QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———
Monday, January 23rd.

    The Sessions was opened on Monday, before Judge Docker.

    Mr AF Dawson was Crown Prosecutor; Mr Jas Watt, CPS, Clerk of the Peace; and Mr DD Henderson, JP, Deputy Sheriff.

EXCUSED.

    James Kearn, a juryman, was excused from attendance on the grounds of ill health, ensued by an accident.

    Archibald Maxwell was excused on the condition that he came if sent for. He was excused on account of his suffering patients.

    L Cox was excused on account of a death in the family.

    Kendall Hume was excused on the ground of ill health.

    Edward Nicoll Murray, a juryman, did not answer to his name. The matter was allowed to stand over for the present. Later on Mr Murray asked to be excused on the grounds of urgent business. His manager was ill, and the business necessitated his presence. Excused.

FROM BURRAGORANG.

    Ernest Frederick Rankin was charged with maliciously shooting at George Willis, at Upper Burragorang on the 28th of December, 1904. He pleaded guilty.

    He was also charged with breaking and entering and stealing in the premises of the said George Willis. He pleaded guilty.

    The same prisoner also pleaded guilty to a charge of indecency [bestiality ].

    Remanded for sentence.

    Prisoner, in answer to the Judge, said he was about 18 years of age, so far as he could say.
…

Tuesday, January 24.

…

SENTENCES.

…
    Rankin was sentenced to 7 years’ penal servitude.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 25 Jan 1905 ³

PARRAMATTA DISTRICT.
———◦———
QUARTER SESSIONS.
————

    The Court of Quarter Sessions was continued at Parramatta yesterday.
…

SENTENCES.

…
    Ernest Frederick Rankin, who had pleaded guilty to charges of maliciously shooting at George Willis, at Upper Burragorang, and also to a charge of breaking and entering, was sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude.

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The Cumberland Times, Thu 26 Jan 1905 ⁴

PARRAMATTA QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———

    The Parramatta Court of Quarter Sessions opened on Monday before Mr Judge Docker, Mr Dawson acted as Crown Prosecutor.

A SERIES OF CHARGES.

    Ernest Frederick Rankin was arraigned on three charges—First, with shooting at George Willis with intent at Upper Burragorang on December 28; second, with breaking and entering the dwelling of George Willis, and stealing therein; third, with committing an abominable offence. Accused pleaded guilty to all the charges, and was remanded for sentence. On being brought up for sentence he was sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude.

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The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 28 Jan 1905 ⁵

PARRAMATTA
QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———
Tuesday, January 24.

SENTENCES.

THE BOY FROM BURRAGORANG.

    Ernest Frederick Rankin, who had pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, shooting with intent, and indecency, was called up for sentence.

    Prisoner asked for leniency. He said he could not remember any father or mother. He had no relatives. He went to school at Mittagong.

    There were no records against the prisoner.

    His Honor sentenced Ranken [sic] to seven years’ penal servitude on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent.

    His Honor pointed out that that was the lowest sentence he could give, as he had to make the term of imprisonment one of penal servitude. Whether the lad (Ranken was only 18 years old) would have to serve the whole sentence would largely depend upon his future conduct; but it was plain that it was not safe for a lad capable of committing such crimes as he had pleaded guilty to, to be at large.

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Ernest Frederick Renken, Gaol photo sheet ⁶

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 801
Parramatta

Date when Portrait was taken: 31-1-1905

Name: Ernest Frederick Renken

Native place: Bathurst Year of birth: 1st Nov 1886 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: Presbyterian Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 1" Weight     On committal: 113 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Black Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Mole below left breast. Scar above right knee. Scar on right thigh. Large scar on right shin. Scar on right instep.

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Parramatta Q.S	23	1	1905	1) Shoot at with intent to do grievous bodily harm 2) Break & enter a dwelling house & steal therein 3) Bestiality	7 years P.S.    |                      | Concurrent 7 years P.S.    | 7 years P.S.    |

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Below is Ranken’s gaol discharge photo

Ernest F[rederick] Rankin, Gaol photo sheet ⁷

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 1890
Bathurst

Date when Portrait was taken: 25 April 1910

Name: Ernest F[rederick] Rankin

Native place: Bathurst Year of birth: 1-11-1886 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: BC Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: Presbyterian Education, degree of: R. W. Height: 5' 1" Weight     On committal: in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Black Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Mole on left breast, scar over right knee. Large scar on right shin

(No. of previous Portrait .. 801 Parramatta) CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Parramatta Q.S	23	6	1905	Bestiality Break Enter Steal Shooting with intent to do G[rievous] B[odily] Harm	7 years P.S.

 

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Ernest Frederick Rankin, 1922

The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 6 Nov 1922 ⁸

ALLEGED BREAKING AND
ENTERING.
———◦———

    Ernest Frederick Rankin, 35, appeared before Mr Gale, SM, at the Central Police Court on Saturday morning, charged with breaking and entering the Riverstone Post-office with intent to steal.

    The police prosecutor (Inspector Spyer) stated that the defendant had been caught early that morning on the premises. He had burglar’s usual tools. The inspector applied for a remand until November 18.

    The remand was granted, bail being allowed in £250.

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Singleton Argus, Tue 7 Nov 1922 ⁹

BURGLAR CAUGHT
———◦———
IN RIVERSTONE POST OFFICE.
————

    Detectives, who had been on watch at Riverstone Post Office on Friday night, consequent on “information received,” succeeded in arresting a man while trying to enter the office. At 12.30 am the officers saw the man come stealthily along the road. He took off his boots and climbed on the sill of the window, which he attempted to force with a knife. This being unsuccessful he broke the pane over the lock, opened the window and disappeared.

    The intruder, when arrested, was found to have a brace, two bits, a knife, a plug of gelignite, and three detonators, two of which were clamped on a fuse ready to use, in his possession.

    At the Central Police Station on Saturday, Ernest Frederick Rankin, 35, described by the police prosecutor as a man with a history, was remanded on a charge of entering with intent to steal.

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Windsor and Richmond Gazette, Fri 10 Nov 1922 ¹⁰

TRAPPED IN THE POST OFFICE.
————
ARREST AT RIVERSTONE.
————

    The Sydney detectives must have heard something. Certain it is they were “wise” to something that was going to happen in Riverstone, and during the early hours of Saturday morning made a clever arrest in the Riverstone post office. They laid a trap and their man walked right into it. A party, consisting of Detective-Sergeant Thompson, Detectives Jones, Allmond and Grieves, and Constable Thorne, motored up from Sydney, and were joined at Riverstone by Constable Crip. Detectives Jones and Grieves secreted themselves in the post office, and the four others disposed themselves in convenient positions in the vicinity. Shortly after midnight a man came out of the railway yards and went to the post office. Having reconnoitred, he retired to a vacant allotment and took off his boots. Then he returned to the post office, and, failing to slip the latch of the window, smashed a pane of glass and pushed the catch back. As he climbed through the window he was challenged by Grieves and Jones. The intruder attempted to escape by the window, but Detective Grieves fired a shot, and the man threw up his arms in token of surrender. The other officers arrived on the spot, and the man was arrested. He had a brace and two bits in his hand, and in his pockets were found plugs of gelignite, three live detonators, a knife, and a file. His boots were restored to him, and he was taken to Sydney. His name is Ernest Frederick Rankin, and he was taken to the Central Police Station, where he was formally charged with breaking and entering the Riverstone post office with intent to steal. He was remanded.

    Ernest Frederick Rankin, aged 35, was again before the Central Police Court on Tuesday, and was further remanded, this time to Burwood Police Court on November 14.

    Three charges were laid against defendant: (1) Breaking and entering the Riverstone post office with intent to steal. (2) Breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Cecil Patrick White on October 26, and stealing jewellery, money, and other property valued at £10; and (3) attempting on October 27, to break and enter the same premises, which are situated at Margaret-street, Strathfield, with intent to steal.

    Bail was not applied for.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 8 Dec 1922 ¹¹

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge White.)

    (Mr LJ McKean, Crown Prosecutor.)
…

BREAKING, ENTERING, AND STEALING.

    Ernest Frederick Rankin pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering the dwelling of James Ewart Mackie, at Croydon, on October 23, and stealing a quantity of jewellery and other articles; to breaking and entering the dwelling of Cecil Patrick White, at Strathfield, on October 25, and stealing two finger rings, a medal, two razors, a shirt, two collars, two pipes, a pair of socks, and other articles, together with £1/10/ ; and to breaking and entering the dwelling of Frederick Middenway Crovin, at Five Dock, on October 31, and stealing two watches, a watch-chain, a medal, and a brooch. On each charge accused was remanded for sentence.

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Windsor and Richmond Gazette, Fri 8 Dec 1922 ¹²

RIVERSTONE.
————

…
    At Parramatta Quarter Sessions on Monday Ernest Frederick Rankin, charged with breaking and entering Riverstone Post Office on November 4, with intent to steal, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment in Bathurst gaol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 9 Dec 1922 ¹³

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge White.)

    Mr CE Weigall, Crown Prosecutor.

SENTENCES.

    Persons who had pleaded guilty or who had been convicted were dealt with as follow:—
…
    Ernest Frederick Rankin, on three charges of breaking, entering, and stealing, was sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour in Bathurst Gaol, on each charge concurrent.

 

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¹     The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 24 Jan 1905, p. 6.

²     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Wed 25 Jan 1905, pp. 2, 3.

³     The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 25 Jan 1905, p. 8.

⁴     The Cumberland Times (Parramatta), Thu 26 Jan 1905, p. 2.

⁵     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Sat 28 Jan 1905, p. 7.

⁶     SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6010], Parramatta photographic description book, 1880-1930, No. 801, p. 222, R5137.

⁷     SRNSW: NRS1998, [3/5963], Bathurst Gaol photographic description book, 1874-1930, No. 1890, p. 171, R5086.

⁸     The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 6 Nov 1922, p. 7.

⁹     Singleton Argus, Tue 7 Nov 1922, p. 4.

¹⁰   Windsor and Richmond Gazette, Fri 10 Nov 1922, p. 12.

¹¹   The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 8 Dec 1922, p. 6.

¹²   Windsor and Richmond Gazette, Fri 8 Dec 1922, p. 9.

¹³   The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 9 Dec 1922, p. 11.

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