Below also see: Clarence Doran, William Henry Atkinson, Robert Edward Williams, 1918

 

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 22 Apr 1909 ¹

COUNTRY NEWS.
———◦———

…

Cobar, Wednesday.

…
    A young married man named Clarence Doran, who said he was one of those who left the United States fleet while in Australia, was committed for trial at the next Cobar Quarter Sessions on a charge of abducting Alice Bowman, a girl about 15 years of age.

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The Cobar Herald, Fri 23 Apr 1909 ²

ALLEGED ABDUCTION.
————
ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR
TRIAL.
———

    At the Police Court on Tuesday, before Messrs FG Adrian, PM, and J Leah, JP, Charles Doran was charged with abducting a girl under the age of 16 years.

    Mr Duffy appeared to prosecute.

    Mr Hogan defended the accused.

    Constable Deris Cecil Toohill, of Mount Drysdale, gave evidence as to the arrest. He arrested accused on Friday, 2nd April, withy tracker Jack, at Tinderra Tank, on the Cobar-Bourke road. The accused was at the caretaker’s rasidence. [sic] Accused said he was going to Bourke, and he had a girl named Alice Bowman with him. The girl jumped out of the window, but the tracker brought her back. Accused said he was taking the girl to his wife, who was in Sydney. He was going to Sydney from Bourke. The girl’s father was going to send her away into the bush to dress in rabbit skins, so he thought it was time to take her away. He had done the girl no wrong. The girl told witness accused was taking her to his wife. The girl corroborated the statement about the rabbit skins. Witness then arrested accused and brought him to Cobar.

    By Mr Hogan: He did not ask the girl if she left of her own accord. She did not say at any time that she came away of her own accord.

    William Stanton Bowman, miner, said he knew the accused. He first met him about 27th Dec, when he went to stay at witness’s place. Accused stayed there till Feb 24th Alice Bowman was his daughter. Her full name was Emma Alice Mary Bowman. She was 14 on Feb 2nd. Accused went to Sydney but came back. He missed his daughter on Sunday. He did not give the accused any permission to take his daughter away, and the accused did not ask for it.

    By Mr Hogan: The girl never threatened to leave home. It was not true that they did not get on well at home. Accused and he were the best of friends.

    Michael Rowan, lessee and caretaker of the Tinderra Tank, 31 miles from Cobar, said accused arrived at his place on March 30. Accused said: “I and my father and sister left Cobar on the way to Bourke. I was driving a horse and she died last night. My father went back to Cobar for another horse, and my sister (a little girl) is in a very bad condition, and there is no rations. Witness said he had better bring the sister along and he would do the best he could for them. Accused thanked him and said no doubt the sulky would be along in another day. Accused went away and returned about sundown with the girl. They gave the name of Williams. They remained from Tuesday till Friday. On the Friday night the girl said: “I’m going back to Cobar.” Accused said: “You have no notion.” She said: “You’ll see.” That night Constable Toohill came and took them away. The girl slept in one room and he and accused in another. Accused said to the constable that he was taking her away from cruelty to his wife.

    Emma Mary Alice Bowman said she was the daughter of William Bowman. She knew the accused since about November. He was boarding at her father’s house. Accused said to her that it would be nice to go for a trip like the American Fleet, and she could go if she like with him. After that they arranged to go to Sydney, she to go a day ahead of him. After that they arranged to go to Sydney, she to go a day ahead of him. He was going to pay the fare. Subsequently, she asked him to let it stand over for a day or so. On the Sunday night her father and mother went to church. After her father went out accused said they had a chance to go, but she said her brother was inside and she did not think she would be able to go. He replied: “I have made arrangements; you’ll spoil everything if you don’t go.” She then went with him. She did not leave the house with him but met him across the road. When she met him accused said they would have to walk to Bourke. When she left the house she did not rightly know what they would be doing. Before they got to Moupone she expressed a desire to return. She said: “I’m going back; this is no good to me.” He said: “As you’ve come this distance you may as well go the rest.” He also said: “You will get into trouble if you go back,” and that he’d get five years, and that she would be sent away for seven years to a reformatory. They then continued walking. They walked to Tindarey Hotel. Accused went to the tank first and brought back some food. The next morning she said she was going back to Cobar and he said that she was not, but would have to go to the next tank with him. On the way back to Cobar accused told her to say she left home of her own accord to get him out of it.

    By Mr Hogan: She did not get along well with her father, but had not threatened to leave home. One afternoon her mother held her down while her brother beat her. She did not say at that time that she would clear out. He wrote her letters, but she burned them. She did not say to accused that her father was guilty of any improper act towards her, and that she wanted to get away. There was no truth in anything like that. Accused told her to tell the tank caretaker that her name was Williams, which she did. Her mother did say that they were going to send her into the bush to dress in rabbit skins; that was said jokingly while they were washing. She had tried to leave her father’s place on the Tuesday following Ash Wednesday, and she got some clothes at Alley and Phillips. She was leaving on her own account. Doran told her to get the goods.

    By Mr Duffy: Any effort to leave her father’s place previously was by arrangement with accused.

    By the Bench: The money she took from her father’s place (about £4) was to pay her fare to Sydney to meet Doran.

    To Mr Hogan: She never said that a man named Harold Myers came from Sydney to give her £10. She had arranged to go with Doran.

    Clarence Doran (accused) said he was a sailor. On Ash Wednesday he went to Sydney to meet his wife, who had just returned from England. While in Sydney he sent a wire to Alice Bowman telling her that he would explain everything, as he left without letting anyone know. He sent the wire to Alice as her mother could not read. The following week he received a telegram:—“Meet me Wednesday morning.—Alice.” He produced the telegram. He met his wife as the boat came in. After meeting his wife he came to Cobar. He went to Bowman’s house, and while there Alice asked him to take off his coat, whilst she brushed it. He did so, and after leaving he found a letter in the pocket, written in lead pencil. The girl said she wrote the telegram in fun. On the Sunday night when they left Cobar the girl met him near McCann’s. she had a bundle, and said: “Father has just gone out and I’m going to go for it neck or nothing.” He tried to persuade her to go home, but she would not. She said she would go whether he did or not. He said if she intended going he would see no harm came to her. She said, in answer to a question why she did not go to Sydney by train, that they watched her too closely. They walked till Tuesday morning, and then they had a sleep. He then told her he was willing to take her back, but she said it would be a sure thing for the Sobraon. On the Friday she said that they would have to leave that night; they could tell him they were going back to Cobar, and then they could get on to the main road. He told her she could go and stay with his wife until she communicated with her relations in Sydney. While coming to Cobar she said she was going to take all the blame; she would tell the constable that she was going to stick to him. He denied that he wrote two letters to the girl.

    The accused was committed for trial at Cobar on June 14, bail being allowed, self in £100 and two sureties of £50 each.

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Evening News, Wed 16 Jun 1909 ³

COUNTRY SESSIONS.
————

…
    COBAR, Wednesday.—At the Quarter Sessions, before Judge Docker, Clarence Doran, on a charge of abducting Alice Bowman, was found guilty, and sentenced to six months in Goulburn Gaol.

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The Cobar Herald, Fri 18 Jun 1909 ⁴

QUARTER SESSIONS.
————
Monday.
————
(Before His Honor Judge Docker).
————

    The Quarter Sessions opened on Monday before His Honor Judge Docker; Mr Bevan, Crown Prosecutor. The local legal fraternity was represented by Messrs Hogan, Bolton, Elwin and Duffy. Mr Leah sat as Deputy Sheriff.
…

ALLEGED ABDUCTION.

    Clarence Doran, an American sailor, was charged with abducting a girl named [Emma Mary] Alice Bowman, of the age of 14 years, on 28th March last, at Cobar.

    Accused pleaded not guilty and was defended by Mr Bolton, counsel being appointed by the Crown.

    The following jurymen were empannelled [sic]:—A Woolfrey, C Lewis, WS Mitchell, T Ross, A Thomas, LJ Winton, F Lean, M Scanlan, C Wesley, H Sully, AJ Anderson, and Geo Marshe.

    The evidence in chief was similar to that given at the lower court, which was published on April 23rd.

    William S Bowman, father of the girl, in answer to Mr Bolton, said accused told witness his wife was coming out from England; his daughter stole some money and bought some clothes for the purpose of clearing out once before; she also got into trouble at Wyalong over stealing a watch and was sent to the Manly Covent; his daughter had made no complaint to witness about ill-treatment at home; while accused was staying at his house witness had no occasion to complain of his conduct in any shape or form.

    [Emma Mary] Alice Bowman st ated that in March last she was living with her parents; met accused on the Cobar-Mount Hope road about November last; she and her mother met him; he came to live with them after that and left to go to Sydney on Ash Wednesday; she had arranged to go to Sydney, on accused’s suggestion; he was to go on Ash Wednesday and she was to go and join him on the Friday after; he left on the Wednesday, she did not go, but saw him when he returned to Cobar; she was home on Sunday, 28th March; had arranged before then that they were to go away; he said he had come back to take her away; she did not want to go at first because she had no clothes; he proposed they should go to Bourke; on Sunday in question all her people went out of the house except her little brother, and accused came about half past 7 and asked her to goo; she did not want to go; because her little brother was about; accused said “If you don’t come it will spoil the arrangements I have made.” He left then and witness went out and met him across the road about five minutes later; she took some clothing and a rug with her; they proceeded along the Bourke road; he said they would go to Bourke take train to Nyngan, and thence to Sydney; they walked all that night and had no food with them; on the next day (Monday) they also walked all day with nothing to eat, and she told him it was time to go back; he said “Now you’ve come this far you may as well come the rest,” so they continued. On Tuesday they arrived at Tindarey tank, where they got some food. They stayed there until the following Friday, when Constable Toohil [sic] came and took them in charge; he said, in Constable’ Toohil’s presence, that her father had wanted to sleep with her and that they wanted her to go into the bush and dress in rabbit skins, but she was only joking; that was made up to say while they were going along, at accused’s suggestion.

    By Mr Bolton: Accused never left her till they got to Tindarey, and never asked her to go back to her people; she never said: “I’ve made up my mind to go, and I’m going,” but on the Sunday night she did make up her mind to go; she had went to Alley and Phillips store previously and got some clothes without her parent’s authority; took some of the clothes to a lady next door; she also took some money belonging to her mother, for the purpose of going away; her father stopped her from going away once before; heard accused mention he had a wife; at Tindarey tank she got out of the dwelling-house window when she saw the police and was arrested by the tracker; she wanted to escape the police.

    Michael Rowan, lessee of the Tindarey tank, 32 miles from Cobar, on Bourke road, gave similar evidence to that given at the police court.

    Constable Toohil, of Mt Drysdale, gave evidence as to taking charge of accused and the girl at Tindarey tank on the 2nd April; accused admitted his name was Doran and said that he was going to Bourke with a girl named Alice Bowman, who was in the next room; accused said he was taking the girl to his wife in Sydney, going via Bourke; also said he had no authority from the girl’s father to take her away, but that her father wanted to sleep with her and they were going to send her into the bush to dress in rabbit skins, so he thought it time to take her away; said he had not wronged the girl, and he did not consider he was doing wrong in taking her; he would do the same again; the girl also said accused was taking her to his wife; and it was true that her father wanted to sleep with her and they were going to send her in the bush to dress in rabbit skins.

    Accused [Clarence Doran] then went into the witness box and stated he was a sailor, but had been working in Cobar; he had never suggested to her to leave her home; she said she wanted to get away and he told her she was foolish; he told Bowmans he was a married nan; they also knew he went to Sydney to meet the boat bringing his wife and children from England; returned on 20th March; went to work on the mine again and was boarding at Loughman’s; there was £1 17s 6d owing him by the mine when he left Cobar with the girl; was on the way to McCann’s house, whom he had promised to visit on the night in question, when the girl met him and told him she was going to Bourke and from there on to Sydney to her aunt’s place; she said her mother had threatened to put her on the ‘Sobraon’ when magistrate Dove returned to Cobar. She also said her mother threatened to dress her in rabbit skins and send her into the bush; he offered to go with her and protect her and said, “Wait till I go and get some clothes;” he then went back to tell her people of the girl’s intentions, but they were out; went back to where he had left the girl, but she hade gone and he overtook her about a ¼ of a mile ahead; he tried to persuade her to return but she would not; he hadn’t ‘a nickel’ in his pocket.

    By Mr Bevan: had been in the American navy, and never told Bowman he was a deserter. His wife and children had arrived in this country about fourteen days before he was arrested. He provided the funds for their passage, £60, and provided a home for them in Sydney. He came up here to go on to work.

    Lindsay Abel, time keeper at the Great Cobar, gave evidence as to accused working on the Great Cobar, and a sum of money owing him by the Great Cobar as wages, about £1 17s 6d.

    John (Sailor) McCann and Albert McMillan also gave evidence.

    This concluded the case.

    Alice Bowman, re-called by the Crown, denied that accused asked her to return to Cobar, and stated that accused never once left her from the time she first met him on Sunday night till the following Tuesday morning.

    Mr Bolton addressed the jury, and his Honor outlined the evidence, stating that if they believed Constable Toohill’s evidence, then that constituted the case against accused; it was not necessary that accused should use physical force to abduct a girl.

    The jury, after two hours’ deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty, and his Honor, after reading certificates as to accused’s good character, against whom there were no previous convictions, sentenced Doran to six months’ imprisonment, with hard labor, in Goulburn gaol. His Honor informed Doran that he was liable to three years.

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Clarence Doran, Gaol photo sheet ⁵

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 11037

Date when Portrait was taken: 26-6-1909

Name: Clarence Doran

Native place: San Francisco USA Year of birth: 12-11-1882 Arrived       Ship: Huroto in Colony }   Year: 1908 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Sailor Religion: R. C. Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 8½" Weight     On committal: 168 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Black Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Both arms very much tattooed. Scar over right eyebrow. Anchor two flags & clasped hands over scar on chest

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Cobar Q.S	14	6	1909	Abduction	6 months HL Goulburn Gaol

 

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Clarence Doran, William Henry Atkinson, Robert Edward Williams, 1918

Evening News, Fri 11 Oct 1918 ⁶

ROBBERY IN THE CITY
———◦———
£500 WORTH OF GOODS.
———◦———
Three Men sent for Trial.
————

    Clarence Doran, 38, caretaker, and William Henry Atkinson, 38, a laborer, were charged at the Central Police Court this morning with breaking and entering the shop of RH Gordon and Company, Limited, George-street, City, and stealing a bundle of quilts. Robert Edward Williams, 36, taxi-driver, was charged with receiving certain goods, of the value of £17, knowing them to have been stolen.

    Evidence was given for the prosecution that on the night of September 28, Constables Sheehy and Tracey secreted themselves in Gordon and Company’s shop. Next morning, about 7 o’clock, they heard a noise on the roof of the School of Arts, adjoining. Then a window opened, and there were footsteps in the shop. Atkinson was on the roof holding the window open, and Doran, who was at the time caretaker of the School of Arts, was coming from the opposite end of the shop with a brown paper parcel. Sheehy called on him to put up his hands, and, dropping the window, ran over the roof to the School of Arts, followed by Tracey. Sheehy sai9d to Doran, “I have been waiting here all night for you.” “Yes,” said Doran, “I have heard noises here all night; and I came over to see what it was.” A quantity of goods was found in Doran’s private quarters at the School of Arts, and other articles were collected from houses in the suburbs and city. After stocktaking, it was found that goods of the value of £500 were missing. Certain articles were discovered at Williams’ house, in Devonshire-street, Surry Hills.

    The accused were committed for trial.

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The Bathurst Times, Sat 12 Oct 1918 ⁷

ROBBERY IN THE CITY
———
£500 Worth of Goods.
———
THREE MEN SENT TO GAOL.
———

Sydney, Saturday.

    Clarence Doran, 38, caretaker, and William Henry Atkinson, 38, laborer, were charged at the Central Police Court with breaking and entering the shop of RH Gordon and Company, Limited, George-street, City, and stealing a bundle of quilts. Robert Edward Williams, 36, taxi-driver, was charged with receiving certain goods, of the value of £17, knowing them to have been stolen.

    Evidence was given for the prosecution that, on the night of September 28, Constables Sheehy and Tracey secreted themselves in Gordon and Company’s shop. Next morning, about 7 o’clock, they heard a noise on the roof of the School of Arts, adjoining. Then a window opened, and there were footsteps in the shop. Atkinson was on the roof holding the window open, and Doran, who was at the time caretaker of the School of Arts, was coming from the opposite end of the shop with a brown paper parcel. Sheehy called on him to put up his hands, and, dropping the window, Atkinson ran over the roof to the School of Arts, followed by Tracey. Sheehy said to Doran, “I have been waiting here all night for you.” “Yes,” said Doran, “I have heard noises here all night, and I came over to see what it was.” A quantity of goods was found in Doran’s private quarters at the School of Arts, and other articles were collected from the houses in the suburbs and city. After stocktaking, it was found that goods of the value of £500 were missing. Certain articles were discovered at Williams’ House, in Devonshire-street, Surry Hills.

    The accused were committed for trial.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 9 Nov 1918 ⁸

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Backhouse.)

    Mr Herbert Harris, Crown Prosecutor.
…
    Robert Edward Williams, for whom Mr WD McMahon appeared, was charged with feloniously receiving property. The jury found the accused guilty, and he was remanded for sentence.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 16 Nov 1918 ⁹

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Backhouse.)

    Mr CA White, Crown Prosecutor.

    Clarence Doran, who pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a shop and stealing, and for whom Mr WD McMahon appeared, was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for three years. His Honor said that the prisoner might petition in 18 months.

    Robert Edward Williams, who pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for 12 months.

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Clarence Doran, Gaol photo sheet ¹⁰

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 16365

Date when Portrait was taken: 5-11-1918

Name: Clarence Doran
(aka Robert Jackson)

Native place: Limerick Year of birth: 12-11-1879 Arrived       Ship: Bimla in Colony }   Year: 1892 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Caretaker Religion: R. C. Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' ½” Weight     On committal: 190 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Dark Brown Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Basket of flowers American eagle & flag, heart; flower scroll, anchor, dagger outside right forearm left Crown back of left hand also Cross in memoriam. Tattoo marks little finger. Arm, woman with chair, cross swords, bracelet and woman right forearm. Crucifixion, swagman and dog, crown back of right hand. Scar right eyebrow. Anchor two flags clasped hands over scar on chest; Scars - above right ankle, right knee, left knee, left shin.

(No. of previous Portrait .. 11037) CONVICTIONS Convicted with William Henry Atkinson and Robert Edward Williams
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S Central PC ditto exd Central PC	4 21 11 12 12	11   9 10 10   5	1918 1921 1921 1921 1924	Break and enter a shop and steal therein. Wilfully & obscenely expose person Breach of License   Wilfully & obscenely expose his person	3 years HL 6 months H.L. To serve unexpired portion 3 years H.L. impost 4-11-1918   6 months HL
And 1 previous conviction for which see Photo No. as above

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William Henry Atkinson, Gaol photo sheet ¹¹

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 16363

Date when Portrait was taken: 5-11-1918

Name: William Henry Atkinson

Native place: Surry Hills Year of birth: 4-4-1880 Arrived       Ship: BS in Colony }   Year: Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 2" Weight     On committal: 118 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Long scar inside right thumb

(No. of previous Portrait … ) CONVICTIONS Convicted with Clarence Doran & Robert Edward Williams
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S	4	11	1918	Break & enter a shop & steal therein	18 months HL

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Robert Edward Williams, Gaol photo sheet ¹²

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 16370

Date when Portrait was taken: 9-11-1918

Name: Robert Edward Williams

Native place: England Year of birth: 15-11-1881 Arrived       Ship: Suffolk in Colony }   Year: 1911 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Motor mechanic Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R and W Height: 5' 5" Weight     On committal: 160 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Dark brown Colour of eyes: Hazel

Marks or special features: Indented scar on right-side of chin

(No. of previous Portrait … ) CONVICTIONS Convicted with Clarence Doran and William Henry Atkinson
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S	8	11	1918	Receiving	12 months HL

 

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¹     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 22 Apr 1909, p. 12.

²     The Cobar Herald, (NSW), Fri 23 Apr 1909, p. 5.

³     Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Wed 16 Jun 1909, p. 5.

⁴     The Cobar Herald, (NSW), Fri 18 Jun 1909, p. 3. Emphasis added.

⁵     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6074], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1909-1910, No. 11037, p. 161, R5113.

⁶     Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Fri 11 Oct 1918, p. 6. Emphasis added.

⁷     The Bathurst Times, Sat 12 Oct 1918, p. 3.

⁸     The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 9 Nov 1918, p. 9.

⁹     The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 16 Nov 1918, p. 9.

¹⁰   SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6099], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 3 Aug 1918-24 Jan 1919, No. 16365, p. 141.

¹¹   SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6099], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 3 Aug 1918-24 Jan 1919, No. 16363, p. 16363.

¹²   SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6099], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 3 Aug 1918-24 Jan 1919, No. 16370, p. 146.

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