Below also see: Patrick Scannell, 1908

 

The Bathurst Daily Argus, Thu 11 Oct 1906 ¹

CIRCUIT COURT.
——–▴——–
Monday, October 10.
——–
(Before Mr Justice Cohen).

    Mr H De Lissa acted as Judge’s Associate, Mr WH Webb, Deputy Sheriff, Mr JD Fitzgerald, Crown Prosecutor, Mr Nicholls represented the Crown Solicitor.

    The barristers present were: Messrs Boyce, Rutherford, and HA Manning. All the local attorneys were represented, those from other centres being Messrs EA Macintosh (Parkes), H McLaughlin (Orange), A Pile (Blayney) and HF Thompson (Lithgow).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Bathurst Daily Argus, Fri 12 Oct 1906 ²

ASSIZE COURT.
———
Tuesday, October 11.
(Before Mr Justice Cohen).

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

    Patrick Scannell, an old man, was indicted for that he, on the 14th day of September, 1906, at Mount McDonald, did attempt to commit an abominable offence [bestiality ].
    Plea: Not guilty.
    The particulars of the case are unfit for publication.
    The Jury, after a short retirement, returned to court with a verdict of guilty.
    The Jury recommended the accused to mercy on account of his age.
    Remanded for sentence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The National Advocate, Fri 12 Oct 1906 ³

UNNATURAL OFFENCE
———

    At the Bathurst Circuit Court yesterday, before his Honor Mr Justice Cohen and a jury of twelve, an elderly man named Patrick Scannell, was charged with that he did on September 14, 1906, at Mt McDonald, attempt to commit an unnatural offence.

    Evidence was given that at the time of the commission of the crime accused was intoxicated and apparently suffering from delirium tremens. The offence was committed in his hut on Mr Kinghorne’s property on the Abercrombie River, about 8 miles from Mr [sic] McDonald. When discovered he attempted to cut his throat with a knife but was prevented.

    Accused said the whole thing appeared to him like a huge nightmare which completely overpowered and crushed him. “If I happen to outlive this affair,” he added “I will bury myself in an old age institution and pay some attention to the Great Secret.”

    The jury, after a brief retirement, returned into court with a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy on account of accused’s old age.

    The gaol records showed no previous convictions against the accused, who was remanded for sentence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Bathurst Daily Argus, Sat 13 Oct 1906 ⁴

CIRCUIT COURT.
———
Friday, October 12.

    His Honor took his seat on the Bench at 10 o’clock.

SENTENCES.

…
    Patrick Scannell, found guilty of attempting to commit an abominable offence.

    Accused said he was 77 years of age and had never been charged with any offence before. On the occasion of this trouble he had drunk a quantity of new wine, and did not know what he was doing.

    His Honour said the offence charged against accused was most revolting, and he would not have been guilty of it, but for the drink. His previous character had been good and clean, and he was sorry to see him in his present position. He was another victim of the terrible curse, which overhung the whole of civilisation. Men would squander their money and ruin themselves morally and physically. After doing this they got into trouble and then claimed leniency from the judge. He sentenced accused to 18 months hard labour in Goulburn Gaol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The National Advocate, Sat 13 Oct 1906 ⁵

BATHURST CIRCUIT COURT
———
THE SENTENCES
———

    His Honor Mr Justice Cohen passed sentence at the Bathurst Circuit Court yesterday on four prisoners whose cases had been heard earlier in the sittings.
…

AN UNNATURAL OFFENCE.

    Patrick Scannell, when brought up for sentence for committing an unnatural offence, of which he had been found guilty, said that he was 77 years of age and had never before been before a court on a charge of any kind. He received an injury to the head some years ago, and was intoxicated when he committed the offence.

    His Honor said prisoner had been found guilty of a very revolting offence – one more repugnant it would be hard to imagine – and had rendered himself liable to five years’ penal servitude. He sentenced accused to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labor in Goulburn gaol, “where,” added his Honor, “you will be well cared for, and will have an opportunity of breaking away from any tendency of drink which you might have.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Patrick Scannell, Gaol photo sheet ⁶

---

Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 10198

Date when Portrait was taken: at Biloela 30-10-1906

Name: Patrick Scannell

Native place: Ireland Year of birth: 17 March 1830 Arrived       Ship: Lady Alma Bruce in Colony }   Year: 1857 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Miner Religion: Roman Catholic Education, degree of: Read & write Height: 5' 3¾" Weight     On committal: 151 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Grey Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Right shoulder dislocated. Deaf in right ear

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Bathurst G.D	11	10	1906	Attempt to commit bestiality.	18 months H.L. in Goulburn Gaol.

 

---

 

Patrick Scannell, 1908

The Wellington Times, Mon 9 Nov 1908 ⁷

LOCAL JOTTINGS.
———◦———

…
    An old man named Patrick Scannell, who was brought into the Wellington Hospital from Stuart Town by Constable Sykes, died in the institution on Saturday and was buried in the Wellington cemetery during the afternoon.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 16 Nov 1908 ⁸

AN ECCENTRIC FOSSICKER.
———◦———
THREATENS TO SHOOT POLICE.
———

Wellington, Saturday.

    An old man residing near Stuart Town, named Patrick Scannell, but better known as “Mad Mick,” was found in shocking state, and was taken by the police to the Wellington Hospital, where he died. When the police went to his hut he abused them, and made an effort to shoot the senior-constable. He had between 40 and 50 calico flour bags sewn around his body and legs, and a pair of old moleskin flour bags sandwiched between the flour bags. On searching the hut the police found a bank-book hidden away in a bag, which showed that the old fellow had over £150 to his credit in the bank, though he denied himself proper food. He was of very eccentric habits, never making friends with his fellow-fossickers, and he was never known to burn a light at night. He always carried a rifle with him, and was often seen lying rifle in hand on the heap where he was working. He is supposed to have some brothers in Ireland.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times, Tue 17 Nov 1908 ⁹

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.
———◦———

…

NEW SOUTH WALES.
———

…

STARVING IN A HUT.
———
AND £150 IN THE BANK.

    SYDNEY, Monday.—An old man named Patrick Scannell has been found in a shocking state of emaciation in a hut near Sturt. When the police approached the hut Scannell fired at them, but missed. He died shortly after admission to the hospital. He had £150 to his credit in the bank.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, Fri 20 Nov 1908 ¹⁰

NEWS IN BRIEF.
————
NEW SOUTH WALES.
———

…
    An old man named Patrick Scannell, known as “Mad Mick,” was found in a shocking state of neglect and emaciation in his hut near Stuart, a town in the Wellington district. He was taken to the Wellington Hospital, where he speedily died. Scannell tried to shoot the police who went to his hut. He had about 50 small calico flour bags sewn round his body and legs. On a search being made of the hut a bank book was discovered, showing that Scannel [sic] had $150 to his credit. He denied himself proper food, and was never known to burn a light in his hut. He always carried a gun with him, and never made friends with his fellow-fossickers.

 

---

¹     The Bathurst Daily Argus, Thu 11 Oct 1906, p. 2.

²     The Bathurst Daily Argus, Fri 12 Oct 1906, p. 2.

³     The National Advocate, Fri 12 Oct 1906, p. 2.

⁴     The Bathurst Daily Argus, Sat 13 Oct 1906, p. 2.

⁵     The National Advocate, Sat 13 Oct 1906, p. 3.

⁶     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6071], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1905-1907, No. 10198, p. 287, R5111.

⁷     The Wellington Times, Mon 9 Nov 1908, p. 2.

⁸     The Sydney Morning Herald, Mon 16 Nov 1908, p. 6.

⁹     The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times, Tue 17 Nov 1908, p. 3.

¹⁰   The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, Fri 20 Nov 1908, p. 34.

---