John Bernasconi, 1913
Below also see: John Bernasconi, 1915,
John Bernasconi, 1923,
John Bernasconi, 1924,
John Bernasconi, 1927

 

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Wed 12 Mar 1913 ¹

PARRAMATTA COURT.
———◦———
Monday, March 10.
(Before Mr EL Maitland, SM.)
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…
    John Bernasconia, [sic] charged with being drunk, was fined 5s, or two hours’ imprisonment.

    For using indecent language the same young man was fined 40s, or a month’s imprisonment.

 

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John Bernasconi, 1915

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Sat 7 Aug 1915 ²

PARRAMATTA COURT.
———▴——
Wednesday, August 4.
————
(Before Mr MH Fitzhardinge, SM.)
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MORE AUBURN CASE.

    John Bernasconi (21) pleaded guilty to behaving in an indecent manner in a public place, off Good-street, Granville, on 31st July. He was fined 20s, or 14 days’ imprisonment.

 

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John Bernasconi, 1923

The Illawarra Mercury, Fri 30 Nov 1923 ³

POLICE COURT.
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WOLLONGONG.—MONDAY.
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(Before Mr MJ McMahon, SM.)
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…

BEGGING.
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    John Bernasconi pleaded not guilty to a charge of begging alms in Crown Street, Wollongong.

    Constable Quinn deposed that on the morning of the 20th inst, about 10.30 am, he was in plain clothes in Crown Street when the defendant asked him for 6d to get a loaf of bread. He said, “No,” and kept walking on. On looking round he saw defendant stop two other men. About 4 pm that afternoon he was on duty in Crown Street, Wollongong, and saw the defendant stop three or four other people and followed him, when he walked into the door of a cake shop. He said, “I am on cakes or a punch here.” Witness said “What do you mean by going into this shop, and stopping people along the street.” He replied, “I was going to ask for a feed.” He was in a muddled condition from drink.

    Defendant [John Bernasconi] deposed that he resided at Guil[d]ford, and was not begging alms. That he was asking people where he could get work.

    By Sergeant Pye: I have done time at Long Bay. It was not a serious charge.

    Sentenced to three weeks in Long Bay with hard labour.

 

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John Bernasconi, 1924

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 27 Nov 1924 ⁴

NEWCASTLE POLICE COURT.
———◦———
Wednesday, November 26.
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(Before Mr AR Perry, SM.)

…

THEFT OF ROPE.

    John Bernasconi (33), labourer, was charged with, at Newcastle, on November 26, stealing a quantity of rope, valued at 4s 5d, the property of the Chief Commissioner for Railways. The police evidence was that the accused was seen in Scott-street at an early hour that morning with the rope in his possession. He was asked to account for it, and said he got it in Hornsby from a man whose name he did not know. Accused pleaded guilty, and was fined £3 in default one month’s imprisonment.

 

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John Bernasconi, 1927

The Macleay Argus, Tue 29 Mar 1927 ⁵

KEMPSEY QUARTER SESSIONS.
———✦———

    Prior to the opening of the ordinary business of the Kempsey Quarter Sessions Court on Monday, Drs JB McElhone and RA Rankine, Messrs Wm McKenzie, NW Cameron, LJ Molloy and A Johnson were sworn in by his Honor, Judge Mocatta, as Justices of the Peace.

————

…

A DISGUSTING OFFENCE.
——

    John Bernasconi was charged that on February 28th he did commit on Clive Reeves an unmentionable offence. There was a second count of indecently assaulting Clive Reeves.

    Mr RJ Browning, Crown Prosecutor, acted on behalf of the Crown.

    The evidence in this case for the most part was most revolting, and therefore cannot be printed.

    The following jury was empanelled: Messrs VA Barnett, HH Bird, Wm Frith, James D Allen, GA Jeffery, John Skimmings, POA Plummer, HB Savage, WF O’Dell, BR Eggins, DJ Avery and JT Regan.

    Sergt Robinson deposed that on February 28th, at a little after 1 pm, on information received, in company with Constable Light he went in pursuit of the accused, and caught him in a cornfield about a mile from where the alleged offence was supposed to have been committed. He smelt very strongly of methylated spirits, and on the way to the station used filthy language.

    Clive Reeves, aged 11 years, said he had seven brothers and sisters and lived at Commandant Hill. On a Monday he was in company with a mate, Chookie Morris. The accused came up to him and made filthy remarks, and then offered him money.

    From this on the witness made all kinds of evasive answers until both the Crown Prosecutor and his Honor were at their wits’ end. Finally the lad was taken out of court for a few moments, as he appeared frightened and over-excited.

    Dr JB McElhone deposed as to having examined the lad and was of the opinion that the lad’s condition was such that it was quite feasible that the offence as aleged [sic] could have been committed.

    Alice Meed deposed that her husband was a fettler on the railway and she resided quite close to where the alleged offence was committed. She first saw the accused at about 11 am, when she noticed him speak to a little boy, who ran away. A little later three boys came along the railway line. Two of the boys went away, but the boy Reeve [sic] stayed. The next she saw the accused and the boy walking through the railway goods yard. They went to the weigh-bridge shed, and went inside. Witness’s husband then came home, and witness told him what she had seen.

    John Meed, railway fettler, deposed he arrived home at a little after one, and from something his wife told him he went to the shed and looked in through the window. He saw the man and boy inside on the floor in a compromising position. Witness went round to the door, and the accused came out and bolted.

    The boy [Clive Reeves] was here re-called, but despite cajoling, argument and mild threats, would not come to the point of the actual assault. At last, as a test, his Honor asked was the man standing on his head, and witness, to the amusement of all, replied that the man was standing on his head.

    This concluded the evidence, and the accused [John Bernasconi] made a statement to the jury, during which he said: “I did not intend doing the crime. I did not interfere with the boy one minute. I lose my memory owing to having shell shock at the war.”

    His Honor, addressing the jury, pointed out that there was no evidence of the actual offence, so that they could not consider the first count. The substantial question the jury must then consider was whether the accused was guilty of indecent assault. They would have to be satisfied that this man had acted in an indecent manner with the intention of committing an indecent assault.

    The jury returned, after a short adjournment, and on his Honor’s direction returned a verdict of not guilty on the first count and guilty on the second of indecent assault.

    Mr Browning read a number of pervious convictions against the accused, at the conclusion of which he was remanded until this morning for sentence.

    The accused was brought up for sentence this morning, when Judge Mocatta said he had been quite rightly convicted of an abominable offence. It was quite probable had someone not come along, he would have committed a horrible crime. It appeared that the accused had a tendency in this direction and, if so, he represented a dangerous character to the community so far as women and children were concerned. He sentenced the accused to three years’ hard labor in such gaol as the Comptroller of Prisons might decide.

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The Macleay Chronicle, Wed 30 Mar 1927 ⁶

    Before Judge Mocatta, Monday last, Messrs Wm McKenzie, LJ Molloy, NW Cameron, A Johnson, and Drs JB McElhone and RA Rankine were sworn in as JsP.

    At Kempsey Quarter Sessions this week, before Judge Mocatta, Henry Drew (15) was sent to Gosford Home; William Albert Hay was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment; and John Bernasconi was sentenced to 3 years.

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John Bernasconi, Gaol photo sheet ⁷ 

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 2018
Maitland

Date when Portrait was taken: 13-4-1927

Name: John Bernasconi

Native place: Guildford Year of birth: 22-6-1894 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 6" Weight     On committal: 154 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: Vaccine marks left arm. Wound right thigh.

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Parramatta PC ditto ditto ditto Central PC Parramatta PC ditto Blayney PC Wollongong PC Burwood PC  Warialda PC Newcastle PC Liverpool PC Parramatta PC ditto Kempsey Q.S	10 10 19   4   9 13 30 30 26 16 16 26   9 10 12 28	3   3   1   8   8   9   5 11 11   1   7 11   4   4   4   3	1913 1913 1914 1915 1920 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1924 1924 1925 1926 1926 1927	Drunk Indecent Language Drunk Indecent behaviour  On licenced premises during prohibited hours ditto Assault Police Larceny Beg alms Vagrancy Stealing Stealing Trespass on military land Drunk Indecent language Indecent assault on a male person	5/- or 24 hours H.L. £2 or 1 month H.L. 5/- or 2 [sic] hours H.L. £1 or 14 days H.L. 16/- or 3 days H.L. £1 or 7 days H.L. 1 month H.L. £3 or 21 days H.L. 3 weeks H.L. 14 days H.L. £5 or 2 months H.L. £3/3/6 or 1 month H.L. £4/4/6 or 1 month H.L. 8/6 or 24 hours H.L. £3 or 14 days H.L. 3 years H.L.

 

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John Bernasconi, Gaol photo sheet ⁸

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 2098
Maitland

Date when Portrait was taken: 28-5-1929

Name: John Bernasconi

Native place: Guildford Year of birth: 22-6-1894 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: B.S. Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Laborer Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 6" Weight     On committal: 154 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: Scar right thigh

(No. of previous Portrait .. 2018 Maitland) CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Kempsey Q.S	28	3	1927	Indecent assault on a male person	3 years HL
See Photo Form 2018

 

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¹     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Wed 12 Mar 1912, p. 4.

²     The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate (Parramatta), Sat 7 Aug 1915, p. 4.

³     The Illawarra Mercury, Fri 30 Nov 1923, p. 3. Emphasis added.

⁴     Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Thu 27 Nov 1924, p. 9.

⁵     The Macleay Argus (Kempsey), Tue 29 Mar 1927, p. 2. Emphasis added.

⁶     The Macleay Chronicle (Kempsey), Wed 30 Mar 1927, p. 5. Emphasis added.

⁷     SRNSW: NRS2327, [3/5991], Maitland Gaol photographic description book, 1875-1930, No. 2018, p. 250, R5132. Emphasis added.

⁸     SRNSW: NRS2327, [3/5991], Maitland Gaol photographic description book, 1875-1930, No. 2098, p. 67, R5132.

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