The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 12 Aug 1854 1
WATER POLICE COURT.
FRIDAY.
BEFORE the Water Police Magistrate and Mr R Ronald.
…
John Bridgewater, a seaman belonging to the Duke of Wellington, was charged with being absent without leave. Prisoner stated that he was under the influence of liquor, and had no intention to desert. Sent on board.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 15 Aug 1854 2
WATER POLICE COURT.
MONDAY.
BEFORE the Water Police Magistrate.
…
John Ross Bridgewater, a man of colour, cook on board the Duke of Wellington, was charged by one of the apprentices, David Swan, aged 16, with an attempt to commit an unnatural crime, on Saturday night last, between the hours of ten and eleven. Prisoner had made several attempts of a like nature during the voyage. On this occasion he had called the lad into the galley, shut the door, and was pulling him down, when another apprentice came with a light and opened the door, whereupon the boy Swan ran out of the galley into the forecastle, and told the sailors what had occurred. They immediately took the prisoner aft, where he was put in irons, until he was given into the custody of the police. Prisoner denied the charge. He sais the boys were almost always in the galley, and some of them slept there at times; had had a quarrel with one of the apprentices named Brown, who said that he knew something about him (Bridgewater) for which he could get him transported. His object for calling the boy Sawn into the galley was to ask him for information respecting what had been said by Brown, and he had promised him a reward if he would tell him al he knew about it; at the time he was conversing with Swan on this subject, Brown came to the galley with a light, and both he and Swan ran into the forecastle; did not know what the boys had told the men in the forecastle, but they came and seized and ill-used him.—Committed to take his trial at the Court of Quarter Sessions now sitting.
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Empire, Sat 19 Aug 1854 3
QUARTER SESSIONS.
THURSDAY.
(Before the CHAIRMAN.)
…
John Ross Bridgewater was indicted for assaulting one David Swan with intent to commit an unnatural crime. Acquitted and discharged. Mr Little conducted the defence.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 19 Aug 1854 4
SYDNEY QUARTER SESSIONS.
THURSDAY.
BEFORE the Chairman.
The Crown Prosecutor conducted the following cases:—
Peter Hickey was indicted, for stealing a waistcoat, cap, and two pair of boots, the property of Messrs Aspinwall and Chalder. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to twelve months hard labour in Sydney Gaol.
Michael Cregan was indicted for stealing £4 sterling, from the person of Cavan Murphy. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to two years hard labour in Sydney Gaol.
John McLaughlan was indicted for stealing a saw and plane, the property of one William West. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to twelve months hard labour in Sydney Gaol.
William Holland was indicted for stealing £4 sterling, the property of John Thomas Hutton. The jury acquitted the prisoner, and he was discharged.
John Powell was indicted for stealing 18s, the property of one Thomas Buck. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to six months hard labour in Sydney Gaol. Mr Brenan defended the prisoner.
Charles O’Neil was indicted for stealing £3 10s sterling, from the person of one James Dwyer. The jury acquitted the prisoner, and he was discharged.
Henry Webster was indicted for stealing £6 sterling, from the person of one Thomas Weedon. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to two years hard labour in Sydney Gaol. Mr Holroyd and Mr Nichols defended the prisoner.
Anna Cantor was indicted for feloniously cutting and wounding one Elizabeth Austin. The jury found the prisoner guilty of maliciously wounding, and she was sentenced to six months hard labour in Parramatta Gaol. The prisoner was defended by Mr Holroyd and Mr Nichols.
John Ross Bridgewater was indicted for assaulting one David Swan, with intent to commit sodomy. The jury acquitted the prisoner, and he was discharged. Mr Little defended the prisoner.
Sophia Cahill, who had been remanded for sentence, was now sentenced to six months hard labour in Sydney Gaol.
David Ashley Jones, who had been convicted of two charges, one of larceny, and another of stealing in a dwelling-house, was sentenced to five years hard labour on the roads.
John Ledwidge, was sentenced to six months hard labour in Sydney Gaol.
She [sic] following jurors were fined 40s each, for non-attendance:—
Mr James Mort, Mr Thomas O’Neill, Mr GF Nott, and Mr Charles Newton.
The Session was then adjourned, till Wednesday, the 30th instant, at the King Street Court House, for the hearing of Assessment Appeals.
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 12 Aug 1854, p. 7.
2 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 15 Aug 1854, p. 5.
3 Empire, Sat 19 Aug 1854, p. 5.
4 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 19 Aug 1854, p. 8. Emphasis added.