Ernest Lascelles, 1919

Below also see: Ernest Lascelles, 1921 – Indecent assault
Ernest Lascelles, 1921 – Indecent assault

 

Young Witness, Tue 29 Apr 1919 ¹

POLICE COURT.

    At the Young Police Court this morning before Messrs AS Wickham and R Rumble, J’sP, Ernest Lascelles, 58, an Indian, a stranger to the town appeared to answer s charge of unlawfully assaulting a child under the age of six years. He was fined £10 or two months.

 

---

Ernest Lascelles, 1921

The Glen Innes Examiner, Thu 10 Feb 1921 ²

QUARTER SESSIONS
——:○:——
(Tuesday, before His Honor Judge White.)
——
JURORS EXCUSED.
——

    SJ Dymock, W Robson and HV Williams were excused from duty as jurors—the first mentioned on account of public duty, the second on account of illness, and the last named because of pressure of business due to illness in the family. His Honor said that ordinarily, business men should arrange their affairs to suit the court, but in the case of sickness allowances had to be made.
…

ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT.
————

    Ernest Lascelles, an elderly and well-dressed man, appeared to answer a charge of indecently assaulting a young boy named John McGrath, at Glen Innes on November 1. The offence was alleged to have been committed in a lavatory at the rear of the Majestic Picture Palace.

    Mr RJ Browning was Crown Prosecutor, and Mr O’Halloran, of Tamworth, appeared for Lascelles, who pleaded not guilty.

    The following were empannelled [sic] as a jury:—J Healey (foreman), R Clibborn, James Ginn, P Tuttle, R O’Hara, AS Lightfoot, F Nicholson, JH Penrose, PJ Timbs, J Duncan, RI Woods, JJ Dunbar. Six others whose names were called were challenged by the accused.

    First-class Sergt Ryan told of the arrest of Lascelles, in response to a complaint made. Witness said two constables, with a boy named Jack Griffiths, went to the Royal Hotel, where Constable Stewart was in a bedroom with accused and where the boy identified Lascelles as the man who had assaulted him. Next day Jack McGrath similarly identified accused.

    To Mr O’Halloran witness said accused was not a resident of Glen Innes he had seen him in the street two or three times and had spoken to him on one occasion. There were only the three police officers and accused in the room when Griffiths identified Lascelles.

    Constable Stewart gave evidence as to the identification of accused by Jack McGrath, who instantly selected him out of a line-up of seven men.

    By Mr O’Halloran: Witness had also spoken to accused on the previous day, when he denied any knowledge of the offence and said that he had been drinking at that time and did not know what he was doing.

    Constable Taylor also gave evidence regarding the identification.

    John McGrath, a bright little lad of seven years, was asked by His Honor if he understood the nature of an oath. In reply he said he went to school at the Convent, where he was told to tell the truth. The little fellow said that if he did not tell the truth he would be “sent away on a training ship.” His Honor, after further questions, said that the boy though intelligent enough, did not understand the nature of an oath. He was therefore allowed to make a statement in the witness box, which he did very intelligently. He was subsequently stood on a chair for the jury’s benefit. The little fellow, with the utmost simplicity, outlined the disgusting details of the incident. Lascelles, the boy stated, then gave him and the other two boys who were with him a shilling apiece and told them not to tell anybody.

    The boy was cross-examined at some length by Mr O’Halloran, and, though occasionally confused, in the main he stuck to his story manfully.

    John Sydney [or Sydney] Griffiths, a lad of 12 years, who was sworn in the usual way, told his story connectedly and clearly, corroborating that of the previous witness. He and the other two boys were in Meade St, near the picture palace on Monday, November 1, when Lascelles accosted them and asked them if they wanted sixpence. They all said “Yes,” whereupon Lascelles led them round to the back of the picture palace and the offence was committed. He subsequently gave them money.

    The boy was cross-examined closely by Mr O’Halloran, but in the main adhered to his version of the affair.

    The third boy [Peter Larracy, 8] was not called, and the accused then made a statement. He said he was a married man, 60 years of age, and had a wife in another state. He had been representing a firm for 11 years, and in the course of that duty he visited Glen Innes. He arrived on October 27 and stayed at the Royal Hotel. For three days he canvassed the town, and on the Sunday he imbibed rather too freely with a chance acquaintance. He spent most of the next day in bed, and was in bed when the police arrived. He affirmed stoutly that he had never seen the boys before; he knew nothing about them, and was absolutely innocent of the charge.

    On the application of Mr O’Halloran the jury visited the places mentioned in the evidence. On returning the evidence given by Jack Griffiths and Jack McGrath in the lower court was tendered and read, after which counsel appearing in the case addressed the jury.

    After a short retirement the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty and accused was discharged. The charges in relation to the other two boys mentioned in the case were held over until next sessions, or such other court as the Attorney General might determine.

 

---

Ernest Lascelles, 1921

The Northern Daily Leader, Tue 6 Sep 1921 ³

QUARTER SESSIONS.
——
CASES AT TAMWORTH.
———

    A Court of Quarter Sessions was opened at Tamworth yesterday, before his Honor Judge White. Mr WA Bourne attended as Deputy Sheriff. Mr RJ Browning was Crown Prosecutor.

CHARGES OF of INDECENT ASSAULT.

…
     Ernest Lascelles pleaded not guilty to a charge of having indecently assaulted a girl under the age of 16 years, namely [Heather Mary Hartley], 5 years, at Manilla, on May 27 last.

    Mr RJ O’Halloran appeared for accused.

    Constable William Patrick Smith, Myrtle Carter (aged 11), Mary Eleanor Veness, and Thomasina Hartley, gave evidence.

    Accused stated that he was a married man 61 years of age. He was very fond of children, and was innocent of the charge. He admitted he had been drinking, and detailed the circumstances under which he met the child. He was only playing with her.

    The jury returned a verdict of not guilty and accused was discharged.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ernest Lascelles, Gaol photo sheet ⁴

---

Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 2934
Goulburn

Date when Portrait was taken: 14th November 1919

Name: Ernest Lascelles

Native place: India Year of birth: 1861 (16th April) Arrived       Ship: Not known in Colony }   Year: about 1899 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Canvasser   Religion: Church of England Education, degree of: Read & Write Height: 5' 9¾" Weight     On committal: 173 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown to Grey Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Scar on right leg. Fresh complexion

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Young PC Goulburn PC	29 31	4 10	1919 1919	Assault female child under 16 years of age 1) Assault female child 2) Offensive behaviour	£10 or 2 months H.L. paid part fine 1-5-1919 6 months HL. £5-2-6 or 2 months H.L. Accum. Paid fine on 2nd sentence = 6 months H.L. to serve

 

---

¹     Young Witness, (NSW), Tue 29 Apr 1921, p. 2.

²     The Glen Innes Examiner, Thu 10 Feb 1921, p. 6. Emphasis added.

³     The Northern Daily Leader, Tue 6 Sep 1921, p. 1. Emphasis added.

⁴     SRNSW: NRS2232, [3/5981], Goulburn Gaol photographic description book, 25 Sep 1918-16 May 1922, No. 2934, p. 54, R5122.

---