The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong, and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser, Tue 15 Jul 1902 1
OTHER SUBJECTS.
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DAINTY ABORIGINALS.
Prominence has recently been given to the quality of the meat supplied to the aborigines at the Brungle aboriginal station, and it will be remembered some discussion took place in Parliament in reference to the matter. The subject was before Thursday’s meeting of the Aborigines Protection Board when reports were received from the chairman of the local board and the manager of the Brungle station. The former wrote urging the removal of a certain individual from the neighbourhood of the camp, and the manager, in referring to the same party, intimated that he has located himself on land adjacent to the station, and spends his time endeavouring to create dissension among the inmates, also that when the newspaper containing an account of the proceedings in Parliament arrived at Brungle the individual referred to read it to a number of aborigines. Moreover, he, it was stated, stood outside the gate of the manager’s homestead, and inspected the meat supplied to the aborigines as they came out with the rations. It was added that he was continually getting the aborigines together, and holding forth to them, and that his whole action tended to undermine the authority of the manager, and that the half-castes, in particular lent too willing an ear to him. In a complaint it was stated, which this man made with regard to the meat, he described himself as a poor, destitute aboriginal, whereas he now struts about in the vicinity of the camp clad in a Chesterfield overcoat, and wearing a billycock hat and gloves. The manager also reported that two of the aborigines refused to take the meat upon opening their bags at the time of delivery, and three others came back with theirs. He failed to see anything wrong with the meat, except it had no fat, and had about an hour before come out of the brine. The wives of some of those complaining subsequently took their meat home. The meat was supplied on May 30, and was only sent to Sydney on June 14, and the sample sent must have greatly deteriorated. A sample of the meat was at once submitted to a member of the local board and his wife, who pronounced it sound and sweet. The board decided to refer the papers to the local police, with a view to action being taken under the Vagrancy Act.
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ALLEGED BEASTIALITY. [sic]
At the [Gundagai] police court yesterday a man named John Moore, a laborer, aged about 30, was charged, before Mr Bruce, JP, with beastiality at the Gundagai railway station on Saturday last. The allegations are of a revolting nature, and not fit to be mentioned in the public press. From information received, Constable Grant went, in company with Constable Smith, in search of accused, and found him on a seat at the railway station. He was first charged with drunkenness and was subsequently charged with beastiality. He admitted the former charge, but said he knew nothing about the latter offence. He was afterwards examined by the police. The accused said he was drunk on the day. He was to have gone away by the train, but missed, and thus was left sitting on a seat at the railway station. For drunkenness he was fined 2/6, but in the more serious offence Sub-Inspector Jones applied for a remand and asked for substantial bail. Accused was remanded to Monday next; bail allowed, self in £100 and two sureties in £50 each.
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The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong, and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser, Tue 22 Jul 1902 2
POLICE COURT.
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Monday, July 21.
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Before Mr Clarke, PM.
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ALLEGED ABOMINABLE CRIME.
John Moore, on remand, was charged with beastiality at the Gundagai railway station on July 12. Mr Fraser for accused.
The evidence given by Constable Grant at the court on July 14 was read over.
To Mr Fraser: Accused was drunk when he was arrested by two constables. He was fined for drunkenness.
Percy Jennings, porter at the railway station, deposed to having witnessed the offence, which was of a disgusting nature. Witness stated that accused was intoxicated at the time.
John Grant, a probationer at the railway station, also gave evidence of having seen accused at the railway station on the date named.
Accused reserved his defence, and was committed to stand his trial for the attempted crime at Gundagai Quarter Sessions on August 1st. Bail was not applied for.
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The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong, and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser, Tue 5 Aug 1902 3
GUNDAGAI QUARTER SESSIONS.
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Friday, 1st August.
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Before Acting-Judge Bevan.
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Saturday.
ATTEMPTED BESTIALITY AT GUNDAGAI
John Moore was arraigned on a charge of bestiality at the Gundagai railway station on 12th July last.
He pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr Fraser.
Mr Merewether conducted the Crown case.
The following jury was empannelled:– JJ Cornett (foreman), FJ Anderson, JE Madigan, C Purcell, E Eyles, LW Riman, F Foord, C Emery, E Wilkinson, C Pickering, EC Anderson and T Passlow.
Evidence of the abominable offence was given by Percy Jennings, railway porter [text missing here] at the Gundagai railway station; and Constable Grant, Wagga Wagga.
Mr Fraser, in addressing the jury, said he would not put the accused in the box, as it was shown he was drunk when the attempted offence was alleged to have taken place. Moore was fined for drunkenness on July 12.
After His Honor had addressed the jury, the latter retired and brought in a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy, on account of the state in which accused was at the time of the offence. Accused said he was not guilty, and remembered nothing of the offence. He had worked about Junee and Cootamundra for the past 25 years. Since 1888 he had been before the court 18 times for drunkenness, destruction of property, riotous conduct, indecent language and assaulting the police. The highest sentence had been for one month.
His Honor sentenced the accused to six months’ hard labour in Gundagai gaol. But for the list of offences against him, the sentence would have been but three months. For a horrible and beastly offence of this kind the prisoner should be medically treated or sent to some place where the public could not see him.
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John Moore, Gaol photo sheet 4
![SRNSW: NRS2605, [3/6000], Young Gaol photographic description book, 1894-1920, No. 82, p. –. Emphasis added.](../../images/trials/1902-Moore-6000-gaol-photo-82.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2605, [3/6000], Young Gaol photographic description book, 1894-1920, No. 82, p. –. Emphasis added.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 82
63/1902 Young
Date when Portrait was taken: 22-8-1902
Name: John Moore
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Native place: Wollongong NSW Year of birth: 1868 Arrived Ship: – Trade or occupation Religion: R C Education, degree of: Nil Height: 5' 11¾" Weight On committal: 157lbs Colour of hair: Light Brown Colour of eyes: Blue |
Marks or special features: Scar under left eye. Slight build |
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(No. of previous Portrait ... ) CONVICTIONS |
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| Where and When | Offence. | Sentence | |||
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Gundagai ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto Gundagai Q.S |
11 26 23 1 16 12 14 2 |
12 7 8 16 10 1 7 8 |
1895 1897 1897 1898 1899 1900 1902 1902 |
Drunk Riotous behaviour Indecent language Drunk Drunk Drunk & disorderly Drunk Attempt Bestiality |
2/- or Rising of Court 10/- or 3 days 40/- or 7 days 5/- or 24 hours 10/- or 48 hours 20/- or 3 days 2/6 or Rising of Court 6 months HL |
1 The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong, and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser, Tue 15 Jul 1902, p. 2. Emphasis added. Aboriginals and Aborigines is not capitalised in the newspaper article.
2 The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong, and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser, Tue 22 Jul 1902, p. 3. Emphasis added.
3 The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong, and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser, Tue 5 Aug 1902, p. 2. Emphasis added.
4 SRNSW: NRS2605, [3/6000], Young Gaol photographic description book, 1894-1920, No. 82, p. –. Emphasis added.