John Richmond, 1907 – Stealing

Below also see: John Richmond, 1907 – Sodomy,
John Richmond, 1911

 

The Brisbane Courier, Sat 23 Feb 1907 ¹

POLICE COURTS.
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    In the Central Police Court yesterday, before Lieutenant-Colonel RA Moore, PM, Messrs A Scells and CA Morris, JJ.P, a youth named John Richmond was charged with having stolen between February 2 and 21, in the dwelling house of David Thompson Wright, at Clayfield, two suits of clothes, two coats, and two vests, valued at £7. Defendant was remanded for a week.

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The Brisbane Courier, Sat 16 Mar 1907 ²

POLICE COURTS.
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    In the Central Police Court yesterday, before Colonel Moore, PM, John Richmond, 18, on remand, was charged with having stolen, at Clayfield, in the dwelling-house of David T Wright, two suits of clothes, two coats, and two vests, valued at £7. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, with hard labour, the sentence to be suspended on his entering into a recognisance of £25 to be of good behaviour for twelve months, and on his refunding £1 2s to Archibald Hines and 10s to Sam Hawgood, sen, being sums received by defendant for clothing pawned by him. One month was allowed for payment.

 

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John Richmond, 1907

The Brisbane Courier, Wed 10 Apr 1907 ³

IPSWICH AND WEST MORTON
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Circuit Court.—Cycling.—Football.

Ipswich, April 9.

    The sittings of the Circuit Court were held this morning, before his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir PA Cooper). Mr JJ Kingsbury prosecuted on behalf of the Crown. There were three cases set down, including that of Martin Randolph, charged with attempted rape at Goodna. No true bill was filed Madame Zeta pleaded guilty to a charge of committing a certain offence on a woman, and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. In a second case of alleged obtaining of money by means of threat, a nolle prosequi was entered. John Richmond, 16 years of age, pleaded guilty to a criminal offence, and was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment.

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Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Thu 11 Apr 1907 ⁴

IPSWICH CIRCUIT
COURT.
———: ◦ :———
CRIMINAL SITTINGS.
———— 

    The criminal sittings of the Ipswich Circuit Court were held before his Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Pope A Cooper, on Tuesday last. The officers of the Court in attendance were: Deputy-Sheriff, the Police Magistrate (Mr CAM Morris); Crown Prosecutor, JJ Kingsbury (instructed by Mr AE Lavers, from the Crown Law Office); associate, Mr CB Philpott; and acting-tipstaff, Mr TJ Ballinger (bailiff of the Supreme Court).

AN ABSENT JUROR.

    When the list of jurors who were summoned to appear was called Mr Albert Edwin Roberts failed to answer to his name. Mr TW Hardy rose and mentioned that Mr Roberts had arranged to be married on the 3rd instant, and to spend the honeymoon out of the State. He was not, therefore, able to attend. Mr Kingsbury stated that Mr Roberts had not received his summons to attend the Court until the day before he had arranged to leave the city. As soon as he became aware of the risk which he ran Mr Roberts communicated with the Crown Law Office. The Court would not be in any way inconvenienced as a result of his absence. His Honour intimated that, in the circumstances, Mr Roberts would be excused from attendance.
…

UNNATURAL OFFENCE.

    John Richmond was arraigned on a charge of having committed an unnatural offence. Prisoner pleaded “Guilty.”

    When asked if he had anything to say he made no reply.

    Mr Kingsbury stated that while the prisoner had been out on bail he had been convicted of stealing, and had been given the benefit of the First Offenders’ Probation Act.

    His Honour, addressing the prisoner, said that he had pleaded “Guilty” to one of the most detestable crimes known to law. Before the Criminal Code was passed the maximum penalty for such an offence was penal servitude for life and the minimum penalty 10 years’ penal servitude. For certain reasons the minimum of 10 years had been omitted from the Code. Considering the circumstances of the case under review he felt it was his duty to sentence the prisoner to a term equal to the minimum formerly provided for. He then asked prisoner his age.

    Prisoner: Sixteen.

    His Honour: Nonsense!

    Prisoner: I will be 17 years old in May.

    In reply to a question by his Honour, Mr Kingsbury stated that there was an Act on the statute-book giving his Honour power to send a prisoner who was under 17 years of age to the reformatory–that was, if his Honour thought it were wise to do so. In the present case the police believed the prisoner was more then 17 years of age. It would probably appear to his Honour that the prisoner was not the class of boy to be put amongst other boys.

    His Honour: I should say certainly not. The sentence of the Court is that the prisoner shall be imprisoned, and kept at hard labour for 10 years.

    The Court was then adjourned sine die.

 

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John Richmond, 1911

The Cowra Free Press and Canowindra, Goolagong, Cargo, Grenfell and Young General Advertiser, Sat 11 Feb 1911 ⁵

POLICE COURT.
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Monday.
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(Before the PM.)
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…
    John Richmond was remanded for 8 days on a charge of stealing one horse the property of John McKay, at Woodstock.

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The Cowra Free Press and Canowindra, Goolagong, Cargo, Grenfell and Young General Advertiser, Wed 15 Feb 1911 ⁶

POLICE COURT.
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Monday.
———
(Before the PM.)
———

…
    John Richmond (on remand). Stealing one horse the property of John McKay at Woodstock on Jan 27th, 1911.

    Following evidence of arrest was given by Senior Constable Berry at Wallerawang.

    Archibald Campbell Berry deposed he was a Senior Constable of Police stationed at Portland; from information received he went to a camp on the Wallerawang road about a mile from Portland; about 60 yds from the camp saw a brown gelding with a broken mouth, off hip down, branded O over R on near shoulder in hobbles; there was a young woman in the camp; said to her “Are you married?” she replied “Yes;” said “Where is your husband?” she said “He went to town to get stores;” said :”When will he be back;” she replied “Any time now;” caught the horse and tied him to a tree, remaining in camp until 1 o’clock; Constable Quinlan then came to the camp; left him in charge of the horse and walked back towards Portland; saw accused in a broken cart; asked him where he was camped, and he replied “Along the road a bit; he got out of the cart and walked with witness to the camp; on arrival there said to the accused “Is this your camp?” and he replied “Yes;” asked was the horse his and he replied “Yes;” said “Where did you get him?” he said “I bought him in Parkes;” said “From whom did you get him?” he said “I cannot think of the man’s name;” said “Did you get a receipt?” he replied “Yes. But I believe I have lost it;” he then said “I dealt this horse away for another at Woodstock, I took the horse back to the man I dealt with because it was a kicker. I asked for my own horse back and the “boot” I had given. He said if I went out along the road I could get a horse for the “boot;” said “What is the name of the man you dealt with?” he replied “McKay;” said “Was it John McKay;” accused said “Yes;” said “John McKay has reported this horse as stolen; then arrested accused; accused said “All right;” accused searched for a receipt, but could not find one; he prayed for a remand to Cowra.

    Following evidence was adduced here:—

    Constable John Bain deposed to receiving accused from Constable Moore, of Bathurst, together with the warrant and depositions (produced).

    John McKay deposed he was a dealer and resided at Woodstock; knew accused; saw him several times at Woodstock; saw him on the Sunday before Jan 26th; afterwards had a transaction with him regarding horses; that was on the Monday before the 26th; that morning accused came to him and asked “Have you any horses to deal;” said “Yes;” accused said “Where are they?” said “I will get one for you to have a look at;” got a horse; when witness got the horse they could not deal that morning; accused said “Will you be here to-morrow morning?” witness said “Yes;” he came on the Tuesday morning; they made a deal; accused gave 25s and another horse for the one witness had; the horse he got from witness was a brown horse, with one hip down, branded O over R near shoulder; saw the horse that morning at the police station in the presence of accused; gave accused a receipt with the horse he gave him; got a receipt from him for the horse witness gave him; produced the receipt (accused admitted the receipt); accused took the horse he got away and witness took the brown horse to a paddock; saw accused again on the following day (Wednesday); accused came back and said “This horse I got from you broke my sulky; he was then riding the horse; he wanted to make a deal back with witness for the brown horse; he offered the horse back if witness would give him the brown horse and 10s; said “I don’t deal like a baby;” he then said “Give me the black horse level and keep the ‘boot’;” said “No. That is no good to me;” the horse had his legs cut; accused said “Well, I’m stuck;” then said “If you like I will give you a horse I have on the Canowindra road back for the bay horse;” accused then asked for the description of this horse; gave it to him and he went and got him; accused brought him back to Woodstock; they made a deal; said “What do you think of him?” accused said “He’ll do me;” asked for the receipt of the other horse; they then exchanged receipts; accused then rode the horse away; watched him play a game of billiards on the Wednesday; did not see him again; the horse in the police yard was his; gave no one authority to take the horse; missed the horse on Friday, 27th January, the day after the races; spoke to Constable Doran about it.

    Accused, [John Richmond] in answer to the bench, said he was only a short time in NSW.

    To accused: This first deal with you was a bay gelding for a brown horse; this horse did not suit you; he turned out a kicker; you made this deal on the Tuesday; you came to the billiard room and saw me on Tuesday night; you told me the horse was no good, as he was a kicker; you wanted to bring him back; did not say “I will have to see my wife before I could deal the horse back again;” I told you I would see you again next morning; was not home the next morning; saw you somewhere near dinner time; saw you again in the afternoon; you had the bay horse with you; you did not ask me to deal the horse back and the money you gave me; did not say “I will see my wife first;” told you I had given the black horse to my wife; did not offer you the brown horse back again without the boot; you did not say “That is no good to me. I want my “boot” or something in place of it;” did not say “I have a bay horse with four brown legs, if you wish to go out for him you can have him in place of the ‘boot,’” You went out and brought the bay horse in and asked me if it was my horse; it was on Friday morning; said “How does he suit you?” You did not say “He’ll suit me for the boot;” we did not make a deal on the conditions you speak of; did not ask you for the receipt I had given you; did not say “Tear it up and I will tear up the receipt I gave you for the brown gelding;” you did not tear up the receipt in front of me; you gave me back my receipt; did not say to you “I will tear up that receipt for the brown gelding or burn it when I go inside;” went in side and wrote out a receipt for the bay horse with four white legs; brought that receipt out; did not say “Don’t say anything to my wife that I made a deal with you for this brown horse; you then left and I did not see you again until I saw you playing a game of billiards; next saw you at the police station this morning; did not follow you from Woodstock to Bathurst; followed you to Lagoon; missed the horse and had an idea he was “shook;” got certain information from my father at Blayney; my father came to me at Woodstock; that is why I followed you to Lagoon.

    To the Police: Accused was camped up above the racecourse at Woodstock; that might be a mile or a little more from the town; the paddock I put the horse in is on the opposite side of Woodstock, but in the town; the paddock is 10 acres.

    To accused: You did not say when you were going away with the bay horse with the four white legs “Let the brown gelding out of the paddock and he will find his way down to the camp.”

    Sidney Sloan (11 years) deposed he was the son of James Sloan and resided at Woodstock; knew the brown horse McKay got in exchange; saw the horse in the yard that day; accused was present; saw it at Woodstock the day after the races; brought the horse to near the gate and it then galloped away; it was McKay’s gate his brother was trying to open.

    The bench and parties then left to see the horse.

    Constable Doran deposed he had seen a brown gelding that morning in the police yard in the presence of the parties concerned; took the horse into his possession on Saturday from Constable Riardon, of Mandurama; it bore the brands of the horse reported as stolen on January 27th.

    Accused reserved his defence, and was committed to stand his trial at Cowra Quarter Sessions on Monday, March 6th, 1911.

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Canowindra Star and Eugowra News, Fri 24 Feb 1911 ⁷

LOCAL TOPICS.
———:○:———

…
    John Richmond has been committed for trial at Cowra on a charge of stealing a horse, the property of J McKay, at Woodstock, on January 27. He will stand his trial at the Cowra Quarter Sessions on March 6.

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The Cowra Free Press and Canowindra, Goolagong, Cargo, Grenfell and Young General Advertiser, Wed 8 Mar 1911 ⁸

STEALING AT WOODSTOCK.
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    John Richmond was charged before [Cowra Quarter Sessions’] Acting Judge Bevan with stealing a horse the property of John McKay, junr, at Woodstock.
    Jury: Thomas Fletcher, AW Curtis, Laurence Purcell, A Lane, J Connolly, P Links, R Fletcher, J Peisley, HR Fowler, R Alford, Albert Bryant, and HHS Francis (foreman).
    Mr J Mason, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the Crown case.
    Accused was undefended.
    Evidence which has already been fully reported in these columns was given by Constable Berry, John McKay, Sidney Sloane and Constable Doran.
    Accused made a short statement protesting his innocence.
    After a short retirement the jury returned a verdict of

“GUILTY.”

with a strong recommendation to mercy.
    There were two previous convictions against accused, who said he had nothing to say.
    He was sentenced to 6 months in Parramatta gaol.

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Canowindra Star and Eugowra News, Fri 10 Mar 1911 ⁹

STEALING AT WOODSTOCK.
————

    At the Cowra Quarter Sessions on Monday John Richmond was charged with stealing a horse, the property of John McKay, junr, at Woodstock
    Mr J Mason, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the Crown case. Accused was undefended.
    Evidence was given by Constable Berry, John McKay, Sidney Sloane, and Constable Moran.
    Accused made a short statement protesting his innocence.
    After a short retirement, the jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy.
    There were two previous convictions against accused, who said he had nothing to say.
    He was sentenced to 6 months’ in Parramatta gaol.

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John Richmond, Gaol photo ¹⁰

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 1157
Parramatta

Date when Portrait was taken: 5th May 1911

Name: John Richmond

Native place: Brisbane Queensland Year of birth: 17 May 1889 Arrived       Ship: – in Colony }   Year: – Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Blacksmith Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 7½" Weight     On committal: 155 lbs in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: dark brown Colour of eyes: grey

Marks or special features: Eagle’s head, shield, 4 flags (red ensign blue ensign, Union Jack, Stars & Stripes) woman’s head underneath. Faith Hope & Charity, Chinese dagger & lovers entwined 8 pointed star on back of left hand, large eagle & 2 flags, Union Jack flag & (?) heart & bell horse shoe & woman’s head inside (?) scroll underneath on front of right arm.

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
North Brisbane PC  Ipswich CC Cowra Q.S	15   9   7	3 4 3	1907 1907 1911	Stealing Sodomy Horse stealing	6 months HL 10 years HL 6 months HL

 

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¹     The Brisbane Courier, Sat 23 Feb 1907, p. 3.

²     The Brisbane Courier, Sat 16 Mar 1907, p. 10.

³     The Brisbane Courier, Wed 10 Apr 1907, p. 2.

⁴     Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld), Thu 11 Apr 1907, p. 6. Emphasis added.

⁵     The Cowra Free Press and Canowindra, Goolagong, Cargo, Grenfell and Young General Advertiser, Sat 11 Feb 1911, p. 2.

⁶     The Cowra Free Press and Canowindra, Goolagong, Cargo, Grenfell and Young General Advertiser, Wed 15 Feb 1911, p. 2. Emphasis added.

⁷     Canowindra Star and Eugowra News, (NSW), Fri 24 Feb 1911, p. 2.

⁸     The Cowra Free Press and Canowindra, Goolagong, Cargo, Grenfell and Young General Advertiser, Wed 8 Mar 1911, p. 2.

⁹     Canowindra Star and Eugowra News, (NSW), Fri 10 Mar 1911, p. 2. Emphasis added.

¹⁰   SRNSW: NRS2397, [3/6012], Parramatta photographic description book, 1909-1914, No. 1157, p. 80, R5138. Emphasis added.

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