Below also see: Adolphus Horatio Smith, 1916 – Indecent assault,
Adolphus Horatio Smith, 1929
The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 8 Apr 1915 1
LAW NOTICES.
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Thursday, April 8.
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SYDNEY QUARTER SESSIONS.
Frank Young, wrongfully signing a telegram; Pryce Wynne Dillon Cox, larceny; Ernest Samuel Charles Medcalf, indecent assault; Adolphus Horatio Smith, [aka George Cathro], indecent assault.
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The Daily Telegraph, Fri 9 Apr 1915 2
CRIMINAL.
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Adolphus Horatio Smith, a young man, was acquitted on a charge alleging a serious offence to have been committed at Sydney on February 27. The jury added a rider that they did not think the boy (the prosecuting witness) was of a depraved mind, or that any aspersion should be cast upon his character.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 9 Apr 1915 3
QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Rogers and Juries.)
Mr CA White, Crown Prosecutor.
…
ACQUITTED.
Adolphus Horatio Smith, aged 35, was charged with a serious [indecent] assault on John Shepherd, aged 16, at Rushcutter Bay on February 27. Smith pleaded not guilty and was defended by Mr JJ Kiely.
The jury found a verdict of not guilty. The foreman added: “ We would like to say that we don’t think any imputation should be cast on the boy’s character.”
His Honor: Very well, gentlemen, if you think that, it is your verdict. Smith was discharged.
Adolphus Horatio Smith, 1916 – Indecent assault
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 8 Feb 1916 4
LAW REPORT.
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DISTRICT COURT.
(Before Judge Backhouse.)
THEATRICAL MANAGER'S CLAIM.
Cathro v Norwood.
Mr WD Daley appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr EO Posser (of Messrs Thomas and Prosser), for the defendant. This was an action brought by George Cathro, theatrical touring manager, against Mervin H Norwood, theatrical manager, of Doncaster-avenue, Kensington, to recover the sum of £29 1s 2d, balance of account claimed for services rendered as theatrical manager. In his particulars plaintiff sued for three weeks’ salary at £8 per week; also two day’s salary at £1 6s 8d, and £8 for one week’s salary, in lieu of notice. Credit was given for £5 12s 2d, leaving the balance claimed. Defendant pleaded not indebted, and gave evidence that all that he agreed to do was to pay plaintiff’s expenses in connection with a small touring company. This he did, and he also paid plaintiff £5.
His Honor said the story told by plaintiff that he was to receive £8 per week for managing a small touring company was highly improbable, and as he was not satisfied with his case the verdict must be for the defendant.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 4 Aug 1916 5
LAW NOTICES.
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Friday, August 4.
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QUARTER SESSIONS.
Harry Richards, attempt to steal from the person; Thomas Wood, false pertences [sic]; Adolphus Horatio Smith, assault.
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The Daily Telegraph, Sat 5 Aug 1916 6
CRIMINAL.
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At the Sydney Quarter Sessions, before Judge Scholes.
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Adolphus Horatio Smith, [aka George Cathro], pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecent assault. He was found not guilty, and was accordingly discharged.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 5 Aug 1916 7
QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Scholes and Juries.)
Mr Herbert Harris, Crown Prosecutor.
…
Adolphus Horatio Smith, 36, for whom Mr T Rose appeared, was found not guilty of having committed a serious offence, [an indecent assault on Leslie Hamilton Townend, see: 1916, Leslie Hamilton Townend], at Manly on July 3.
Adolphus Horatio Smith, 1929
Truth, Sun 10 Mar 1929 8
FLOWERY TALK
BY
A NEW ORATOR
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ASKED THE “D” ABOUT
SCIENTIFIC FACTS
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HAD GINGER POP
SHADES of all the orators who have ever “orated” anywhere, another coiner of gold phrases has arisen in our midst, on Adolphus Horatio Smith, who was charged at the Central the other day with “being a rogue and vagabond, he was found in Young-street with intent to commit a felony,” and so on.
A tall, elderly man, Smith certainly didn’t look the part, and when he spoke, he showed that he was a man who had drunk deeply from the well of learning.
Constable Arentz stated that he watched Smith stopping boys with parcels in the street. “By your actions you are trying to steal the parcels,” he said to the man.
“We suspect that you find out if there is anything valuable in the parcels, then ask the boys to go a message for you, and offer to hold their parcels,” said he, accusingly.
“You’re a liar,” was Smith’s reply, so he said.
Given the opportunity to ask questions, Smith said decisively, “Your story reads like a tale without end—another little ant went in, and carried out another little grain of sand—why the time would not permit me to have approached all the boys you say I did.”
“You can’t tell the truth,” he added disgustingly.
Constable O’Donnell corroborated Arentz, and to him, Smith said, “Do you know that it is a scientific fact that no two people see things exactly alike? Did you arrange your evidence?”
“That’s what happened,” replied the constable.
Smith’s defence was an epic. Dramatically recited, it showed all the feeling of a theatrical manager appreciating the possibilities of the situation.
He had been a manager in every country of the world, he declared, but his health broke down, and he took to hawking for a living when he came out of hospital.
It was a hot day, he said, and after effecting six sales at Strathfield, he bought sausage rolls and ginger beer, and returned to his room at the People’s Palace, and ate them. He slept, and awoke in a perspiration.
“I don’t know what it is to feel temptation—except it was apples when I was a schoolboy. All my life I have held positions as theatrical manager; carried huge sums of money, and have been able to submit balance-sheets accounting for every penny. Bert Bailey and Julius Grant, highly respected and influential gentlemen, will tell you that I am a trusted man.”
“I’m just a friendly man who passes the time of day with everyone, and I don’t breed suspicion in my mind,” he concluded.
“Not sufficient evidence,” said Mr Gates, CSM, as he dismissed the charge.
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 8 Apr 1915, p. 5. Emphasis added.
2 The Daily Telegraph, Fri 9 Apr 1915, p. 4.
3 The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 9 Apr 1915, p. 4. Emphasis added.
4 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 8 Feb 1916, p. 6. Emphasis added.
5 The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 4 Aug 1916, p. 4. Emphasis added.
6 The Daily Telegraph, Sat 5 Aug 1916, p. 19.
7 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 5 Aug 1916, p. 9.
8 Truth, (Syd, NSW), Sun 10 Mar 1929, p. 17. Emphasis added.