The Mullumbimby Star, Thu 20 Mar 1930 ¹

A SORDID CASE
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    A sordid case was heard at the Police Court yesterday, when a man named Lawless, was charged in the Children’s Court, before Mr EA Mahony, PM, with indecent assault. The accused was remanded to Grafton.

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The Macleay Argus, Tue 8 Apr 1930 ²

QUARTER SESSIONS.
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    Before his Honor Judge Mocatta at the Kempsey Quarter Sessions Court on Monday.

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INDECENT ASSAULT CHARGE.
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    Frederick Thomas James Lawless, [47], was charged that, on March 18th at Mullumbimby, he did indecently assault Charles Freeman, a male person [11 years].

    Accused pleaded guilty and was remanded for sentence.

    On Tuesday morning the accused Lawless was brought up for sentence.

    [Frederick Thomas James] Lawless said he fully realised, when he pleaded guilty, the seriousness of the charge. He was intoxicated on the night in question. He had little recollection of what transpired at the bathing sheds. He had resided at Mullumbimby about six months in a menial position. On the night in question he took more liquor than was good for him, and while going down to the bathing pool, as was his general practice, he met the lad in question, who asked to accompany him. He had not a stain on his character up to this case, and he was disgusted with his actions.

    His Honor said he was sorry to say that he could not place any credence on accused’s statement that he was drunk at the time of the offence. He had had the opportunity to put such a contention before the court at Mullumbimby, but he did not do so. He, therefore, considered accused had full use of his faculties, and quite realised what he was doing. According to the police report it was accused’s custom to associate with young lads, and apparently his conduct on such occasions was not above reproach. Accused’s conduct was disgusting and beastly, and he appeared to be one of those persons who had a perverted sexual instinct, which led him to perpetrate such actions. He imposed a sentence of nine months’ imprisonment, with hard labor, in such gaol as the Comptroller of Prisons shall decide, the sentence to date from March 19th.

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The Macleay Chronicle, Wed 9 Apr 1930 ³

QUARTER SESSIONS.
———○———

    At Kempsey Quarter Sessions, Monday last, before Judge Mocatta, Mr RJ Browning prosecuting for the Crown, Fred TJ Lawless pleaded guilty to a charge that on 18th March at Mullumbimby he did indecently assaulted a male person; and he was put aside for sentence later.

    On Tuesday morning Lawless was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labor, His Honor saying he did not believe his statement from the dock that he was drunk when he committed the offence.

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The Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate, Sat 12 Apr 1930 ⁴

LOCAL & GENERAL
———: :———

…

THE REWARD OF HONESTY.

    When the name Donald Mackay Dornan was called as a member of the jury list at the Kempsey Quarter Sessions on Monday, there was no reply, nor was any excuse forthcoming for his absence. His Honor Judge Mocatta imposed a fine of £2. A little later Dornan walked into the court and was ushered to the witness box. Asked if he had anything to say, he replied that he was only a few minutes late.

    His Honor: “Is that all! Your car did not break down?”

    Dornan: “No, you Honor.”

    His Honor: “Well, you are candid about it, and it is refreshing not to be told the care broke down. Under the circumstances I will remit the fine.” His Honor then made the necessary entry cancelling the fine.

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The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser, Tue 15 Apr 1930 ⁵

MACLEAN’S MUNICIPAL
WORRIES
————
MAYOR RESIGNS.
————

…
    PERVERT GETS NINE MONTHS.—At Kempsey last week before Judge Mocatto [sic] Frederick Thomas James Lawless pleaded guilty to a charge that, on March 18 at Mullumbimby, he did indecently assault Charles Freeman, a male person. Lawless said he fully realised the seriousness of the charge. He was intoxicated on the night in question, and had little recollection of what transpired. He had resided at Mullumbimby about six months in a menial position. On the night in question he took more liquor than was good for him. He had not a stain on his character up to this case, and he was disgusted with his actions. His Honor said he was sorry to say that he could not place any credence on accused’s statement that he was drunk at the time of the offence. According to the police report it was accused’s custom to associate with young lads, and apparently his conduct on such occasions was not above reproach. Accused’s conduct was disgusting and beastly, and he appeared to be one of those persons who had a perverted sexual instinct, which led him to perpetrate such actions, he imposed a sentence of nine months’ imprisonment, with hard labor.

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Mullumbimby Star, Thu 17 Apr 1930 ⁶

PERVERT SENTENCED TO
NINE MONTHS
————

    At Kempsey last week before Judge Mocatto Frederick Thomas Lawless pleaded guilty to a charge that, on March 18 at Mullumbimby, he did indeccntly assault Charles Freeman, a male person.

    Lawless said he fully realised the seriousness of the charge. He was intoxicated on the night in question, and said little recollection of what transpired.

    He had resided in Mullumbimby about six months in a menial position. On the night in question he took more liquor than was good for him. He had not a stain on his character up to this case, and he was disgusted with his actions. His Honour said he was sorry to say that he could not place any credence on accused’s statement that he was drunk at the time of the offence.

    According to the police report it was accused’s custom to associate with young lads, and apparently his conduct on such occasions was not above reproach. Accused’s conduct was disgusting and beastly, and he appeared to be one of those persons who had a perverted sexual instinct, which led him to perpetrate such actions. He imposed a sentence of nine months’ imprisonment, with hard labour.

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Frederick Thomas James Lawless, Gaol photo sheet ⁷ 

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details 

Name Frederick Thomas James Lawless No. 24647 Date when Portrait was taken: 10-4-1930								Finger Print Classification
Native Place England Year of Birth 10-12-1883 Arrived in State   Ship La Blama                        }     Year 1914 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Hotel useful Religion R. C. Education, degree of R & W Height, without shoes 5' 4½" Weight in lbs.     On committal 133                      }     On discharge Colour of hair Dark brown Colour of eyes Brown Marks or special features Mole left side nose. Scars on left cheekbone, on left side forehead, on right elbow. Two scars below shoulder blades. Two scars right side of back.					(Nos. of previous Portrait ... )
CONVICTIONS St 7574 97939
Court.	Date			Offence.		Sentence	Name.		Gaol No.
Kempsey Q.S	8	4	1930	Indecent assault on a male person		9 months HL	Frederick Thomas James Lawless		2018

 

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¹     The Mullumbimby Star, Thu 20 Mar 1930, p. 2.

²     The Macleay Argus (Kempsey), Tue 8 Apr 1930, p. 2. Emphasis added.

³     The Macleay Chronicle (Kempsey), Wed 9 Apr 1930, p. 4.

⁴     The Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate, (NSW), Sat 12 Apr 1930, p. 4. Emphasis added.

⁵     The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser, (NSW), Tue 15 Apr 1930, p. 4.

⁶     Mullumbimby Star, (NSW), Thu 17 Apr 1930, p. 2.

⁷     SRNSW: NRS– [17/1496], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 21 Mar 1930-4 Jun 1930, No. 24647, p. –.

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