Below also see: Leslie Purcell and Frederick Russell, 1914,
William Leslie Purcell, 1916,
William Leslie Purcell, 1927

 

The Argus, Thu 23 May 1912 ¹

STURDY BEGGARS.
———◦———
FALSE TALES OF DISTRESS.

    SYDNEY, Wednesday.—Two cases of illegitimate attempts to “raise the wind” came before suburban police courts to-day. Reuben Biggs [aka Frederick Russell] was shown to have obtained £1 from a kindly-disposed person through the false representation that his mother had died, and that he needed money to buy a shroud for her. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 23 May 1912 ²

POLICE COURTS.
———◦———

…

UNGRATEFUL.

    At the Balmain Police Court yesterday, before Mr Wilkinson, DSM, Reuben Biggs was charged on warrant with obtaining £1 by means of a false pretence from Charles Spencer, carpenter, Perrett-street, Balmain. Prosecutor’s evidence was to the effect that on or about February 19 last the accused came to his place and said: “I’ve been to your grandmother and she sent me to you. Can you let me have £1, and I will pay back to-morrow night. My mother died to-day in Callan Park and I want to get her a shroud. The banks are closed and I can’t draw the money.” Sympathising with the man he gave him a sovereign. He did not call or return the money as promised. He afterwards saw the accused in George-street, and he excused himself for not keeping his promise by saying he had been in Melbourne since his mother died, but he would come over next day and pay up. He had not done so. Other evidence was given that Mrs Biggs was not dead, and had not been in hospital, as alleged. The magistrate sentenced the accused to six months’ hard labour.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Reuben Biggs, Gaol photo sheet ³

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 12393

Date when Portrait was taken: 23-5-1912

Name: Reuben Biggs
(aka Frederick Russell)

Native place: Sydney Year of birth: 5-10-1880 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: BC Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Bootmaker Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R and W Height: 5' 4" Weight     On committal: 150 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Dark brown Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Scar outside bend of left forearm. Mole on back of left hand, scar inside left forearm scar inside right forearm. Scars left side upper lip scar on inside right thigh & on both knee caps

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Newtown PC Water PC ditto ditto ditto Newtown PC Balmain PC ditto ditto	13   3   7   7 13 16   3   3 22	7 10   9   9   9   9   5   5   5	1903 1903 1904 1904 1904 1904 1907 1907 1912	Fraudulent conversion as a bailee  Riotous Stealing ditto False pretences Fraudulent appropriation False representation Fraudulent appropriation False pretences	£5 or 2 months HL 10/- or 3 days HL 3 months HL. Concurrent 4 months HL 1 month HL  |  Accumulative 3 months HL   6 months HL 3 months HL  |  Accumulative 6 months HL

 

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Leslie Purcell and Frederick Russell, 1914

The Daily Telegraph, Wed 9 Sep 1914 ⁴

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

…

ACQUITTED AND RE-CHARGED.

    Leslie Purcell (21), carter, and Frederick Russell, [aka Reuben Biggs], (32), bootmaker, were charged with committing an unnatural offence. Mr JCJ Ryan appeared for Purcell, who give [sic] evidence. The jury asked if they could find one of the accused guilty and acquit the other. Being answered that they must convict both, or acquit both, they returned a verdict of not guilty. Purcell was then discharged, and another charge was laid against Russell, who was released on his own bail.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 9 Sep 1914 ⁵

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Backhouse and juries.)

    Mr JN Mason, Crown Prosecutor.
…

ACQUITTED OF A SERIOUS OFFENCE.

    Leslie Purcell, 21, carter, and Frederick Russell, 32, bootmaker, were charged with having committed a serious offence, at Sydney, on August 15. Both of the accused pleaded not guilty. Mr JCJ Ryan appeared for Purcell, and Russell conducted his own defence.

    The jury acquitted the accused, his Honor directing that it could not convict or acquit either man separately. Purcell was discharged.

    The indictment against Russell was altered and on pleading not guilty to a further charge, he was bound over on his own recognisance to come up for trial at a later date.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 1 Oct 1914 ⁶

LAW NOTICES.
———
Thursday, October 1.

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.

The following is a list of cases for trial at the Quarter Sessions, commencing to-day:—

William Henry Jacobson, breaking, entering, and stealing; William Dovey, assault occasioning actual bodily harm; Arthur Pike, inflicting grievous bodily harm; Raymond Thomas Ferguson and Ernest Henry Sargent, assault; Arthur Tasman Castray, false pretences; Allen Livingstone Stewart, breaking, entering, and stealing; Arthur Kemp and Thomas O’Hehir (six charges), robbery; Morris Jacobs, stealing in a dwelling; Susan Stewart, receiving stolen property (four charges); Robert Amos Spinks, stealing; Duncan Harold Kleeber, (1) robbery, (2) assault; Frederick Russell, inciting to commit a criminal offence; John Bedford Sydney Muir, stealing a postal article; Thomas Harold Webster, cattle stealing; Henry Bell, maliciously wounding, with intent to do grievous bodily harm; John Brydon, robbery; Meyer Kahn, false pretences; Thomas Usher, Joseph Seale, and Albert Ernest Anderson, breaking and entering with intent to steal; Noel Lewis, stealing; Matthew Stanton and Mary Stanton, breaking, entering, and stealing, and receiving; Thomas McDevit and George O’Brien, stealing from the person; Charles Edwards Shields Bradney, breaking, entering, and stealing; Charles Edward Shields Bradney and Sydney Charles Gunning, stealing in a dwelling; Frederick Shannon, stealing from the person; Thomas Usher, breaking, entering and stealing; George Peter Anderson, breaking, entering and stealing (four charges); Joseph Seale, Thomas Walsh, and Frederick Victor Mander, breaking, entering and stealing; Ivy Adeline Mathison, manslaughter; Ray Kemp, robbery; John Cummins and Frederick Harris, breaking, entering, and stealing; John Nelson, robbery; Michael John Mannion, assault with intent and assault; Leslie Daniel Cassera, assault occasioning actual bodily harm; Robert Marshall Gibson, embezzlement; George Nichols and Frank Breeze, breaking and entering with intent to steal; Grace Russell, stealing from the person; William Russell, cattle stealing; Michael Meighan, inflicting grievous bodily harm; Edward Thomas Nye, manslaughter; Norman Williams Symons, assault with intent; Kate Lee, perjury; Robert Young, assault occasioning actual bodily harm; Herbert Robert Alcock, assault; Edward Oliver, false pretences (five charges); Frederick Leather, maliciously damaging property; Francis Thomas Cocking, shooting at with intent to murder; James Ross and Frederick Malcolm, stealing; Stanley Victor Wilkins, stealing in a dwelling; Christopher Crane, breaking, entering and stealing; Nathan Lewis and Leah Asher, receiving stolen property; Cecil William Payne, assault; Ted Heinz, breaking, entering, and stealing (two charges); Percival Ernest Dumbrell, stealing; Arthur Ernest Porter, assault occasioning actual bodily harm; Samuel Lind, garroting; Robert Hill, assault and robbery.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 8 Oct 1914 ⁷

LAW NOTICES.
———
Thursday, October 8.

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.

    Raymond Thomas Ferguson and Ernest Henry Sargent, criminal assault; Frederick Russell, inciting to commit criminal offence; Arthur Tasman Castray, false pretences; Arthur Pike, inflicting grievous bodily harm.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Daily Telegraph, Fri 9 Oct 1914 ⁸

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

    Mr RJ Browning, Crown Prosecutor.
…

TWO YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT.

    Frederick Russell, (30), was found guilty of inciting to a serious criminal offence, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labor, at Grafton Gaol. The offence took place in Sydney on September 2.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 9 Oct 1914 ⁹

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Docker and juries.)

    Mr RJ Browning, Crown Prosecutor.
…

GUILTY OF INCITING.

    Frederick Russell, 28, was convicted on a charge of inciting Leslie Purcell, 25, to commit a crime. In recording a verdict of guilty against Russell the foreman of the jury said they were satisfied that the chief Crown witness (Purcell) was equally guilty. His Honor said he agreed, but had been informed that at the previous Sessions both had been charged together, and the jury, having been told by the presiding Judge that they could not convict Russell and acquit Purcell, they had found both not guilty. He thought that direction to the jury was wrong. Russell was sentenced to two years’ hard labour in Grafton Gaol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Frederick Russell, Gaol photo sheet ¹⁰

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 13907

Date when Portrait was taken: 9-10-1914

Name: Frederick Russell
(aka Reuben Biggs)

Native place: Sydney Year of birth: 5-10-1880 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: BS Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Bootmaker Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R and W Height: 5' 4" Weight     On committal: 155 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Dark brown Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: scar outside bend of left arm, mole on back of left hand. Scars inside both forearms, scars left side of upper lip on inside right thigh and on both knee caps

(No. of previous Portrait .. 12393) CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S	8	10	1912	Soliciting and inciting to commit the offence of buggery	2 years HL
And 7 previous convictions for which see Photo No. as above

 

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William Leslie Purcell, 1916

The Daily Telegraph, Wed 13 Sep 1916 ¹¹

CRIMINAL.
———

    Before Judge Docker (Mr AF Dawson, Crown Prosecutor), at Sydney Quarter Sessions.
…
    A plea of not guilty was entered by William Leslie Purcell (25), a returned soldier, ¹² to a charge of assaulting (in company with a man unknown) Patrick Thomas Goulding, a soldier ¹³ [and school teacher], and robbing him of a wallet containing £1, at Sydney, on September 3. A second count of receiving was preferred against accused. The evidence showed that accused had the property in his possession when arrested, but denied he had assaulted prosecutor. Accused said the wallet was handed to him, and he thought it was a practical joke when he ran along the lane with it. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of stealing, and accused was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labor in Goulburn Gaol. Mr Maddocks Cohen appeared for the defence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 13 Sep 1916 ¹⁴

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Docker and juries.)

    Mr AF Dawson, Crown Prosecutor.
…

CONVICTED OF STEALING.

    William Leslie Purcell, 26, pleaded not guilty to, in company, assaulting Patrick Thomas Goulding, at Sydney, on September 3, and robbing him of a wallet and £1, and also to a second charge of receiving the property, well knowing it to have been stolen. Mr E Maddocks Cohen appeared for the defence.

    Purcell, in his defence, denied the assault. The wallet was handed to him by a man, and thinking it was a practical joke that was being played on Goulding he ran away.

    Purcell was found guilty of stealing only. He was sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour in Goulburn Gaol.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

William Leslie Purcell, Gaol photo sheet ¹⁵

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 15263

Date when Portrait was taken: 13-9-1916

Name: William Leslie Purcell

Native place: Goulburn Year of birth: 13-9-1890 Arrived       Ship: – in Colony }   Year: – Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Carter Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 7¾" Weight     On committal: 144 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Brown

Marks or special features: Nil

(No. of previous Portrait ... ) CONVICTIONS

Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Burwood PC Central PC ditto         executed Sydney Q.S Central PC ditto ditto ditto ditto          lodged Central PC ditto ditto          executed	23 27 11   5 12 26   2 18 23 11 12 12 27 26 28	5   3   9 10   9 10 12   2   3   8   8   8   4   7   8	1912 1915 1915 1915 1916 1920 1920 1921 1921 1921 1921 1921 1922 1922 1922	Play unlawful game Indecent language  Not pay taxi cab fare Stealing Sell liquor without a licence Stealing Indecent language Stealing Steal from the person Have stolen goods Vagrancy Malicious damage property	1 month Suspended £2 or 7 months [sic] HL £5-3-6 or 1 month HL 12 months HL £30 or 3 months HL £6-5 or 2 months HL £2 or 14 days HL 2 months HL 3 months HL                     |  Concurrent 3 months HL     1 month HL Appealed 27-4-1922. To bail on appeal 3-5-1922 £6-1-6- of 1 month HL

 

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William Leslie Purcell, 1927

The Brisbane Courier, Fri 26 Aug 1927 ¹⁶

BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES.
———◦———
METROPOLITAN COURTS.
———◦———

…

BURGLARY AT LAUNDRY.

    T Okamura’s laundry, in Wharf-street, city, was broken into on the night of August 5, and a cash register containing £13/17/7 in money and, a silk bag and 13 parcels of men’s clothing were stolen. The total value of the stolen property was £118/17/7.

    In the Police Court yesterday, before Mr Berge, PM, William Leslie Purcell was charged with having committed the burglary.

    Plainclothes Constable Smith said that on the night of August 5, when he went to Okamura’s laundry, he found a broken cash register in the back yard, and brown paper parcels, containing men’s clothing, scattered around. There was a blood stained pick near the cash register, and some pieces of glass in the register had bloodstains on them. Money totalling £2/19/6 was on the ground. The lock on the back door had been forced. In the shop there was an open safe, and books and papers were scattered on the floor. Under the rear of the house next door ro the laundry witness found defendant apparently asleep and snoring. Two brown paper parcels were on the ground beside him. When roused and questioned, he said the parcels were his property. Witness took him into the laundry and searched him. In one of his pockets was a small brown silk bag, in which was 3/8. Okamura identified the bag as his property, saying it had been in the cash register in his shop that night. “Did you remove the cash register from the shop, take it into the yard, and break it open?” witness asked defendant. He replied, “Yes, I broke it.” Okamura identified the parcels in the yard as his property. When asked if he had broken into the premises, defendant made no reply. Witness noticed that Purcell had a fresh cut on his right arm near the wrist. His arm and hand were bloodstained. He said he did not know how he had cut himself. At the Roma-street Police Station witness was asked how much money he had in his possession. He replied, “ten or eleven shillings.” When he was searched, a shilling was found in each of his shoes; there was another shilling in one of his waistcoat pockets; and five £1 notes and two 10/- notes fell from inside his shirt.

    Defendant was committed for trial at the Supreme Court on October 10. Bail was fixed at £100, with a surety of £100, or two of £50 each.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Brisbane Courier, Thu 20 Oct 1927 ¹⁷

IN CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.
————
Before his Honour Mr Justice Webb.

…

ALLEGED BREAKING AND
ENTERING.

    William Leslie Purcell pleaded not guilty to a charge of having on August 5, broken and entered the shop of Tsunematso Okamura, in Wharf-street, Brisbane, and stolen a cash register, one silk bag, a cheque for £2/10/11, £13/17/7 in money, and 13 parcels of men’s clothing, of a total value of £118/17/7.

    Mr FW Dickson prosecuted; defendant conducted his own defence.

    In outlining the case, Mr Dickson stated that complainant, who conducted a laundry in Wharf-street, left his premises at about 7.45 o’clock on the night mentioned, in company with his manageress, Miss Elsie Buchanan. There were about 200 parcels of washing in the shop, and the cash register contained about £13, which was tied up in a silk bag. Okamura and Miss Buchanan returned about 10.30 pm, and found the shop in disorder, and the cash register missing. The police were notified, and following on a search by Constables Smith and Hayes, the cash register was found in the back yard, it having been open. A pick was also found, with blood stains on the handle. Constable Smith made a search under the adjoining house, and there found defendant, crouching behind a box. On the constable’s approach, defendant pretended to be asleep. He was searched, and in addition to 1/- in each boot, six £1notes were found inside his shirt, while a silk bag, similar to that in the cash register, was found in his pocket. Defendant’s wrist was bleeding, as the result of a cut.

    Evidence for the prosecution, similar to that as outlined by the Crown Prosecutor, was given by Constable Charles Henry Smith, Tsunematso Okamura, and Elsie Buchanan.

    Defendant, [William Leslie Purcell] in a statement from the dock, said he had been working on the Kyogle line and paid his first visit to Brisbane, arriving here with £48. On the day of the alleged occurrence he had been drinking heavily, and had no idea how he came to be found under a house next door to the laundry. He remembered nothing of his movements till he was aroused by a constable. He denied all knowledge of the crime.

    After a retirement of eight minutes, the jury returned with a verdict of guilty. Accused was remanded for sentence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Brisbane Courier, Sat 29 Oct 1927 ¹⁸

CRIMINAL COURT.
———◦———
PREVALENCE OF THEFT.
———◦———
THIRTEEN OFFENDERS
SENTENCED.
———

    In the Supreme Court yesterday, in criminal jurisdiction, his Honour Mr Justice Webb imposed sentences ranging from six months to three years’ imprisonment on 13 offenders who had been committed for trial during the sittings of the court within the past three weeks. He commented particularly on the prevalence of theft from dwellings, and remarked that the public must be protected from thefts of this sort.
…

BREAKING INTO A SHOP.

    The Crown Prosecutor read a long record of stealing and other offences against the name of William Leslie Purcell, who had been convicted of breaking and entering a shop. He was sentenced to imprisonment, with hard labour, for two years.

 

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¹     The Argus, Thu 23 May 1912, p. 5.

²     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 23 May 1912 p. 3.

³     SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6079], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1911-1912, No. 12393, p. 149, R5115.

⁴     The Daily Telegraph, Wed 9 Sep 1914, p. 14.

⁵     The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 9 Sep 1914 p. 8.

⁶     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 1 Oct 1914 p. 5. Emphasis added.

⁷     The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 8 Oct 1914 p. 4. Emphasis added.

⁸     The Daily Telegraph, Fri 9 Oct 1914, p. 3.

⁹     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 9 Oct 1914 p. 4.

¹⁰   SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6087], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 3 Sep 1914-31 Dec 1914, No. 13907, p. –.

¹¹   The Daily Telegraph, Wed 13 Sep 1916, p. 5.

¹²   To view the digitised WWI service record (service number 7113, barcode 8024011) of William Leslie Purcell go to: www.naa.gov.au

¹³   To view the digitised WWI service record (service number 2903, barcode 4669030) of Patrick Thomas Goulding go to: www.naa.gov.au

¹⁴   The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 13 Sep 1916 p. 6.

¹⁵   SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6094], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 29 Aug 1916-15 Dec 1916, No. 15263, p. 43.

¹⁶   The Brisbane Courier, Fri 26 Aug 1927, p. 8. Emphasis added.

¹⁷   The Brisbane Courier, Thu 20 Oct 1927, p. 16. Emphasis added.

¹⁸   The Brisbane Courier, Sat 29 Oct 1927, p. 18.

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