The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 26 Oct 1918 ¹

LIVERPOOL.
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…

COMMITTED.

    An internee at the German Concentration Camp was committed for trial at the Parramatta Quarter Sessions from Liverpool Court on Friday for an alleged indecent assault. One of the internees ² said they got tight on “camp” whiskey. Where do they get it! Accused, Walter Newhoff [sic] (76) stated that he had been 40 years in Australia, and the greater part of that time had been employed as a maintenance man on the State roads. He went voluntarily to the concentration camp at the outbreak of the war. He had no money and the German Government refused to send him any; he was penniless in the camp. Later on he got in touch with the Red Cross authorities at Geneva, who sent him money. He fought in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, and his left leg was shot to pieces.
…

PARRAMATTA SESSIONS LIST.

    The cases for hearing at the Parramatta sessions commencing on Monday are as follows:—Frederick William Goulding, breaking and entering and stealing at Wentworthville on 14th Oct; William Gilmour Jones, assault on girl under 16 at Lidcombe, 26th September; Henry Arthur Bateman, horse stealing on June 7, at Parramatta; Walter Newholt [sic], assault on September 28 at Holdsworthy [sic]; Stephen Wills and Frederick Spencer Collins, assault, occasioning actual bodily harm at Parramatta on 18th September. Appeal cases: EA King v. Alfred Pearce, appeal against magistrate’s order; Geo Carr against conviction at Liverpool on July 15 for stealing on June 20 at Canley Vale.

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The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Wed 30 Oct 1918 ³

PARRAMATTA QUARTER SESSIONS.
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Monday, October 28.
(Before Judge Scholes.)
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    Mr TS Crawford, was Crown Prosecutor; Mr LW Broughton was Deputy Clerk of the Peace; Mr DD Henderson, Deputy Sheriff.
…

A German Pleads Guilty.

    Walter Newholt [aka Walter Neuhoff]; a German from the concentration camp at Holdsworthy, was charged with assault.

    The prisoner, who pleaded guilty, expressed a wish to be heard on oath.

    Newholt, having been sworn, stated that he knew the young man [Ernest Hartmann] who had been [indecently] assaulted, and had treated him like a son. People in the camp had treated him (prisoner) brutally because of his having been naturalised. They had had good news; and they took a drop too much. They could get it after 6 pm in the camp. He did not know what he did. Whatever it was it was done under the influence of gum whisky. He was 76 years of age, and he had never had any “trouble” before in his life.

    The old man said that he had been over three years in the camp. It was stated by a corporal from the camp that the old German had never given any trouble before.

    Prisoner was remanded for sentence.

    Newholt was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labor in Grafton gaol.

    His Honor sentenced the prisoner per the agency of an interpreter.

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Walter Neuhoff, Gaol photo sheet ⁴

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 284
Grafton

Date when Portrait was taken: 16th November 1918

Name: Walter Neuhoff

Native place: Germany Year of birth: 1842 Arrived       Ship: Potosi in Colony }   Year: 1875 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Labourer Religion: Lutheran Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 9½" Weight     On committal: 177 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Grey Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Scar inside left knee. Scar on left buttock

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Parramatta Q.S	28	10	1918	Indecent assault on a male person	12 months HL
In Holdsworthy Interment Camp for the past 3½ years

 

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¹     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Sat 26 Oct 1918, pp. 5, 6. Emphasis added.

²     To view a digitised photo of Walter Neuhoff, 4149, as a German internee, go to: www.naa.gov.au

³     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Wed 30 Oct 1918, p. 2.

⁴     SRNSW: NRS2258, [3/5994], Grafton Gaol photographic description book, Jun 1910-Nov 1922, No. 284, p. 95, R5125.

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