Below also see: Reginald Edwards, 1924 – Sodomy

 

The Brisbane Courier, Wed 8 Apr 1914 ¹

BUNDABERG CIRCUIT COURT.

Bundaberg, April 7.

    The April sittings of the Circuit Court, in its criminal jurisdiction, were commenced at the Court House to-day before His Honour Mr Justice Lukin. Mr JJ Kingsbury prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…
    Charles Wilson, [aka Reginald Edwards], charged with a criminal offence against a girl 10 years of age, was found guilty, and remanded for sentence. Mr WLD Salkeld (Brisbane) appeared for the accused. The court adjourned until tomorrow morning.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Brisbane Courier, Thu 9 Apr 1914 ²

BUNDABERG CIRCUIT COURT
———◦———
ALLEGED CRIMINAL OFFENCE.
————
TEN YEARS’ HARD LABOUR.

Bundaberg, April 8.

    The Criminal Sittings of the Circuit Court were concluded to-day, before his Honour Mr Justice Lukin. Mr JJ Kingsbury prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…
    Charles Wilson, who was found guilty of having committed a criminal offence on a schoolgirl, 10 years of age, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour. Addressing the accused his Honour said, “You have been found guilty of a crime which is regarded as one of the most serious offences under the law, and previous to the year 1898 it would have been my duty to have sentenced you to death. I have to consider the prevention of any future offence of a similar nature by you and others of your class, and with a view of making such men as your type realise the serious nature of the crime, and for the safety of girls, in particular little children, it is my duty to inflict a sentence which will have a deterrent effect. You are sentenced to a term of 10 years with hard labour.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Morning Bulletin, Thu 9 Apr 1914 ³

BUNDABERG CIRCUIT COURT

Bundaberg, April 8.

    The criminal sittings of the Circuit Court were continued to-day before Mr Justice Lukin.
…
    Charles Wilson, who had been found guilty of a criminal offence on a schoolgirl ten years of age, was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment with hard labour. His Honour remarked that previous to 1898 it would have been his duty to have sentenced him to death.

 

---

Reginald Edwards, 1924

The Spectator, Thu 10 Apr 1924 ⁴

WALGETT QUARTER SESSIONS.
———◦———
(Before His Honor Judge Mocatta.)

    The Quarter Sessions opened at Walgett on Tuesday afternoon last, when the following legal gentlemen were present:—Mr S Mack, KC, of Sydney, and Messrs M Kennett and CT Champion, of Walgett.

    Mr RJ Browning officiated as Crown Prosecutor.

    Messrs P Peacock and DM English were each fined 40s for non-attendance as jurymen, but, His Honor explained, that if an affidavit were made substantiating the excuse put forward, the fines would be remitted. His Honor excused Messrs Justin Rowe and AG Smith, owing to sickness.
…

———

    Reginald Edwards was charged with committing a serious office, [buggery on Roy Gordon Willoughby], on a little boy, five years of age, at Walgett on 23rd February last.

    Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was undefended.

    The following jury was empanelled:—Frederick William Gray (foreman), James Walter Evans, Frederick William Colwell, Arthur Neville Tooth, Hugh Gilbert, John Schneider, Harold Martin Davies, George Ernest Ridley, Argyle Bruce Cameron, James Thomas O’Brien, James Bradley Edward Bishop.

    The evidence taken was substantially the same as that given at the lower court, but owing to a great amount of it being of a disgusting nature, we refrain from publishing it.

    The accused did not give evidence, but made a rambling statement from the dock, in which he endeavoured to establish an alibi.

    Mr Browning stated that he did not desire to address the jury as he was quite prepared to leave the case in their hands.

    His Honor briefly summed up, after which the jury retired to consider their verdict.

    After an absence of about half an hour, they returned into court with a verdict of guilty.

    The police record showed that the accused was known as Frederick Joseph Murray, alias John Murray, alias Charles Wilson, alias Frederick Murray, alias John Murray, alias Reginald Edwards. At Hillend, [sic] in 1908, he received a sentence of one month for stealing; at Moree, in 1911, he was acquitted on a charge of assault and robbery; at Bundaberg, Q[ueensland], in 1914, he received a sentence of 10 years for rape; and at the same place in 1920, 14 months for stealing.

    His Honor reminded him that the evidence was very clear against him and the jury had found him guilty of one of the worst crimes on the criminal calendar. He sentenced him to 10 years penal servitude, and ordered that during the first six months of the sentence he receive two whippings of 12 strokes each of the last, at such times as the authorities may direct.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Mail, Sat 12 Apr 1924 ⁵

WORST TYPE CRIMINAL
———◦———
TEN YEARS AND TWO FLOGGINGS
———◦———

Sydney, Today.

    Reginald Edwards (43) was sentenced by Judge Nocatta [sic] at the Walgett sessions today to 10 years’ penal servitude and two floggings of 12 strokes each for an offence on February 23 against a boy five years of age. When passing sentence the Judge said:—“I see from your record that in 1914 you were sentenced to 10 years’ penal servitude for another serious offence, that of rape. You are obviously a most dangerous man, and your latest diabolical offence shows that you should be most severely dealt with. I have no hesitation in saying that you are a criminal of the worst type, and consider you brutal.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Barrier Miner, Wed 4 Jun 1924 ⁶

OFFENCE AGAINST CHILD.
———◦———
REMARKS OF CHIEF JUSTICE
AT APPEAL OF PRISONER
————

Sydney, Wednesday.

    Sir William Cullen, Chief Justice, yesterday in Banco Court, when dismissing the appeal of Reginald Edwards, who was convicted at the Walgett Quarter Sessions, and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for a serious offence against a child, said that Edwards’s offence was horrible and abominable. Such scoundrels were a danger, not only to little children, but to the community. In his opinion the sentence was not too severe, including as it does two floggings of 12 strokes each.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Brisbane Courier, Wed 4 Jun 1924 ⁷

SEX PERVERTS.
———◦———
JUDGE'S SCATHING COMMENTS.
————

Sydney, June 3.

    The Chief Justice of New South Wales (Sir William Portus Cullen) made some scathing remarks in the Banco Court to-day when dismissing an appeal by Reginald Edwards, who was convicted at the Walgett Quarter Sessions of committing a serious offence upon a girl [sic] of 10 years of age. Edwards had been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, with two whippings of 12 strokes each.

    The Chief Justice said that the offence committed by the prisoner was a horrible and abominable one. Such scoundrels as Edwards were a danger to the community, and the sentence of the judge had not been too severe.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cairns Post, Wed 4 Jun 1924 ⁸

TO RECEIVE THE LASH.
————

Sydney, June 3.

    When dismissing the appeal by Reginald Edwards, who was sentenced at Walgett, for a serious offence upon a girl [sic] aged ten years, to imprisonment with two whippings of twelve strokes each, the Chief Justice, Sir Wm Cullen, said that the offence was a horrible and abominable one. Such scoundrels as Edwards were dangerous to the community, and the sentence of the Judge had not been too severe.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Examiner, Wed 4 Jun 1924 ⁹

AN ABOMINABLE CHARGE
———◦———
APPEAL DISMISSED.

Sydney, Tuesday.

    Reginald Edwards, who was convicted at the Walgett Quarter Sessions in April on a charge of having committed an abominable offence, for which he was sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude, and ordered to receive, within six months, two whippings of twelve strokes each with the lash, appealed on the ground that he was not guilty of the offence charged, and that the sentence was unduly severe. The appeal was dismissed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Mercury, Wed 4 Jun 1924 ¹⁰

APPEAL AGAINST THE LASH
———◦———
JUDGEMENT UPHELD.
———

Sydney, June 3.

    Reginald Edwards, who was convicted at the Walgett Quarter Sessions in April on a charge of having committed an abominable offence, for which he was sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude, and ordered to receive, within six months, two whippings of 12 strokes each with the lash, appealed on the ground that he was not guilty of the offence charged, and that the sentence was unduly severe. The appeal was dismissed.

    The Chief Justice, in announcing the decision of the Appeal Court to-day, said there was abundant evidence to support the conviction. In view of the nature of the offence committed, and the horrible danger to young children, who were exposed to the interference of such scoundrels, it was felt that the Court should not interfere with the sentence ordered in this case.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Morning Bulletin, Wed 4 Jun 1924 ¹¹

ACCIDENTS AND CRIMES.
———◦———

…

APPEAL DISMISSED

Sydney, June 3.

    In dismissing the appeal by Reginald Edwards, who was sentenced at Walgett for a serious offence upon a girl, [sic] aged 10 years, with two whippings of twelve stroked of the lash, the Chief Justice, said that the offence was a horrible and abominable one. Such scoundrels as Edwards were a danger to the community and the sentence of the judge had not been too severe.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Register, Wed 4 Jun 1924 ¹²

A DANGEROUS CRIMINAL.
———○———
APPEAL DISMISSED
———

Sydney, Tuesday.

    Reginald Edwards, who was convicted at the Walgett Quarter Sessions in April on a charge of having committed an offence, for which he was sentenced to 10 years’ penal servitude, and ordered to receive within six months two whippings of 12 strokes each, appealed on the ground that he was not guilty of the offence, and that the sentence was unduly severe. The appeal was dismissed. The Chief Justice, in announcing the decision to-day, said that there was abundant evidence to support the conviction. In view of the nature of the offence committed, and the horrible danger to young children who were exposed to the interference of such scoundrels, it was felt that the Court should not interfere with the sentence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 4 Jun 1924 ¹³

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL.
(Before Sir Wm Cullen, CJ, Mr Justice
Gordon, and Mr Justice James.)

REX v. EDWARDS.

    Reginald Edwards, who was convicted before Judge Mocatta at the Walgett Quarter Sessions in April last on a charge of having committed an abominable offence, for which he was sentenced to 10 years’ penal servitude, and ordered to receive within six months of the date of conviction two whippings of 12 strokes each with the lash, appealed on the ground that he was not guilty of the offence charged, and that the sentence was unduly severe. Mr WD McMahon appeared for the appellant, and Mr Weigall for the Crown.

    The appeal was dismissed. The Chief Justice, in announcing the decision of the Court, said there was abundant evidence to support the conviction. The only argument addressed to their Honors on behalf of the appellant related to the corroboration which the Act required of the evidence of young children, to whom the Judge did not think proper to have the oath administered. The sentence was undoubtedly severe, but in the case of this particular prisoner, who had had a previous conviction, under which he served a long sentence, his conviction for the gross and abominable offence put him out of the category of those who might appeal to the mercy of the Court. The only question for the Court was whether a due sense of proportion with regard to the punishment inflicted had been exceeded by the Judge. The decisions of the Criminal Appeal Court had always been that unless a Judge had fallen intro some error in apportioning the punishment beyond what the facts given in evidence warranted, which reasonably brought the case within the description, the Court ought not to interfere. In view of the nature of the offence committed and the horrible danger to young children who were exposed to the interference of such scoundrels it was felt that the Court should not interfere with the sentence ordered in this case.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wed 4 Jun 1924 ¹⁴

AN APPEAL DISMISSED.
————
(By Telegraph.)

Sydney, June 3.

    Dismissing an appeal by Reginald Edwards, sentenced at Walgett for a serious offence upon a girl, [sic] aged ten years, with two whippings of twelve strokes each, the Chief Justice (Sir William Cullen), said the offence was a horrible and abominable one. Such scoundrels as Edwards were dangerous to the community, and the sentence of the judge had not been too severe.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The West Australian, Wed 4 Jun 1924 ¹⁵

ABOMINABLE OFFENCE.
———◦———
AN APPEAL DISMISSED
———

Sydney, June 3.

    Reginald Edwards, who was convicted at the Walgett Quarter Sessions in April on a charge of having committed an abominable offence, for which he was sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude and ordered to receive within six months two whippings of 12 strokes each with the lash appealed on the ground that he was not guilty of the offence charged, and that the sentence was unduly severe. The appeal was dismissed. The Chief Justice, in announcing the decision of the Appeal Court to-day, said there was abundant evidence to support the conviction. In view of the nature of the offence committed and the horrible danger to young children who were exposed to the interference of such scoundrels, it was felt that the Court should not interfere with the sentence ordered in the case.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sunday Times, Sun 8 Jun 1924 ¹⁶

WORLD’S NEWS IN BRIEF

…
    Ten years and two floggings of 12 strokes each was the penalty from which Reginald Edwards unsuccessfully appealed in Sydney. The Chief Justice said the offence Edwards was guilty of was horrible, and he was a menace to young children. Scoundrels such as he were not deserving of relief.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Western Argus, Tue 10 Jun 1924 ¹⁷

OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN
———◦———

Sydney, June 3.

 

    Reginald Edwards, who was convicted at the Walgett Quarter Sessions in April on a charge of having committed an abominable offence, for which he was sentenced to 10 years’ penal servitude and ordered to receive within six months two whippings of 12 stroked each with the lash, appealed on the ground that he was not guilty of the offence charged and that the sentence was unduly severe. The appeal was dismissed.

    The Chief Justice, in announcing the decision of the Appeal Court to-day, said there was abundant evidence to support the conviction. In view of the nature of the offence committed and the horrible danger to young children who were exposed to the interference of such scoundrels, it was felt that the court should not interfere with the sentence ordered in this case.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Reginald Edwards, Gaol photo sheet ¹⁸

---

Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 20064

Date when Portrait was taken: 14-4-1924

Name: Reginald Edwards
(aka Frederick J Murray, John Murray, Charles Wilson, Frederick Murray)

Native place: Bowral NSW Year of birth: 24-3-1881 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: BS Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Tinsmith Religion: Presbyterian Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 9¼" Weight     On committal: 152 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Dark brown to Grey Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: Hair curly. Butterfly inside left forearm. Star outside left upper arm. Clasped hands & heart inside right forearm. Union Jack outside right upper arm. Crossed flags & female bust outside bend right arm.

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Hillend PC Queensland Bundaberg CC Bundaberg DC NSW Walgett Q.S Criminal Appeal Court	11     7 23     3   3	11     4   3     4   6	1908   1914 1920   1924 1924	Stealing   Rape Stealing   Buggery Appeal dismissed conviction confirmed Paper (24/9055 Prisons) received stating that Governor had remitted portion of sentence re 2 floggings – Paper with warrant.	1 month HL   10 years. 14 months HL   10 years P.S. & ordered that he receive within 6 months of his sentence 2 floggings of 12 strokes each with the lash at such times as CGP appoints. Appealed. 14-4-1924.

 

 

---

¹     The Brisbane Courier, Wed 8 Apr 1914, p. 5.

²     The Brisbane Courier, Thu 9 Apr 1914, p. 7.

³     Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld), Thu 9 Apr 1914, p. 8.

⁴     The Spectator, Thu 10 Apr 1924, p. 2.

⁵     The Mail, Sat 12 Apr 1924, p. 4.

⁶     Barrier Miner, Wed 4 Jun 1924, p. 1.

⁷     The Brisbane Courier, Wed 4 Jun 1924, p. 16.

⁸     Cairns Post (Qld), Wed 4 Jun 1924, p. 5.

⁹     Examiner, Wed 4 Jun 1924, p. 5.

¹⁰   The Mercury, Wed 4 Jun 1924, p. 3.

¹¹   Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld), Wed 4 Jun 1924, p. 9.

¹²   The Register, Wed 4 Jun 1924, p. 11.

¹³   The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 4 Jun 1924, p. 10.

¹⁴   Townsville Daily Bulletin, Wed 4 Jun 1924, p. 4.

¹⁵   The West Australian, Wed 4 Jun 1924, p. 11.

¹⁶   Sunday Times, Sun 8 Jun 1924, p. 14.

¹⁷   Western Argus, Tue 10 Jun 1924, p. 30.

¹⁸   SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6111], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 14 Jan 1924-5 Jun 1924, No. 20064, p. 202.

---