The Bourke Banner and Darling River Representative, Wed 5 Feb 1902 ¹

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

                                        
INCOME TAX.

We would again remind all those interested that income tax returns must be furnished to the Commissioners by Friday next, 7th February. As the date is so near at hand, it behoves all those interested not to neglect the opportunity but forward their returns at once, as the penalty is a very heavy one.

                                         
DENTISTRY.

A Knox Poolman, RDS, dentist, Oxley-street, will be absent from town from the 25th January until 11th February. All appointments should be left at the Towers Drug Co, Mitchell-street, Dr Scott will kindly attend to extractions.

                                         
NEW J’s P.

On Monday last, before the business of the Court was proceeded with, Messrs E Good, W Hatter, WH Sutton, C D’Apice, JW Cousins and Dr Faithfull were sworn in as Justices of the Peace. We wonder when another new batch will come.

                                         
THE SYDNEY SAUSAGE.

‘Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.’ The same may be said of a sausage. On Sunday morning last the ‘Critic,’ who is always suspicious of the Sydney sausage, dissected his ‘morning meal,’ when he found a hunk of rag inside as though it had dropped off someone’s sore finger.—Truth.

                                         
QUARTER SESSIONS.

The Bourke Quarter Sessions were held at the Court House on Monday last, before Judge Gibson. Mr Bevan (for the Crown), and Messrs Biddulph and Salenger represented the legal profession. There was only one case on the sheet, that of a man named H[enry] F[ane] Becher, for an alleged abominable offence. After the evidence of the Crown had been given, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was discharged. We think more discretion should be used by magistrates before sending such shady cases for trial.

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The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 5 Feb 1902 ²

COUNTRY NEWS.
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…

QUARTER SESSIONS.

Bourke, Tuesday.

    The Quarter Sessions were held yesterday before Judge Docker. Henry Fanebecher [sic], charged with a serious offence. Pleaded not guilty. He was acquitted. This was the only case set down for hearing.

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The Western Herald and Darling River Advocate, Wed 5 Feb 1902 ³

BOURKE QUARTER SESSIONS.
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Monday, February 3, 1902.
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(Before His Honor Mr District Court Judge Docker.)
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    Mr Bevan prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, and Messrs PJ Biddulph and HM Salenger, solicitors, also attended.

NEW MAGISTRATES.

    The following newly appointed magistrates were sworn in:—Edward Good, CA D’Apice, WH Sutton, W Hatten, George Faithfull, and JW Cousins.

ALLEGED BESTIALITY.

    Henry Fane Becher was charged that on November 22, 1901, at Enngonia, he did attempt to commit bestiality.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Louis Hymann, Alfred Ernest Wren and constable L[awrence] B[lake] Leonard gave evidence, and the case for the Crown closed.

    The accused, [Henry Fane Becher], who was undefended, also gave evidence, and denied having attempted to commit the offence with which he was charged. He also made a statement, pointed out that he was drunk, and denied that he made any attempt to commit the offence. In fact he did not know the animal was near him, and he did not even remember being carried to the lock-up.

    His Honor summed up briefly, and the jury retired for about one minute, and returned with a verdict of “Not guilty,” and the accused was discharged.

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Clarence and Richmond Examiner, Sat 6 Jul 1907 ⁴

DEATH OF MR HF BECHER.

BRISBANE, Friday.—The Commissioner of Police yesterday received a telegram stating that the body of a man named Henry Fane Becher, who was in the employ of Young and Co, shearing contractors, had been found near Springfield Station in the Windorah district. A telegram received previously stated that the manager of Springfield Station had found a deserted buggy with loose horses, and near them a pair of muddy boots and the tracks of bare feet.

    (Mr Henry Fane Becher was son of Rev RF Becher, who was the first minister of the Baptist Church at Grafton. He served his apprenticeship in this office as compositor, and started the “Grip” newspaper.—Ed.)

 

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¹     The Bourke Banner and Darling River Representative, Wed 5 Feb 1902, p. 6. Emphasis added.

²     The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 5 Feb 1902, p. 4.

³     The Western Herald and Darling River Advocate, Wed 5 Feb 1902, p. 2. Emphasis added.

⁴     Clarence and Richmond Examiner, Sat 6 Jul 1907, p. 9.

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