Below also see: Thomas Donnelly, 1896
The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 14 Feb 1885 1
POLICE.
———◦———
…
At the WATER POLICE Court
…
A rough-looking fellow named Thomas Donnelly, was yesterday fined £3 for using obscene language in Charles-lane, Woolloomooloo, on the 5th instant. A more serious charge of assaulting Constable Davis arose out of the arrest of the prisoner for the first offence. When the policeman went into the prisoner’s house to arrest him he got a flat iron bar about 18 inches long and an inch and half broad, and struck the policeman four or five times violently on the head, wounding him severely; the iron bar broke over David’s head, the constable closed with him, and with the assistance of some neighbours, the prisoner was handcuffed; Constable Davis lost a great deal of blood, and was laid up for four days, and is still suffering from the assault; the prisoner was described by the neighbours as a very rough character; on the day of the assault the prisoner’s wife was in hiding from his threatened violence. The prisoner was committed for trial at the Central Criminal Court.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 17 Mar 1885 2
CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.—
MONDAY.
(Before his Honor Mr Justice INNES.)
Mr WJ Foster and Mr Gibson prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…
WOUNDING WITH INTENT TO DO GRIEVOUS
BODILY HARM.
Thomas Donnelly, an elderly man, was charged with having, on the 5th February last, maliciously wounded one Edwin Davis, a police-constable, with intent thereby to do grievous bodily harm. A second count charged the prisoner with having wounded the said Edwin Davis, thereby to prevent lawful apprehension.
The prisoner was undefended.
The evidence showed that on the date in question the constable went to arrest the prisoner in Charles-lane, for having used obscene language. The prisoner, on observing the constable approach, ran into his own house; he subsequently appeared at the door, and calling to the constable, said, “I have got something for you.” The constable went up to him, whereupon the prisoner drew a bar from behind him and struck the constable violently on the head, inflicting two or three very serious wounds; the neighbours subsequently assisted the constable, and the prisoner, who behaved in a very violent manner, was handcuffed and taken to the lockup. The evidence was conclusive. The medical testimony showed that the wounds inflicted were true wounds, and that for two days the prosecutor was in a very dangerous condition from the effects of the injuries received. The jury, after having heard the evidence and his Honor’s summing up, found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude.
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Thomas Donnelly, Gaol photo sheet 3
![SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6047], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1885, No. 3291, p. 21, R5101.](/images/trials/1885-Donnolly-6047-gaol-photo-3291-Donnelly.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6047], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1885, No. 3291, p. 21, R5101.") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 3291
Date when Portrait was taken: 21-2-1885
Name: Thomas Donnelly
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Native place: Ireland Year of birth: 1842 Arrived Ship: Susanna Cuthbert Trade or occupation Religion: R Catholic Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 6" Weight On committal: 152 Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey Marks or special features:— |
Where and when tried: Sydney CC Offence: Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm Sentence: 7 years P.S. Remarks:
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(No. of Previous Portrait ... ) PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS |
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| Where and When | Offence. | Sentence | |||
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WPC ditto ditto |
4 24 13 |
8 12 2 |
1884 1884 1885 |
Drunk Threatening Obscene language |
48 hours C 1 month C 2 month C |
Thomas Donnelly, 1896
The Daily Telegraph, Tue 4 Feb 1896 4
QUARTER SESSIONS.
————
(Before Judge Backhouse.)
Mr WL Merewether prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…
CASES FOR TO-DAY.
Peter Didrickson, stealing; John Birch and Thomas Anderson, stealing; Frederick Powell, assault with intent to rob; William Hague, stealing; Thomas Donnelly, assault.
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The Maitland Daily Mercury, Thu 13 Feb 1896 5
TO-DAY’S TELEGRAMS.
————
(Press Telegraph Association.)
SYDNEY
AN UNSPEAKABLE CRIME.
A middle-aged man named Thomas Donnelly was found guilty at the quarter Sessions to-day of a fearful offence, and was remanded for sentence.
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The Daily Telegraph, Fri 14 Feb 1896 6
QUARTER SESSIONS.
————
(Before Judge Backhouse.)
Mr Merewether prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…
SSERIOUS OFFENCE.
Thomas Donnelly was found guilty of an unnatural offence, [bestiality] and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, with hard labor.
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The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 14 Feb 1896 7
METROPOLITAN QUARTER SESSIONS.
THURSDAY.
(Before his Honor Judge BLACKHOUSE and juries.)
Mr WL Merewether prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
ABSENT JURYMEN.
Alexander Graff and James Smith were each fined £2 for non-attendance as jurors.
…
A SERIOUS OFFENCE.
Thomas Donnelly was charged with committing a serious offence. He was found guilty, and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.
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Thomas Donnelly, Gaol photo sheet 8
![SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6059], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1895-1896, No.6568, p. 117, R5106. Emphasis](/images/trials/1885-Donnolly-6059-gaol-photo-6568.jpg "SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6059], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1895-1896, No.6568, p. 117, R5106. Emphasis") |
Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details
No. 6568
Date when Portrait was taken: 24-1-1896
Name: Thomas Donnelly
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Native place: Ireland Year of birth: 1841 Arrived Ship: Fiery Star Trade or occupation Religion: R Cath Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 3½" Weight On committal: 149 Colour of hair: Black (Bald) Colour of eyes: Brown |
Marks or special features: Female on inside right forearm. Top of right thumb jammed. Scar on top of head, and right eyebrow
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(No. of previous Portrait ... 3291 Darlinghurst) PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS |
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| Where and When | Offence. | Sentence | |||
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WPC ditto ditto Sydney CC. WPC ditto ditto ditto ditto Sydney Q.S. |
4 24 13 16 15 6 27 20 18 13 |
8 12 2 3 4 1 6 11 3 2 |
1884 1884 1885 1885 1891 1892 1892 1893 1895 1896 |
Drunk Threatening Obscene language Wounding with intent to do Indecent language Obscene language Drunk Drunk and disorderly Drunk Attempted Beastiality [sic] |
48 hours C 1 months C 2 months C
21 days C 2 months C 7 days C | 3 days C 3 days C 18 months H.L. |
1 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 14 Feb 1885, p. 11.
2 The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 17 Mar 1885, p. 5.
3 SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6047], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1885, No. 3291, p. 21, R5101.
4 The Daily Telegraph, Tue 4 Feb 1896, p. 3. Emphasis added.
5 The Maitland Daily Mercury, Thu 13 Feb 1896, p. 3.
6 The Daily Telegraph, Fri 14 Feb 1896, p. 2.
7 The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 14 Feb 1896, p. 3.
8 SRNSW: NRS2138, [3/6059], Darlinghurst Gaol photographic description book, 1895-1896, No.6568, p. 117, R5106. Emphasis added.