The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 11 Oct 1923 1
LAW NOTICES.
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Thursday, October 11.
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QUARTER SESSIONS.
No. 1 Court.—Edward James Allen, manslaughter; George Money Fisher, larceny.
No. 2 Court.—Frank Donald Green, William Thompson, and May Lee, assault and robbery; James Boart [aka Robert] Houghton, indecent assault; James Joseph Rands, assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
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The Daily Telegraph, Fri 12 Oct 1923 2
CRIMINAL.
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(Before Judge Rolin.)
Crown Prosecutor: Mr EF McDonald.
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COCKATOO CONDUCT CRITICISED.
James Boart [aka Robert] Houghton (16), for whom Mr Brian Clancy (instructed by Mr CP White) appeared, was charged, in No. 2 Court of the Quarter Sessions, with having, at Cockatoo Island, committed a serious offence.
The jury, in returning a verdict of not guilty, added the following rider:—“We humbly request that your Honor will bring under the notice of the authorities at Cockatoo Dock the abominable language carried on by some of the employees, and that we deem it, in our humble opinion, not fit for any respectable child to learn a trade there.”
Accused was discharged.
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Evening News, Fri 12 Oct 1923 3
COCKATOO
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LURID LANGUAGE
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JURY’S CHARGE
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NO PLACE FOR BOYS
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MASS MEETING PROTEST
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“WE humbly request that your Honor will bring under the notice of the authorities at Cockatoo Dock the abominable language carried on by some of the employees, and that we deem it, in our humble opinion, not fit for any respectable child to learn a trade there..”
That Rider was added by a jury at the Darlinghurst Sessions yesterday, when returning a verdict of not guilty against James Boart Broughton, 16, a blacksmith’s striker who had been charged with indecent assault.
Mr HR Collins, the foreman, explaining to-day why the jury had returned the rider, said that the evidence disclosed a shocking state of affairs among a section of the employees. No doubt the authorities would take cognisance of the rider, as it was in the public interest that the moral defects should be removed.
Members of the jury felt that as decent-living citizens and fathers of children, it would be a bad lookout for the rising generation if they were brought into associations which might warp all their best instincts.
In acquitting Houghton, the foreman said that the jury had not the slightest hesitation in saying that the accused was innocent. The foreman and several other members of the jury congratulated Mr Brian Clancy (instructed by Mr CP White), who appeared for the defence on the capable way in which he had handled a delicate case.
WORKERS INDIGNANT.
Over 1000 employees of Cockatoo Island met at lunch hour to-day, and carried the following:---
Image: NSW State Library collection. Reproduction: Peter de Waal
“This meeting of workmen employed on Cockatoo Island enters a most emphatic protest against the sweeping statements of Judge Rolin of indecent citizenship of the workmen, and also against the rider of the jury in relation to the usage of abominable language.
We urge the Federal Board of Control to set up an open inquiry, the employees to have representation thereon.
We demand a withdrawal of the statement regarding indecent citizenship, to be read in the court presided over by Judge Rolin.
“This resolution to be forwarded to the Board of Control, the Acting Prime Minister, the leader of the Federal Labor Party, the Trade and Labor Council, the ALP executive, the Minister for Justice, and the Press.”
“You know why this meeting was called,” said Mr JP Dunn. “As citizens who know the rights of citizenship, we repudiate this charge, and we demand that the libel be withdrawn. This is one of those sly kicks so far as this establishment is concerned, and if you are going to take it by lying down you will get the boot in the ribs all the time.
When the delegates of the combined trade unions met a week ago, a resolution was moved that the time was ripe for the institution of your vigilance committee, and it is within the province of the workmen of Cockatoo to call that committee into being. Judge Rolin had no right to make that general attack. It may be right so far as some individuals are concerned, but a general sweeping statement was utterly wrong. We would be nothing but a pack of curs if we did not stand up for justice, and for our rights of citizenship.”
SLUR ON FAMILIES.
“It is not only a slur on you men,” said Mr F McGowan, in seconding the motion, “it is a slur on your wives and families, some 2000 people.
The morale of the men on Cockatoo Island are as high as the morals of men anywhere. There is a motive behind this, and it comes from men who want to see Cockatoo killed.”
Mr T Brown, president of the Boilermakers’ Society, was chairman of the meeting.
A further resolution that a vigilance committee be brought into existence, was also unanimously carried.
OPINIONS OF THE MEN.
“It would seem that no endeavor was made to keep a check on the language,” said one man. “As a matter of fact, it is only a few weeks back that a youth was sacked for that very thing—and there have been others.”
“Of course some them swear,” said one employee, “but the boys are the worst. A boy about 18 or 19, often does not think he is a man unless he uses language, but you get that class everywhere.
“Still, I don’t think they are any worse that the average run of boys has always been.”
Another man attributed all the trouble to some of the boys, who, when they get together, are apt “to go over the odds.” This happens, according to our informant, when the day’s work is over and boys are on the boat going home.”
“The language is no worse than anywhere else,” said one official. Some of the men have been employed here for years, and they look upon it as a model place. They are men who are respectable and well thought of wherever they are known.
“Naturally they are sore about it. I can’t speak for all of them.
“We sometimes get 250 cleaners and painters for a docking job, and, not being permanent employees, perhaps they feel somewhat irresponsible, and their language careless, but that does not hold for the regular employees.”
THE INQUIRY.
Admiral Sir William Clarkson paid the island a visit, and is inquiring into the truth or otherwise of the allegations.
“The statements came as ad absolute surprise to me,” he said. “I have never heard any allegations of the sort before. However, the whole matter will be looked into.”
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 12 Oct 1923 4
QUARTER SESSIONS.
No. 1 COURT.
(Before Judge Cohen.)
Crown Prosecutor, Mr LJ McKean.
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No. 2 COURT.
(Before Judge Rolin.)
Crown Prosecutor: Mr EF McDonald.
ACQUITTED.
James Boart Houghton was acquitted on a charge of having committed a serious offence, [indecent assault on Jack (aka John) Child, 14], at Cockatoo Island on August 20. The accused was defended by Mr Clancy (instructed by CP White).
In summing up, his Honor said that there was some corroboration of the evidence, and it was a most shocking thing that such a state of affairs should exist as was alleged did exist at Cockatoo Dock among the workmen; not only among the youths, but amongst the men.
The jury, in returning a verdict of not guilty, added the following rider:—“We also wish to add that we humbly request you to bring to the notice of the authorities of Cockatoo Dock the abominable language used by some of the employees, and that we deem it, in our humble opinion, not a fit place for any respectable child to learn a trade.”
The accused was discharged.
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The Maitland Daily Mercury, Sat 13 Oct 1923 5
JURY’S RIDER
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DISCUSSED BY COCKATOO
WORKERS.
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INDIGNATION EXPRESSED.
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The employees of Cockatoo Island held a meeting during lunch-hour on Friday for the purpose of discussing the remarks made by Judge Rolin, and the rider added by the jury in the case of James Houghton, who the previous day had been acquitted on a charge of assault.
The meeting carried resolutions emphatically protesting against the sweeping statements made by the Judge, and also the rider of the jury, urging the Federal Board of Control to set up an open inquiry, and demanding the withdrawal of the statement regarding indecent citizenship to be given in the court presided over by Judge Rolin.
The resolutions will be forwarded to the Board of Control, the leaders of the Commonwealth Government and Opposition, and other bodies. Mr JP Dunn, in submitting the resolutions, said that Judge Rolin had no right to make an attack. He hoped the meeting would repudiate the charge and demand the withdrawal of the libel.
Admiral Sir William Clarkson paid a visit to the Island, and intends to inquire into the allegations. He said the statements came as an absolute surprise to him, and he had never heard of any allegations of the sort before.
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 11 Oct 1923, p. 5. Emphasis added.
2 The Daily Telegraph, Fri 12 Oct 1923, p. 3.
3 Evening News, (Sydney, NSW), Fri 12 Oct 1923, p. 7. Emphasis in original and added.
4 The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 12 Oct 1923, p. 6.
5 The Maitland Daily Mercury, Sat 13 Oct 1923, p. 6.