Resources – Police Gazettes – Example

Crime and Misfortune in New South Wales, 1862 & 1900

In the quiet towns and rural settlements of New South Wales, the turn of the 20th century and earlier decades were not without their share of misdeeds and disturbances.

In Tomerong in 1900, Frank Mooney found himself in trouble with the law after disrupting a Salvation Army meeting. Summoned before the Nowra Bench by Edward Madden, Mooney was committed for trial, a reminder that even small communities were vigilant against public disturbances.

At Singleton, a young man named Henry Hall, just 19 years of age, faced a warrant for the theft of a purse containing nearly four pounds belonging to Chas. Walton. Meanwhile, in Mudgee, Charles Lovell Carter was charged with embezzling sums from T. H. Marks & Co., highlighting that financial crimes were not confined to the towns alone.

In Adelong, the Court House Hotel became the scene of theft when Patrick Kinchler reported a stolen tin trunk, containing cash, a bank draft, and sundries—valued at seventeen pounds. Further east, at East Maitland, John Johnson, described as a dark-eyed man of sinister appearance, had stolen two pigs from Joseph Clarke, though they were fortunately recovered.

The young and inexperienced were not spared either. At Lismore, John Ball, only 15, absconded from his apprenticeship with Alfred James in Bexhill. Meanwhile, in Murrumburrah, John Gown suffered the theft of 140 sheep from his paddock at Nimby, demonstrating that even livestock theft was a common concern for rural residents.

In Panbula, Augustus Arnold lost four £10 banknotes under uncertain circumstances, while in New Lambton, Elizabeth Butterworth reported the theft of her silver keyless watch. Similarly, in Newcastle, Annie Maher’s 9-carat gold hunting watch was stolen from the Crown & Anchor Hotel, marking a wave of petty thefts across the region.

Going back to 1862, theft and absenteeism were just as prevalent. In Maitland, a pair of Wellington boots went missing, raising suspicion of Joseph Budd, a store employee. In Dungog, James Fitzsimmons endured the theft of his Colonial-made saddle and striped saddle-cloth while his horse stood at the Durham Hotel. William Row, a storekeeper in Clarence Town, suffered the loss of two half-chests of Congou tea, reflecting the vulnerability of goods in local stores.

In Stroud, domestic service disputes were documented when James Smith, 18 years old, absconded from the service of James McIntyre, a local blacksmith. Smith, described as short with dark hair and complexion, had left without permission, echoing the challenges employers faced in maintaining reliable labor.

These entries from the NSW Police Gazette paint a vivid picture of life in New South Wales, where theft, embezzlement, and disturbances touched towns and homesteads alike. From livestock and watches to apprentices and banknotes, the daily lives of residents were intertwined with both opportunity and misfortune.