Golden Crown Hotel, Herbert Street south near Red Hill, 1870-75
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This hotel was probably situated on the east side of Herbert Street; licensee William Simmons. In February 1876 Simmons was charged with the murder of a man whom he found assaulting his thirteen year-old daughter, for which he was sentenced to one month's jail. In August the same year the Hotel was up for sale, and just one month later it was blown apart during a cyclone-like storm that hit the town.
Source: Information supplied by Baldwin & Davis, Research Gulgong (Dec 2006)
The Golden Crown Hotel, backing onto Red Hill.
Foreground buildings include the Telegraph Office and Court House in the Police Compound.
Source: SLNSW a2822267h
Family with their horse and trap outside bark house, Gulgong
(Golden Crown Hotel in background)
Source: SLNSW a2822173
William Simmons married Margaret [Eseblen/Harselby?] in [Devenport?] in about 1857. Margaret was born in Devonshire, England, ca 1840, the daughter of Richard [Eseblen?], a carpenter. She came to Australia around 1864. Margaret died in 1874 of "ascites" of 5 weeks' duration leaving 3 sons and 2 daughters. Her children included:
- James - born ca 1858, Devonshire, England; died aged 13, of typhoid fever, on 25.11.1871 in Gulgong
- Margaret - born ca 1862
- Tamsarena - born ca 1864
- Joseph Henry - born 1872, Gulgong
- Alfred James - born 1874, Gulgong
1873 - £3 REWARD.
STOLEN or strayed from the Three-mile Rush, Gulgong, on or about the 17th January, 1873, a bay horse, 15½ hands high, collar-marked, star in forehead, branded G-S on off shoulder. £1 will be paid on delivery if strayed, or £3 if stolen on conviction. Apply to WILLIAM SIMMONS, Golden Crown Hotel, Gulgong.
1874 - Robberies with Arms or Violence or from the Person.
William Simmons has reported, that about 7 p.m. the 6th instant he was stopped on the road between Home Rule and Gulgong by two armed men, hereunder described, and robbed of fourteen £10 notes, one £5 note, and two £1 notes, Banks and numbers unknown, and not identifiable. 1st man, about 6 feet 8 inches high, slender build; dressed like a working man. 2nd man, about 6 feet 7 inches high, stout build; dressed like a working man. Both had their faces covered with something like brown paper, and were armed with revolvers.
Source: New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime (Sydney : 1860 - 1930) Wed 15 Jul 1874 [Issue No.28] Page 197
1874 - Abduction.
We (Gulgong Evening Argus) learn that a daughter of Mr. Simmons, formerly of the Golden Crown Hotel, Herbert-street, has been induced to leave her father's roof during the past few days. It appears that Mr. Simmouds has recently been at work at the head of Magpie Gully, and had a mate going by the name of "Old Joe," and it is this mate who is supposed to have taken the little girl away. She is only thirteen years old, and is said to be a most prepossessing child.
Yesterday William Simmons, late publican, gave himself up, charged with murder, by shooting Thomas Todd, at Magpie Gully. Todd is dead. As there were no magistrates or Coroner at Gulgong, Mr. Henningham, Coroner for Mudgee, presided at the inquest; three witnesses were examined and the inquest was then adjourned. The cause of the catastrophe is attributed to an intrigue between the deceased and the daughter of Simmons.
The examination in the Gulgong shooting case was concluded at 6 o'clock. Tlie jury consulted one hour, and returned a verdict of wilful murder against William Simmons.
A man, named Simmons, gave himself up to the police last night on a charge of shooting Joseph Todd, at Magpie Gully. An inquest was to be holden to-day. It is reported that Simmons found Todd in bed with his daughter. Todd had been previously sentenced to fourteen months imprisonment for taking the same girl away.
Source: Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919) Sat 12 Feb 1876 Page 7
1876 - The Gulgong Shooting Case
On Monday evening the inhabitants of Gulgong (says the S.M.Herald's correspondent) were again thrown into a state of alarm by the report that another murder had been committed at Lower Magpie Gully. It appears that for two years a man, named Joseph Todd, has systematically annoyed one William Simmons, by taking liberties with his daughters, one of whom he some fifteen months since induced to leave her home, and for which offence he was tried and sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment for abduction.
As soon as his term was over he returned to his old haunts and repeated the annoyance. Though warned by the father to keep away, he did not do so, and the result is the tragedy which occurred on Monday. The evidence of senior-sergeant James Keenan will read more like a confession of the accused than evidence. The Gulgong coroner being in Sydney, the sergeant in charge, immediately the office was opened, telegraphed to Mr W. J. Henningham, coroner for Mudgee, who held an inquest at Charles's Welcome Royal Hotel, Three Mile.
Upon arriving there to send you this report, I found the body lying upon the floor of a small house next the hotel, covered with an old sugar bag. The police, whose attention to duty is proverbial, seem on this occasion to have been very lax, for up to 6 o'clock on Tuesday night no arrangement had been made for burial.
A jury of twelve men having been sworn—Mr W. Selff acting as foreman—the following witnesses were examined:—
James Keenan, senior-sergeant of police, Gulgong, sworn said—On Monday evening, 6 30, William Simmons, the prisoner now before the Court, came to me at the Police-office, and said, "Mr Keenan, I have come to give myself up. I have shot a man —Joe the Pig—that man was punished for my little girl, I caught him this afternoon with her."
I said to the accused, "What was he doing to her?" and he replied "He had her upon his knees or lap." Simmons also made other statements as follows:—"Before I got to the door I heard the oldest girl (Margaret), who was upon his lap say, "Oh, don't, oh don't. You are murdering me, Joe."
I don't think I should have done what I have only from hearing this, and what I saw. My second daughter was at the door at the time? I said "give me the key of the door," which she did.
I opened the door, took the gun, and returned to the children's room. I asked the oldest girl if anyone was there. She was white in the face and replied no. I said "Where is Joe, the Pig whose lap you were sitting on. She replied he was not there and had not been there. I lifted the valance of the bed and saw Joe there and I shot at him; he rushed to the door, when I fired the second barrel at him and he dropped a little way from the side of my hut. I then reported what I had done to John Golding, the puddler. There was no one else there. I think the two girls saw me do what I have done. There was not half a minute between the two shots. Before the occurrence I promised my son Joseph some lollies if he came and told me if Joe the Pig came to the house. About 2:30 the boy went for a candle as an excuse to see if he was in the hut, and saw him lying or sitting on the bed."
Sergeant Keenan then asked: "Did you shoot with the intent to kill him?" He (Simmons) continued— "I did not fire with the intent to kill him. I was in such a state that I did not care, if I killed him or not. I fired the first shot at his side". I (witness) then said Simmons we will go and see him.
It was then near 7' o'clock. The accused continued:— "Yesterday the big girl was seen taking something under a cloth to where Joe lived, but the children deny everything I ask concerning him. The occurrence took place at Lower Magpie Gully and the man's proper name is Joe Todd. The gun was loaded with No. 4 shot and I think he is dead. I never saw him move after he fell. The first time I shot him he was under the bed, the second time he was in the doorway."
This is all the accused said then. At 8 o'clock, I went with the prisoner and found the deceased, Joseph Todd, lying on his side, he was quite dead. There was a hole in the left hip. Prisoner showed me the gun—a double-barrelled one— now produced. Both barrells were loaded, as they now are. The accused said, I reloaded them lest he should come back again. I said to the prisoner. "Is this the man you shot?" and he replied "Yes." I asked him his name and he replied "William Simmons." I then arrested him on the charge of the wilful murder of Joseph Todd. Prisoner made no reply I then gave prisoner the usual caution.
By the Coroner—I had not previously cautioned him. When the prisoner first came to me I was in uniform except my coat. Upon arriving at Magpie Gully I obtained a cart and removed the body. By Mr Cory (for the prisoner)—A man of the same name as deceased was committed for the abduction of, or an indecent assault upon, the daughter of the accused.
John Golding, sworn, proved the hearing of the report of the gun, and was shown the body of the deceased by the accused.
Dr. William Ramsay, sworn, said—I have made a post mortem examination of the deceased Joseph Todd. I found a large shot hole on the left buttocks, and the back up to the shoulder extensively shot-marked; the abdominal muscles directly over the stomach were shot away, making an oval hole, five inches in diameter, through which the stomach and large intestines were protruding. The skin round the opening is charred indicating that the gunshot was close to the body. The cartillage of the lower ribs was broken into fragments, some lying loose in the wound, the rest were absent. The injuries are such as, in my opinion, would have caused instant death. There must have been two shots to have caused the injuries described.
Tamsarena Simmons, daughter of the accused, a child twelve years old, was not called. She could neither read nor write nor say her prayers.
She gave her evidence with great confidence but was detected in several discrepancies.
On Wednesday, Margaret Simmons sworn, said—I shall be fourteen years old in March. On Monday evening Todd came to our hut. I was sitting on a box at the foot of the bed. My sister left to see what time it was. Todd got up and pulled me from the box to the bed. I tried to get away but he would not let me. (Most part of the evidence that followed is unfit for publication). Presently the deceased said, "Here is your father coming—don't say I have been here." He then got under the table, and then under the bed. My father asked for his key, and I gave it to him. He asked me if anyone had been or was there, and I said no. My father then lifted the valance of the bed and saw deceased there, and fired at him. I then ran away. I have known deceased three years. He never before took any liberties. He was some time ago imprisoned for taking me away.
The jury retired and after one hour's consultation returned a verdict of "Wilful murder under very extenuating circumstances. This the coroner objected to, but said he would make note of the Verdict. That the said Joseph Todd came to his death at Lower Magpie Gully on Monday, February 7; and the jury agrees that the said Joseph Todd was maliciously and feloniously murdered by the prisoner William Simmons". The prisoner was then committed to take his trial at next Mudgee Sessions.
1876 - [COURT CASE]
The remaining cases resulted as follows :-.
.. William Simmons, for the murder of George [sic] Todd, at Gulgong, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to one month's imprisonment. The evidence showed thnt Simmons caught Todd in the act of violating the prisoner's daughter, of the age of 13 years, and shot him dead. Most of the prisoners were defended by Mr. Buchanan, who secured acquittals in almost every case. His various defences of his clients were characterised by the usual zeal and fiery eloquence so inherent to the learned advocate, whilst his speech in Todd's defence, was a masterpiece of eloquence and genuine oratory.
1876 - [SENTENCING]
At the Mudgee Circuit Court, held on April 20, the case of William Simmons, charged with the murder of Joseph Todd, at Magpie Gully, near Gulgong, was heard (says the Sydney Morning Herald). Todd has been convicted some two years since of abducting the prisoner's daughter, then a girl under 12 years of age, and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for the offence. On getting out of gaol, Todd was seen by Simmons near his place, and be warned him to keep away, but notwithstanding, he again visited the girl. Simmons discovered Todd in an indecent position with his daughter, and seizing a double-barrelled and loaded gun, he fired at him, discharging the second barrel as he went out of the door. The latter ran about fifteen yards, and then fell shortly afterwards expiring, Mr. Buchanan, who appeared for the defence, pleaded for a verdict of justifiable homicide. Judge Faucett, however, in summing up, pointedly stated that a verdict of "justifiable homicide" would not meet the merits of the case, but inferred that a verdict of manslaughter would suit the case. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of the extreme provocation received by the accused. Mr. Justice Faucett stated that he fully agreed with the recommendation to mercy, considering the provocation received by the accused was extreme and after inquiry, finding that Simmons had already been two months in gaol, sentenced him to an additional month's confinement.
Another case that attracted a good deal of attention, and was watched with much interest, was the trial of William Simmonds, charged with the murder of Joseph Todd, at Magpie Gully, near Gulgong. Todd had been convicted some two years since of abducting the prisoner's daughter, then a girl under 12 years of age, and was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment for the offence. On getting out of gaol Todd was seen by Simmonds near the latter's place, who warned him to keep away. It may be stated that Simmonds is a widower, having a family of five small children, of whom the girl referred to is the oldest, and that while he was at work at his avocation of a gold-miner he left this girl at home in charge of the other children. That home consisted of two small huts, close together—in one of which Simmonds and his little son slept, the other being occupied by the girl and her younger sisters. Simmonds suspected that when away at work Todd visited the girl, whom he had evidently, as was shown by the evidence, contaminated, and he (Simmonds) told his little boy, if he saw Todd about the place, to come and tell him. This boy, a lad about 9 years of age, saw Todd at the girl's hut and went and told his (the boy's) father. The father left his work, and on getting to the hut saw Todd in an indecent position with the girl. On seeing this Simmonds went to his own hut and got a double barrelled and loaded gun, and on going to the girl's hut next door saw Todd under the bed and fired at him, discharging the second barrel as he went out of the door. The latter ran about fifteen yards and then fell, shortly afterwards expiring. Simmonds at once went and called a neighbour whom he told what he had done, and then proceeded to the Gulgong police and gave himself up. The above facts were deposed to at the trial, and Mr. Buchanan—who appeared for the defence—pleaded hard, and with very considerable ability and feeling for a verdict of justifiable homicide. Judge Faucet, however, in summing up, pointedly stated that a verdict of "justifiable homicide" would not meet the merits of the case, and cautioned the jury not to take the law into their own hands. His Honor further inferred that a verdict of manslaughter which would be punished very severely or very slightly according to the circumstances) would suit the case. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of the extreme provocation received by the accused. Mr. Justice Faucett, after complimenting the jury, of which Mr. R Rouse, of Guntawang, was foreman, on delivering the verdict they did, and not taking the law into their hands, stated that he fully agreed with the recommendation to mercy, considering the provocation received by the accused was extreme; and after inquiry, finding that Simmonds had already been two months in gaol, sentenced him to an additional month's confinement. Considerable sympathy is felt in this district with Simmonds, who is considered to have been more sinned against than sinning; and the deceased is thought to have most, righteously deserved the awful end he met with.
1878 - CHARGED
William Simmons, charged with robbing his mate's gold at Magpie Gully, was committed for trial at the Mudgee Circuit Court upon two charges.
