There are few historical resources as compelling as old newspapers. The contemporary accounts of the criminal courts are by turns hilarious and thought-provoking. Hilarious in accounts of the drunken, bumbling criminals whose court cases provided entertainment to the public gallery. (I’ve been unable to resist quoting a couple of the dafter ones in this post.) However, the contemporary opinions expressed, particularly in matters of race, ethnicity, class and gender, are staggering.
In Australia, we are fortunate to have the Trove website from the National Library of Australia, which contains scanned newspapers, magazines, books, gazettes, collections and pictures. And all free to view online. You can if you wish, set up an account (free), and help the project to correct digitized text if you have some spare time. Everyone who uses keywords to search the collection will benefit. Here’s the link: http://www.trove.nla.gov.au
Here are some treasures from Trove:
MONDAY, April 10, 1826.-“There were several cases of a minor nature before the Bench this day, which brought upon the delinquents proportionate periods of punishment to the treadmill, amongst which was a charge against John Garling, prisoner of the crown, for unwarrantably taking his master’s horse out to ride in the streets at Sydney, in a state of extreme intoxication. ”
One can only assume (and perhaps hope) that Mr Garling was the intoxicated party.
MONDAY, April 10. 1826-“Mary Grady, a free demoiselle, and one who has earned for herself the happy nickname of “Timber Carriage,” had exhibited against her, in due form, the charge of being drunk and disorderly; not in the sanctum sanctorum of her domicile, but in the public streets. This “delicate” fair one seemed, from her gigantic stature, to be descended from some Glumdalcltich or the Brobdignac family: nor was her resolution disproportionate to her outward bulk ; for being recommended a solitary stand in the stocks, for two hours, and it was in truth a raw, frosty, mizzling nasty, dirty day, and whilst getting through her term of penance, very heroically, a gallant admirer of hers made a polite offer of accommodating her with a chair and umbrella, which was refused still more heroically, though not in the most polished terms, she performed her full term of penance. ”
Really, things have come to a pretty pass when a biggish lass can’t have a few refreshing beverages out in the beauty of nature.
And my favourite article at the moment (from Moreton Bay and some 30 years later)….
POLICE COURT
Mrs. Maria Powell, alias Queen of the Artimesia, was charged with drunkenness. A very lady like curtsey when she entered the box was the prelude to a scene which baffles description. Mrs. Powell declared that she was an ill-used woman, and also that she was too much of a lady to commit herself in the manner indicated.
When P. C. Currie was about taking the oath, Mrs. Powell acquainted him that he was about to swear falsely, called upon Jackson Currie to consider what he was going to do, and finding that her appeals had no effect upon him she resigned herself placidly to her fate, exclaiming that she was too well known by those who presided at that court for the evidence of a policeman to injure her.
P. C. Cross corroborated the statement of the former witness as to the state of the defendant, whereupon Mrs. Powell remarked to the Bench how a fiddle had been played while she was in the lock-up, and expressions used which testified rejoicing at the capture of the Queen.
Mrs. Powell repeatedly extolled her husband to the Bench, saying that he was the best builder in Brisbane, and her care for him was so great that she had left her home to go over to where he was working to cook for him, and the policemen, owing her a spite, had arrested her illegally.
All the eloquence of the lady failed to make an impression on the magistrates. They adjudged her to pay a fine of £2, and she left the court in custody of the police, as she had a month’s imprisonment to undergo if she did not pay, exclaiming, ” Gentlemen, I think you have done wrong; when my husband hears of this, he will be very sorry. What will he do if he has no one to look after him?”
Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 – 1861), Tuesday 31 January 1860, page 2
Moreton Bay and More 