Truth, Sun 29 Jun 1913 ¹

ABOMINABLE.
———◦———
UNMENTIONABLE AND OUTRAGEOUS
CONDUCT ALLEGED.
————
TWO YOUNG MEN SENT FOR TRIAL.
————

    Two youths named Walter Leslie Paris, 17, and James Howard McDonald, 19, were charged at the Central, before SM Smithers, on Friday, on a double-barrelled charge of indecently assaulting each other. The evidence of Constable Brown and a fireman named George Kerr, the latter residing at 4 Oakley-road, Paddington, was unprintable, unpublishable, and unmentionable. According to the evidence, the two accused were found in Moore Park on Thursday night, at about a quarter to midnight, under terrible conditions. While Brown had hold of the two lads, Kerr came up. On the way to the police station Paris said, “Make it as light as ever you can and charge us with the most lenient charge.” McDonald, “Give us a chance and let us go. We won’t come at anything like that again.”

    The accused were committed for trial the Quarter Sessions on July 1.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Daily Telegraph, Fri 11 Jul 1913 ²

LAW NOTICES.
——
Friday, July 11.

…

SYDNEY QUARTER SESSIONS.

    Frederick Howard, stealing in a dwelling-house; Alexander Cornbloom, stealing; James Howard McDonald and Walter Leslie Paris, indecent assault.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 11 Jul 1913 ³

LAW NOTICES.
——

…

Friday, July 11.

…

SYDNEY QUARTER SESSIONS.

…
    James Howard McDonald and Walter Leslie Paris, indecent assault.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Daily Telegraph, Sat 12 Jul 1913 ⁴

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

    Mr CA White, Crown Prosecutor.
…

ACQUITTALS.

    James Howard McDonald and Walter Leslie Paris were presented on a charge of lewd practices in Moore Park on June 19. Mr PK White and Mr Tanker appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. The jury, after evidence, returned a verdict of not guilty.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Truth, Sun 13 Jul 1913 ⁵

MOORE PARK AT
MIDNIGHT.
———◦———
PARIS AND MCDONALD
PLUCKED
————
FOR PORNIC PRANKS.
————
Jury Find Them Not Guilty.
————

    A couple of respectable-looking young men, apparently of average intelligence, named James Howard McDonald and Walter Leslie Paris, were arraigned before Judge Docker and a jury at the Darlinghurst Sessions, on Friday, on a charge of lewdity at Moore Park, on June 19. Mr PK White appeared for McDonald, and Mr Fanker for Paris. Accused challenged five jurymen between them.

    Constable F Brown , of No. 3, said that while on duty at Moore Park a quarter of an hour before midnight on June 19, he witnessed a flagrant act of lewdity going on between the accused. He pulled them up by their necks, stood them on their feet, and said to a man who had come up, “I draw your attention to the state of their clothing.” “Oh, I saw them myself, but I thought it was a couple,” responded the man. Accused were handcuffed and marched to the station, and charged. Paris said, “Make it as light as you can,” and McDonald said, “Give us a chance, and let us go; we won’t come at anything like this again.” they were captured in a dark part, and both were in drink.

    George Kerr, a Paddington fireman, said he was on his way home crossing the park when he saw the movements of the couple, and the constable pull them apart. No, he didn’t see what was being done, but he drew his own conclusions.

    In defence, McDonald, or McDonell, living in Bennett-street, Surry Hills, said he was an engineer, and had passed an examination qualifying him for an appointment in the GPO. On the day in question he met Paris in town, and they were

Drinking Rum Together.

    He denied the evidence given against him, saying that Paris was about to obey a call, when, thinking to caution him, he caught his shoulder and tripped over him. He did not ask the constable to give him a chance, and he had no idea why the constable grabbed him, because he was doing nothing.

    To the Crown Prosecutor, McDonald admitted being anxious to be let go, because he was at that time on bail on another matter.

    Walter Leslie Paris, a well-grown youth of 17, said at the time of his arrest he was employed as junior salesman for 66s a week, and lived in Marshall-street. That day he was too indisposed to attend his work, and meeting McDonald, whom he had known for many years, they went drinking. It was his first experience with rum, and he really didn’t know what he was doing, or how he got into the park at that time of night. He was astonished at waking up in the police cell some time before daylight.

    Rev W[illiam] Lamb, minister of the Burton-street Baptist Tabernacle, said that Paris, whom he had known for two years, had been associated with the church gymnasium and brass band, but Paris, though a big fellow, was only a boy.

    Gifford King, an area officer, said that Paris was a sergeant in a battalion, but he knew nothing of his private life.

    His Honor, summing up, said if the jury believed McDonald’s defence, that it was a pure accident, they would have to disbelieve the evidence of the constable and Kerr. In Paris’ case if he was a consenting party, he was equally guilty. Paris, the bigger and younger, claimed that he was unconscious at the time of the offence. McDonald did not claim that; but if the jury believed that Paris didn’t know what was being done, they should acquit him.

    The jury acquitted both accused.

 

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¹     Truth, (Syd, NSW), Sun 29 Jun 1913, p. 2. Emphasis added.

²     The Daily Telegraph, Fri 11 Jul 1913, p. 5. Emphasis added.

³     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 11 Jul 1913, p. 4.

⁴     The Daily Telegraph, Sat 12 Jul 1913, p. 11.

⁵     Truth, (Syd, NSW), Sun 13 Jul 1913, p. 3.

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