The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 1 Feb 1855 1
HUNTER RIVER NEWS.
(From Yesterday’s Maitland Mercury.)
…
Maitland Circuit Court.—This court will open on Thursday, 15th February, at 10 o’clock am, with a rather heavy calendar of criminal cases. The hearing of civil cases, which we understand are numerous, will commence on Tuesday, 20th February. The following is the list of criminal cases which have as yet been reported to us:—George Wilson, store robbery; Wellington bench. Donald McLoughlin, murder; Wee Waa bench. John Shepherd, murder; Armidale bench. Isaac Richard Harte, cutting and maiming; Dungog bench. John Collins, assault, with intent to commit a rape; Wollombi bench. James William Jarrald, passing stolen money; Murrurundi bench. George Carroll, stealing a writing case; Murrurundi bench. Thomas W Toby, forgery (2 charges); Maitland bench. George Day, having stolen goods in his possession; Maitland bench. William Smith, burglary; Maitland bench. Michael Ellis, stabbing with intent to murder; Wellington bench. William Collins, murder; Maitland Coroner. Thomas Charles Cook, stealing from the person; from Darlinghurst gaol by “habeas corpus.” John Burns and Eliza Burns, manslaughter; Maitland Coroner. William Ross (two charges), cattle stealing, and stealing bank notes; Singleton bench. Peter Hard, perjury; Singleton bench. Thomas Rollins, murder; Maitland Coroner. William Hart, stealing from the person; Maitland bench. John Vaughan, unnatural crime; Dungog bench.
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The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Sat 17 Feb 1855 2
MAITLAND CIRCUIT COURT.
This court opened on Thursday, before his Honor Chief Justice Sir Alfred Stephen.
Major Crummer, PM, officiated as Deputy Sheriff; Henry A Eliott, Esq, officiated as Clerk of Arraigns.
The barristers present were the Solicitor General, who prosecuted on behalf of the Crown; WA Purefoy, Esq, AT Holroyd, Esq, and R Faucett, Esq.
…
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16.
…
UNNATURAL CRIME.
John Vaughan [aka John Vaughn] was indicted for having committed an unnatural crime, [bestiality with a mare], at Glenwilliam, [sic] on 25th November, 1854.
Mr Purefoy appeared for the prisoner; attorney, Mr O’Meagher.
The witnesses called were Peter Connolly and John Rodgers.
The evidence given was of so disgusting a character as to prevent its publication.
Mr Purefoy, for the prisoner, admitted that is the evidence was believed there was sufficient to prove the attempt, but not sufficient to prove that the crime had actually been committed.
The jury, without retiring from the box, returned a verdict of not guilty of the felony, but guilty of the attempt to commit the crime; and the prisoner was sentenced to two years’ hard labour on the roads, and at the expiry of that period to find two sureies [sic] in £100 each to keep the peace for two years, and not to be released until the sureties were found.
At the close of the two next trials, the report of which will appear in our next, the court adjourned till nine o’clock this morning.
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Empire, Tue 20 Feb 1855 3
MAITLAND CIRCUIT COURT.
(Abridged from Saturday’s Maitland Mercury.)
This court opened on Thursday, before his Honor Chief Justice Sir Alfred Stephen.
Major Crummer, PM, officiated as Deputy Sheriff; Henry A Eliott, Esq, officiated as Clerk of Arraigns.
The barristers present were the Solicitor-General who prosecuted on behalf of the Crown; WA Purefoy, Esq, AT Holroyd, Esq, and R Faucett, Esq.
…
UNNATURAL CRIME.
John Vaughan was indicted for having committed an unnatural crime, at Glen william, on 25th November, 1854.
Mr Purefoy appeared for the prisoner; attorney Mr O’Meagher.
The jury returned a verdict of not guilty of the felony, but guilty of the attempt to commit the crime; and the prisoner was sentenced to two years; hard labour on the roads, and at the expiry of that period to find two sureties in £100 each to keep the peace for two years, and not to be released until the sureties were found.
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 1 Feb 1855, p. 5. Emphasis added.
2 The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, Sat 17 Feb 1855, p. 2. Emphasis added.
3 Empire, Tue 20 Feb 1855, p. 5.