Below also see: John William Tonkin, 1907
 

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 8 Sep 1905 1

COUNTRY NEWS.
———◦———

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———

Kempsey, Thursday.

    Acting Judge Hamilton presided at the Kempsey Quarter Sessions yesterday. Mr Browning acted as Crown Prosecutor. There were also present Messrs Cowan and Young, barristers, John William Tonkin charged with stealing a horse and goods to the value of £8, the property of an Indian hawker on the Hastings River, pleaded guilty to both charges, and was sentenced to six months on each count, sentences to be suspended under the First Offenders’ Act .

    Samuel McIlwain, charged with stealing £7 from the person of William Partridge of Gladstone, was found not guilty.

    Billy Dungay, a blackfellow, charged with assaulting a half-caste girl under the age of 14 years, was discharged.

    William Jeffrey, charged with stealing two fowls, the property of FA Maraun, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, and at the end of the period to find sureties for his good behaviour for a further four months.

    A case of alleged cattle-stealing, which is now being heard, will conclude the present list.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Macleay Argus, Sat 9 Sep 1905 2

KEMPSEY QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———
Wednesday, Sept 6—Before His Honor
Acting-Judge Hamilton.
————

    Mr RJ Browning acted as Crown Prosecutor. Messrs R Cowan and Young (barristers) and Messrs J Gilfillan, JR Marrack, and SL Rudder (solicitors) were also present. Mr Chas Sutherland, JP, acted as Deputy Sheriff.

————

    The Judge took the judicial oath as Acting-Judge of the court.

————

    Mr AB Cochrane was fined 40s for non attendance on the jury, but on his appearance later the fine was afterwards remitted.

————

    John William Tonkin was charged with stealing at Yarras a gelding the property of Goolam Hosine. Accused, who is a lad of about 16 years of age, pleaded guilty. He was also charged with stealing goods valued at £8, the property of Goolam Hosine. He pleaded guilty and was remanded for sentence.

    Later on, when Tonkin was brought up for sentence, Mr Gilfillan gave evidence as to accused’s family, whom he had known for many years. He said the boy‘s father had died in the Parramatta Asylum and for many years before his death had suffered from St Vitus’ dance, and all the children, including this lad, were more or less affected.

    His Honor said it was evident accused did not appreciate the seriousness of his position. He didn’t like to send him to gaol, and would extend the provisions of the First Offenders’ Act . He was sentenced to six months on each charge, the sentence to be suspended on his finding sureties to be of good behaviour for 12 months.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Macleay Chronicle, Thu 14 Sep 1905 3

QUARTER SESSIONS.
————

THE Court of Quarter Sessions opened at West Kempsey on Wednesday morning last, His Honor Acting-Judge Hamilton presiding. Mr RJ Browning, as usual, acted as Crown Prosecutor, and the Barristers present were Messrs R Cowan and Young. The local solicitors present were Messrs Jno Gilfillan, JR Marrack, and SL Rudder. Mr Chas Sutherland occupied a seat on the Bench as Deputy Sheriff.

    On account of non-attendance when the jurymen were called Mr AB Cochrane was fined 40s, but on arriving shortly afterwards the fine was remitted.

————————
STEALING A HORSE.
————

    John William Tonkin pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing at Yarras, a gelding, the property of Goolam Hosine. He was also charged with stealing goods valued at £8 the property of the same owner. He was remanded for sentence.

    At a later stage, evidence as to character was given by Mr Gilfillan, and His Honor consented to extend the provisions of the First Offenders’ Act . He imposed a sentence of six months on each charge, the sentence to be suspended on his finding sureties to be of good behaviour for 12 months.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate, Sat 16 Sep 1905 4

KEMPSEY QUARTER SESSIONS.
————

    The Kempsey Quarter Sessions opened before His Honor Acting-Judge Hamilton on Wednesday week, September 6th. Mr RJ Browning acted as Crown Prosecutor and the other gentlemen representing the legal profession present were—Messrs R Cowan and Young (barristers), J Gilfillan, JR Marrack, and SL Rudder (solicitors).

    John William Tonkin was charged with stealing a Yarras, a gelding the property of Goolam Hosine. Accused, who is a lad of about 16 years of age, pleaded guilty. He was also charged with stealing goods valued at £8, the property of Goolam Hosine. He pleaded guilty and was remanded for sentence.

    Later on, Tonkin was brought up for sentence, Mr Gilfillan gave evidence as to accused’s family, whom he had known for many years. He said the boy’s father had died in the Parramatta Asylum and for many years before his death had suffered from St Vitus’ dance, and all the children, including this lad were more or less affected.

    His Honor said it was evident accused did not appreciate the seriousness of his position. He didn’t like to send him to gaol, and would extend the provisions of the First Offenders’ Act . He was sentenced to six months on each charge, the sentence to be suspended on his finding sureties to be of good behaviour for 12 months.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


John William Tomkins, Gaol photo sheet 5

SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6070], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1904-1905, No. 9840, p305, R5111.


Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 9840
[EB] 05-4469

Date when Portrait was taken: 21-9-1905

Name: John William Tomkins [sic]

Native place: Wauchope

Year of birth: 1888

Arrived       Ship:
in Colony }   Year: BC

Trade or occupation
previous to conviction  } Nil

Religion: Wesleyan

Education, degree of: R & W

Height: 5' 1½"

Weight     On committal: 103
in lbs     } On discharge:

Colour of hair: Brown

Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Scar on right forefinger. Scar on inside right shin.

(No. of previous Portrait ... ) 

CONVICTIONS
Where and When Offence. Sentence

Kempsey Q.S

6

 9

1905

Cattle stealing Larceny

6 months HL on each charge concurrent,
to be suspended under Crimes Act on
finding sureties, self in £40 with one in
£40, to be of good behaviour for 12
months.

 

 

John William Tonkin, 1907  6

The Daily Telegraph, Fri 17 May 1907 7

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

    Mr Hugh Pollock prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…

REMANDED FOR SENTENCE.

    John William Tonkin, a youth, charged with committing a criminal offence, [bestiality ], was found guilty, and remanded for sentence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 17 May 1907 8

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Backhouse and juries.)

    Mr Pollock, Solicitor-General, prosecuted for the Crown.

Found Guilty.

    John William Tonkin, aged about 18 years, was found guilty of an offence at Port Macquarie, on March 31, and was remanded for sentence and medical observation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Daily Telegraph, Wed 22 May 1907 9

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———
(Before Judge Backhouse and jury.)

    Mr Hugh Pollock prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…

SENTENCED.

    John William Tonkin, 17 years of age, who had been found guilty of an abominable offence, was committed to Goulburn Gaol for a period of five months, with hard labor.

 

1     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 8 Sep 1905, p. 3. Emphasis added.

2     The Macleay Argus (Kempsey), Sat 9 Sep 1905, p. 8.

3     The Macleay Chronicle (Kempsey), Thu 14 Sep 1905, p. 6.

4     The Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate, (NSW), Sat 16 Sep 1905, p. 2.

5     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6070], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1904-1905, No. 9840, p305, R5111.

6     The Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate, (NSW), Sat 23 Mar 1907, p. 2, reports John William Tonkin in a Port Macquarie Quarter Sessions trial as a witness in a case against Norman H Spence, on, bail, charged with stealing 9 bottles of wine.

7     The Daily Telegraph, Fri 17 May 1907, p. 8.

8     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 17 May 1907, p. 4.

9     The Daily Telegraph, Wed 22 May 1907, p. 13.

 

Bestiality