As reported by the Moreton Bay Courier
With the exception of the murder of Robert Cox at Kangaroo Point in 1848, and the relatively distant frontier violence perpetrated by and on European settlers, life was fairly quiet in Moreton Bay in the 1840s. Still, there are columns to fill, and readers to shock, so the newly-established Moreton Bay Courier reported with horror the day to day goings-on.
The first story here involved a lady who just happened to enjoy an occasional refreshing beverage, and who, it seems, had suffered a wardrobe malfunction some time earlier, poor love.
A BEASTLY STATE OF INTOXICATION
On Tuesday an abandoned woman named Ann Simpson alias Jane Spencer, was brought before the magistrates charged, under the Vagrant Act, with being found in a beastly state of intoxication on, the premises of Mr. Robert Rowland, in South Brisbane, on Tuesday night week. This woman is the same party who was sentenced, a short time ago, to three months imprisonment for indecent exposure of her person; but she does not appear to have profited by the lesson. The Police Magistrate reprimanded her severely for her disgraceful conduct, and told her that if she came before him again he would have her removed from the district.
A bullock-driver, with whom the woman has lately cohabited, came forward and stated, that “except when she had drink, she was as good a ‘ooman as ever broke bread,” and that he would undertake to be answerable for her future good conduct; an undertaking which, it is not likely, he will ever be able to accomplish, as she is the most incorrigible drunkard in the district.
With all due deference to the decision of the magistrates, we do not think that there was the slightest ground for the extraordinary lenity shown in this case. Here was one of the most depraved characters in the district brought before them, and instead of summarily punishing the offender, as she deserved, they permit her to walk quietly away with her paramour with merely a reprimand, which probably will have the same effect upon her as such admonitions to such characters usually have. Had there been any extenuating circumstances in this case, we should not have felt ourselves called upon to make any remarks; for we are reluctant to animadvert harshly on a magisterial decision, which was no doubt given from benevolent, but, in our opinion, mistaken motives.
Here, a regrettable misunderstanding between two ladies escalated into a physical fight. Sadly, there was no Alternative Dispute Resolution Branch operating in Brisbane at the time.
RUMPUS
A correspondent, signing himself, “Asmodeus,” calls our attention to the rows which he states nightly take place in some of the houses at the back of Queen-street, near the Military Barrack. On Monday evening it appears there was a regular “shindy” amongst the folks in the “back slums,” and a first-rate scene was exhibited between two married females, both of middle age. The combatants commenced by belabouring one another with broomsticks, and eventually resorted to “fistycuffs,” displaying no little science, and several distinct rounds came off with great applause.
Jealousy, we understand, was the belli teterima causa, and we are enabled to state that the conjugal rights were effectually vindicated, as the offended spouse completely destroyed that beauty which had beguiled her husband, who, by the way, stood by during the whole combat, apparently delighted at the contest for his affections.
To his great astonishment, however, his spouse having demolished her feminine adversary, immediately directed her energies to her liege lord and master, and, amid the roars and cheers of the by-standers, gave him a sound drubbing. She was, however, “hauled off,” as Jack would say, but not before the countenance of her dear husband had been made a miniature map of the Carribbee Islands, which had been graphically described thereon by the nails of his better half.
There were distressing burglaries, committed, it would seem, by thieves who didn’t have the sense to leave town with their stolen treasure.
THE “SKULKS”
We think it right that the inhabitants should be put upon their guard against a number of skulking vagabonds who have lately been committing, and who are now nightly attempting to commit, depredations in the town. It will require all the detective powers of the police to put down the nuisance, and it is to be hoped that the constables will narrowly watch the proceedings of these worthies. Notwithstanding the high rate of wages, the “skulks” prefer remaining in the township spending their ill-gotten gains, derived from midnight plunder, at the public-houses; and when those means are exhausted, some fresh victim is selected, and they again resort to their infamous practices.
A short time since, Mr. McCabe’s bedroom was entered by one of these vagabonds, in the open day, during his wife’s temporary absence, and orders and other papers of the value of £10, were carried off.
On Thursday night, another prowling thief-attempted to break into the premises of Mr. Thornton, our next door neighbour; fortunately for the sleeping inmates, the dog gave the alarm, and the scoundrel was compelled to decamp without effecting his object. We hear, also, that several forged orders have been passed at Ipswich, as well as in Brisbane, which are described as being very well executed. Persons should be extremely cautious at the present time what orders they take, or they will certainly be victimised.
This could be seen as an early attempt at dispute resolution, using the only mediation tools at the disposal of the working man at the time. It seems that both William Davieses settled their differences after the fight, and the Bench was minded to give them both good behaviour bonds.
PUGILISM
At the Police-office, on Tuesday, two sawyers, both rejoicing in the patronymic of William Davies, were summoned before the Magistrates to answer an information which had been filed against them for being the principals in a regular stand-up fight in South Brisbane, on Monday morning last. The defendants it appeared had made arrangements to settle an old grudge existing between them by an appeal to arms, on the morning in question.
Accordingly at the appointed hour a number of their backers as well as a great many other persons assembled to witness the contest. As we were not present on the occasion, it is out of our power, even if we had the inclination, which we have not, to furnish an account of the hits and knocks which were exchanged between the pugilists in about forty rounds of hard fighting; suffice it to say, that as soon as the Chief Constable got information of what was going on, he proceeded to the scene of action; his appearance with the other “traps” was the signal for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the parties retreated to the scrub, where they finished the battle.
The combatants appeared before the Bench on the following morning, with their frontispieces beautifully decorated with cuts, as the publishers say, and each with one eye in mourning. ” Well,” says the Police Magistrate to the defendants, “you appear to be two very reputable characters, what have you got to say for yourselves ?” One of the parties thus questioned replied, “that he and his friend did not fight for money- nothing so low as that besides,” says he, “there is no one in court can say that our noddles have not been disfigured by accident” (here the speaker tried to wink with his damaged eye, but failed most lamentably in the attempt). His friend then put in a word, and said that they were both perfectly satisfied now, and were the best of cronies, having, “buried all unkindness.” Whereupon the Bench ordered them to find bail to keep the peace for three months, themselves in £10, and two sureties in £5 each.
No-one could condone the assault of a police officer in the performance of their duty. Although perhaps the officer might have taken more care to secure his weapon.
ASSAULTING THE CONSTABLES
At the Police-office, on Tuesday, Patrick O’Sullivan and John Penn, holding tickets-of-leave, were brought before the Magistrates charged with having violently assaulted Constable McBride in the execution of his duty, in South Brisbane, on Monday evening last. One of the defendants, Mr. Sullivan, with the big O’, which he insists on being placed before his patronymic, had been breaking windows at the Brisbane Hotel, and had conducted himself in a very disorderly manner when the landlady of that establishment gave him into custody. Constable McBride, in obedience to his orders, was conveying him to the lock-up, when the other defendant Penn, alias Payne, gave him, in a half-whisper, a little gratuitous advice, and told him not to go with the “traps, or he would be confined in the watch-house.” The advice was too palatable not to be followed, and the word “traps” seemed to have a magical effect on the “Tipperary boy”, who instantly wrested the constable’s staff from its legal owner, and began to lay about him in the true Donnybrook style.
Both friends and foes came in for their share of the blows, which he dealt about to all and sundry who either did or did not interfere with him. Two other constables having come to the assistance of McBride, the defendants were, after considerable difficulty, and some little coaxing, apprehended and taken to the lock-up. The Bench considering that this was an aggravated case, fined both defendants the sum of £4 10s. each, and the Police Magistrate intimated that their tickets-of-leave would be recommended to be cancelled. We understand, however, that he has since altered his determination. This is right and proper, for if the Magistrates think proper to punish men holding tickets-of-leave in the same manner as free persons, we think that is all they should do; for it is high time, now that this is not a convict colony, that many of the odious regulations affecting this class should no longer be put in force.
Sadly, Mr Orr of South Brisbane was to experience more unpleasantness in 1849, when the convict exiles of the Mounstuart Elphinstone were unleashed on his peaceful neighbourhood. One of them killed his wife’s pet cockatoo, and then beat Mrs Orr when she remonstrated with him. Mr Orr and rather a few locals entered the conflict, and it turned into something approaching a riot. Mrs Orr was badly beaten around the face, and everyone involved had to go to Sydney for the trial. That trial occupied a great deal of time and public money, as the Sydney papers were keen to point out. It wasn’t a great surprise that Moreton Bay was granted a circuit court the following year.
Here, the indomitable Mr Orr railed sought redress for the indignity of finding goats on his verandah.
SUFFERING GOATS TO STRAY
At the Police-office, on Tuesday, three of the inhabitants of South Brisbane were summoned to answer informations for suffering goats to stray about the public streets. They were fined 5s. each and costs. The informations had been laid at the instance of Mr. Orr, to whom the animals had become a serious nuisance, in consequence of their congregating under the verandah of his house, at night-time, during the wet weather.
Mr. Orr was about ascending the steps of his house a few evenings since, when a huge billy-goat disputed possession of the premises and rushing at him knocked him head over heels on to the ground. Not relishing this kind of treatment, he proceeded forthwith to eject the intruder, which was accomplished after some little difficulty. The Chief Constable, we understand, is about to file informations against “all and sundry” who do not keep their goats tied up on their own premises.
- Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 – 1861), Saturday 5 September 1846, page 2.
- Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 – 1861), Saturday 27 November 1847, page 2.
- Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 – 1861), Saturday 24 April 1847, page 3.
- Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 – 1861), Saturday 19 December 1846, page 2.
- Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 – 1861), Saturday 18 March 1848, page 2.
- Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 – 1861), Saturday 5 December 1846, page 2.
“Wine is a Mocker,” by Jan Steen, “Termagants,” “Constable,” “Thieves,” and “Boxing Day” by George Cruickshank. Goats by Wikipedia.
Moreton Bay and More 