Below also see: Ralph Hook, 1944

 

    [Unfortunately no newspaper reports of Ralph Hook’s 1920 central police court could be located.]

 

Ralph Hook, Gaol photo sheet ¹

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 17312

Date when Portrait was taken: 29-7-1920

Name: Ralph Hook
(aka Ralph Rook)

Native place: England Year of birth: 4-2-1898 Arrived       Ship: Mackerini in Colony }   Year: 1912 Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Waiter Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R&W Height: 5' 8⅛" Weight     On committal: 141 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: Scar on right cheek, in centre of forehead

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Central PC	28	7	1920	Soliciting male person for an immoral purpose	6 months HL

 

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Ralph Hook, 1944

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Wed 12 Apr 1944 ²

GANG BLAMED FOR
ASSAULT

    SYDNEY, Tuesday.—Less than 100 yards from his home in Ocean-street, Woollahra, early to-day, Mr Ralph Rook, [aka Ralph Hook], steward at the New South Wales Club, Blight-street, City, was savagely attacked by four youths who struck him about the face and head and then allegedly kicked him while he was on the ground.

    His assailants are believed to be members of the “Paddington Basher Gang” which has been blamed by the Mayor of Paddington (Ald. ER Cutler) for the death of one person and injury to several others.

    Mr Rook said to-day that his attackers were aged about 18 to 20 years. Although both knees were ripped from the legs of his trousers, and he was so knocked about that he had to sit in the gutter for two hours before he was able to go home, he said he did not report the assault to the police for fear of reprisals.

    He alleged that the four youths jumped from the shadows and demanded money. When he refused they punched and kicked him.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 12 Apr 1944 ³

WAITER ATTACKED
NEAR HOME
———◦———

    Ralph Rook, of Ocean Street, Woollahra, a waiter at the New South Wales Club, in Bligh Street, city, was attacked by four men who demanded money from him near his home early yesterday morning. He was knocked down, punched, and kicked on the face and head, and left lying semi-conscious in the gutter.

    Rook said he had not reported the attack to the police because he believed that members of the Paddington “basher gang” of youths were responsible, and he feared reprisals.

    Police believe that Rook’s attackers were not members of the gang, as their haunts are near Taylor Square and along Oxford Street to Paddington. Because of police action the gang had not been in the streets for several nights, it was stated.

 

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¹     SRNSW: NRS2467, [3/6104], State Penitentiary photographic description book, 5 Jun 1920-9 Oct 1920, No. 17312, p. –.

²     Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, Wed 12 Apr 1944, p. 8.

³     The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 12 Apr 1944, p. 13.

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