The Narrabri Age and Namoi District Newspaper, Tue 25 Sep 1906 ¹

LOCAL AND GENERAL
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    GRUESOME FIND.—A horrible discovery was made in Albert Park, Melbourne by two boys who found a paper parcel floating in the lake which contained portion of a man’s body. No trace of bones were found. The police are dragging the water.
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[NARRABRI] QUARTER SESSIONS.
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    The Quarter Sessions opened on Thursday, before Judge Gibson. Mr Bevan was Crown Prosecutor. John Euston Wainwright, alias John Verdon, of Sydney, charged with obtaining goods and money by false pretences, to the value of £5, from AE Collins, Limited, was found guilty and sentenced to two years’ hard labor in Maitland Gaol. A youth, [Robert Henry Gomm], 17, pleaded guilty to a charge of a criminal nature, [bestiality], in Woolabra, and was sentenced to five years’ penal servitude. His Honor said he did not intend that prisoner should serve this period in gaol, he being of unsound mind. It was the lowest penalty for the crime, and his future detention would be a matter for the authorities.

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    In the “Review of Reviews” for September, a splendid half-tone photo of Mr TM Shakespeare is produced, while there are also some remarks of a most complimentary character concerning the same gentleman.

    During last week Mr WH Short, of the Gunnedah Mills, in company with the gentleman who is to act as miller, paid a visit of inspection to Mr AR Stafford’s flour mill at Narrabri, which is to be taken over shortly by the proprietor of the Excelsior Mills, Gunnedah.

    Mr W Perry, who was stationed at Narrabri for many years, and was compelled to relinquish his duties for a very lengthy period in consequence of serious illness, has been appointed stationmaster at Banksia, on the South Coast line.

    Some startling reports are going the rounds in connection with an insurance agent who left Narrabri recently. A few local business persons lament his departure, while requests for his whereabouts are being made by firms in Sydney.

    We think that, with the beautiful fresh at present in the Namoi, when there is little prospect of persons interfering with fish that are spawning, that the Fisheries Board might be asked to reconsider their mandate in regard to the close season.

    The Narrabri Co-operative Dairy Company’s buildings are rapidly nearing completion, and will be a credit to the town and district.

    There is a strong fresh in the Namoi at the present time in consequence of the beautiful and beneficial rains “all along the line.”

    On Sunday there was a great number of the residents of the town, men, women and children, on the banks of the Namoi. Some good hauls of all classes of fish were caught.

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Robert Henry Comm, Gaol photo sheet ²

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 876
Parramatta

Date when Portrait was taken: 8th October 1906

Name: Robert Henry Gomm

Native place: Moree Year of birth: 22 December 1888 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: Church of England Education, degree of: Can sign his name only Height: 5' 11" Weight     On committal: 158 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Red discolouration junction of right wrist and hand, slight scar ball of right forefinger, scar above left temple. Minus one tooth left lower jaw. Mole in hollow of chest near right nipple. Scar near left kneecap and below right knee

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Narrabri Q.S	20	9	1906	Bestiality	5 years P.S.

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Below is Gomm’s gaol discharge photo 

Robert Henry Comm, Gaol photo sheet ³

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 1891
Bathurst

Date when Portrait was taken: 25-4-1910

Name: Robert Henry Gomm

Native place: Moree Year of birth: 22-12-1888 Arrived       Ship: BS in Colony }   Year: Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: C of E Education, degree of: RW Height: 5' 11" Weight     On committal: in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Nil

(No. of previous Portrait .. 876 Parramatta) CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Narrabri Q.S	20	9	1906	Bestiality	5 years P.S.

 

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¹     The Narrabri Age and Namoi District Newspaper, Tue 25 Sep 1906, p. 2. Emphasis added.

²     SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6011], Parramatta gaol photographic description book, 29 Aug 1905-11 Nov 1909, No. 876, p. 37, R5137.

³     SRNSW: NRS1998, [3/5963], Bathurst Gaol photographic description book, 1874-1930, No. 1891, p. 172, R5086.

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