Below also see: Stewart Cumming, 1926,
Stewart Morrison Cumming, 1937

 

The Daily Telegraph, Fri 2 Feb 1923 ¹

CRIMINAL
———
(Before Judge Scholes.)

    Crown Prosecutor: Mr LJ McKean.
…

PLEAS OF GUILTY.

    The following persons pleaded guilty, and were remanded for sentence:—
…
    Stewart Morrison Cumming, [sic] stealing in the dwelling-house of Elsie Scott, at Neutral Bay, on November 16 and December 1; Cherry Lees, Darlinghurst, November 22; and Roy Henson, Kensington, on December 17.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 2 Feb 1923 ²

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Scholes.)

    Mr LJ McKean, Crown Prosecutor.
…

PLEAS OF GUILTY.

    The following persons pleaded guilty, and were remanded for sentence:—
…
    Stewart Morrison Cumming [aka Cummings], to four charges of stealing in a dwelling, namely, to stealing a wristlet watch, the property of Cherry Lees, at Darlinghurst, on November 22; to stealing two brooches, a bangle, and a perfume bottle, the property of Florinda Victoria Kateena Wilson, at Neutral Bay, December 1; to stealing a watch, two razors, a razor strop, a suit of clothes, and an overcoat, the property of David Blair, of Neutral Bay, on November 16; and to stealing a suit case, a suit of clothes, a camera, and other articles, the property of Roy Henson [aka Hanson], at Kensington, on December 17.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Daily Telegraph, Sat 3 Feb 1923 ³

CRIMINAL
———
(Before Judge Scholes.)

    The following persons, who had pleaded guilty, were sentenced at the Sessions:—
…
    Stewart Morrison Cumming, a young man, four charges of stealing in dwellings. Cumming said he was absolutely destitute, and that was why he committed the thefts. His Honor said he would take prisoner’s destitution into consideration, and made the sentence 18 months’ imprisonment, with hard labor, in Goulburn Gaol, on each charge, the terms to be concurrent.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 3 Feb 1923 ⁴

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Scholes.)

    Mr LJ McKean, Crown Prosecutor.

SENTENCES.

    Persons, who had previously pleaded guilty were sentenced as follows:—
…
    Stewart Morrison Cumming, a youth, on four charges of stealing in dwellings, 18 months’ hard labour in Goulburn Gaol, on each charge concurrent. Cumming informed his Honor that at the time he committed the thefts he was completely destitute.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Stewart Morrison Cummings, Gaol photo sheet ⁵

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 19112

Date when Portrait was taken: 3-2-1923

Name: Stewart Morrison Cummings

Native place: England Year of birth: 9-5-1892 Arrived       Ship: Omrah in Colony }   Year: 1917 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Actor Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 4⅜" Weight     On committal: 121 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Nil

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S	1	2	1923	Stealing in a dwelling house (4 charges)	18 months H.L. on each charge. Concurrent

 

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Stewart Cumming, 1926

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 9 Apr 1926 ⁶

LAW NOTICES.
———◦———
Friday, April 9.
——

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.

    George Alfred Walker, receiving (for sentence); Richard Clive Johnson, break, enter, and steal; Stewart Morrison Cumming, [aka Stewart Cumming], indecency; Robert Victor Wilson, stealing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Daily Telegraph, Sat 10 Apr 1926 ⁷

CRIMINAL.
————
(Before Judge Edwards.)

    Crown Prosecutor: Mr WT Coyle, KC.
…

NOT DESIRABLE.

    Stewart Morrison Cumming (30), traveller, was charged with having, at Bondi, on March 11, committed a serious offence. Mr Corringham (instructed by Mr OM Allen) appeared for the defence. Cumming was convicted. Mr Corringham said that the prisoner had been in Australia for four or five years.

    His Honor said it would be a good job if he would get away. Offences of this kind would not be tolerated. Parents whose children indulged in the healthy pastime of surf-bathing had the right to expect that they should not be molested.

    The sentence was 12 months’ imprisonment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 10 Apr 1926 ⁸

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Edwards.)

    Crown Prosecutor, Mr WT Coyle, KC.

SENTENCES.

    The following persons, who had either pleaded guilty, or had been convicted during the week on the charges on which they were arraigned, were dealt with as stated:—
…

INDECENT ASSAULT.

    Stewart Morrison Cumming, 30, traveller, was charged with committing an indecent assault on a little boy, [William Magee], at Bondi on March 11.

    Mr Corringham (instructed by Mr OM Allen) appeared for the accused, who was convicted, and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Stewart Morrison Cummings, Gaol photo sheet ⁹

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 21534

Date when Portrait was taken: 10-4-1926

Name: Stewart Morrison Cumming

Native place: England Year of birth: 9-5-1892 Arrived       Ship: Omrah in Colony }   Year: 1917 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Actor Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 4½" Weight     On committal: 127 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Nil

(No. of previous Portrait .. 19112) CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S	9	4	1926	Indecent assault on a male person	12 months HL
And 1 previous conviction for which see Photo No. as above

 

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Stewart Morrison Cumming, 1937

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 10 Apr 1937 ¹⁰

LAW NOTICES.
———
Thursday, April 1.
———

…

QUARTER SESSIONS.

…
    No. 2 Court: Eric Newton Fairs, break, enter, and steal (for plea only); Francis Ernest Mortimer, break, enter, and steal (for plea only); Reginald Francis Moore, break, enter, and steal (for plea only); Frederick James Robinson, bigamy (for plea only); Stewart Morrison Cumming, indecent assault; John Joseph Cuddy, assault constable in the execution of duty and assault with intent to prevent lawful apprehension.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Newcastle Sun, Fri 16 Apr 1937 ¹¹

JUDGE OBJECTS TO
LAUGHTER
———◦———
REBUKE IN COURT
———

Sydney, Friday.

    When laughter broke out in the public gallery at the Quarter Sessions to-day, during the trial of a man on a serious charge, Judge Sheridan threatened to have the Court cleared.

    He would not allow the ribald laughter of people of diseased minds to disturb the proceedings, declared the Judge. This Court, he said, was for decent people, and anyone who would not conform to ordinary decency had better keep away.

    The prisoner before the Court was Stewart Morison [sic] Cumming (45), salesman.

    On his conviction police stated that he had been associating with youths. On the occasion the police visited his room they found Cumming and a youth there.

    “You are a loathsome brute,” said Judge Sheridan to Cumming in sentencing him to four years’ imprisonment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Sat 17 Apr 1937 ¹²

TWO MEN GAOLED
————
OFFENCES AGAINST BOYS
————

Sydney, Friday.

    On charges of offences against boys, Stewart Cumming, 45, a salesman, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment by Judge Sheridan at the Quarter Sessions to-day. Henry Mason, 42, a chemist, was sentenced to imprisonment for four and a half years for similar offences.

    Mason will be segregated for curative treatment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 17 Apr 1937 ¹³

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Acting Judge Hill.)

    Senior Crown Prosecutor, Mr LJ McKean, KC (instructed by the Clerk of the Peace.)
…

(Before Judge Sheridan.)

    Crown Prosecutor, Mr BV Stacey (instructed by the Clerk of the Peace.)
…

FOUR YEARS' SENTENCE.

    Stewart Morison [sic] Cumming (45), salesman, who was undefended, pleaded not guilty to a charge alleging in the first count that, on February 23 last, at Sydney, he had committed with a male person a serious offence. He also pleaded not guilty to a second count alleging that he had indecently assaulted a male person.

    The accused was found guilty of the first count and he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Truth, Sun 18 Apr 1937 ¹⁴

…
    Last week Henry Ernest Mason, a chemist, and Stewart Morrison Cumming, a salesman, whose cases are reported elsewhere, were convicted of practices similar to the offences of Maddocks. The first-named was sentenced to four and a half years gaol, and the latter to four years.
…

6 YEARS’ AND 4
YEARS’ GAOL
———◦———

    Sentence of six years’ imprisonment was passed on Henry Ernest Mason, 42, a chemist, at the Sydney Quarter Sessions last week, after he had pleaded guilty to four charges of indecent assaults on male persons. Acting Judge Betts, when passing sentence, ordered that three of them be served cumulatively, and one concurrent, thus imposing in effect four and half years’ gaol.

    Detective Skehan (Darlinghurst) told the court that Mason was a chemist in a Sydney suburb. There were two other chemists of the same name in the suburb who had no connection or association with the prisoner.

    Between November and December of last year, said witness, Mason led boys to believe that he wanted a messenger. The boys visited his shop and he would commit the offence, promising the boys that he would make them presents.

    “In these cases you have pleaded guilty to four offences,” said Acting Judge Betts.”I have read the depositions and the evidence shows that these offences were committed under circumstances of the most depravity. Four young boys were concerned and the offences were over a short period. They were of such a nature that I cannot help feeling convinced that you are not normal.

    “I feel you can’t help yourself, and I feel that you are more to be pitied than condemned. On each charge you are sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment, three of them to be cumulative and the fourth to be concurrent.

    “I recommend that the deposition be sent to the Comptroller-General of Prisons and that his attention be drawn to the medical evidence to enable him to have an opportunity of deciding whether you should be segregated.

“LOATHSOME BRUTE.”

    “You are a loathsome brute, and you must be put away,” said Judge Sheridan at the Sydney Quarter Sessions last week, when imposing sentence of four years’ gaol on Steward Morison Cumming, who had been found guilty of an offence with a 15 years’ old boy.

    Detective Aubrey Keating told the court that on March 10 last he went to Brougham-street and saw the accused. He told Cumming of the boy’s allegations, and Cumming immediately denied them, and offered to make a statement.

    In a long statement from the dock, Cumming protested his innocence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Stewart Morrison Cummings, Gaol photo sheet ¹⁵

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 30265

Date when Portrait was taken: –

Name: Stewart Morrison Cumming

Native place: England Year of birth: 9-5-1892 Arrived       Ship: Omrah in Colony }   Year: 1917 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Salesman Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 3¾" Weight     On committal: 120 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Blue

Marks or special features: Nil

(No. of previous Portrait .. 19112, 21534) Previous Portrait NSW 100/22, 110/113, Special 230/37 CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Sydney Q.S Court of Criminal Appeal	16 28	4 5	1937 1937	Buggery Application dismissed. Conviction confirmed	4 years H.L.

 

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¹     The Daily Telegraph, Fri 2 Feb 1923, p. 6.

²     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 2 Feb 1923, p. 6.

³     The Daily Telegraph, Sat 3 Feb 1923, p. 17.

⁴     The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 3 Feb 1923, p. 9.

⁵     SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6108], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 5 Sep 1922-24 Mar 1923, No. 19271, p. 456.

⁶     The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 9 Apr 1926, p. 9. Emphasis added.

⁷     The Daily Telegraph, Sat 10 Apr 1926, p. 9.

⁸     The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 10 Apr 1926, p. 12.

⁹     SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6116], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 30 Dec 1925-2 Jun 1926, No. 21534, p. –.

¹⁰   The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 10 Apr 1937, p. 12. Emphasis added.

¹¹   The Newcastle Sun, (NSW), Fri 16 Apr 1937, p. 5.

¹²   Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Sat 17 Apr 1937, p. 12. Emphasis added.

¹³   The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 17 Apr 1937, p. 12.

¹⁴   Truth, (Syd, NSW), Sun 18 Apr 1937, pp. 1, 15. Emphasis in original and added.

¹⁵   SRNSW: NRS– [17/1522], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 17 Apr 1937-14 Jun 1937, No. 30265, p. –.

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