Noonan, licensee
1873 - POLICE COURT
Assault – John Noonan, Mary Noonan and Mary Ann Tracey charged with violently assaulting John Hoolan, Upon the application of Mr. G. Spring, Mary Ann Tracey was discharged being a case of mistaken identity. John Hoolan stated that with Otto Stichman\Slickman he went to the public house of the defendants (Belle of Union Hotel) at Home Rule. Mrs. Noonan charged him with owing some money, he could not remember it, Mrs. Noonan then fetched his hat, attempting to leave one of the daughters struck him on the head with a tumbler, while on the ground Noonan and some others kicked him and threw him out. Noonan stamped on him. Otto Stichman\Slickman stated he had three drinks with Hoolan, there was some altercation over payment, Hoolan threw 1/- on the counter, reach for his hat then was struck. Noonan with several others rushed out of the ball room and threw the complainant out. Robert Jones stated he only saw the end result. Bench said it was the duty of a publican to protect not to abet this kind of offence. Mary Noonan fined £3 and £2 costs, John Noonan two months hard labour Mudgee goal.
[The Christmas holidays have not had a soothing influence upon their Worships. So Home Rulers had better beware how they bring themselves within the jurisdiction of the Gulgong Police Court. The sentence of the old man Noonan is one that for its severity, considering the circumstances of the assault, will reflect more on the Bench than upon the defendant. It is high time that there was a change in the administration of the law on Gulgong. Ed. G.G.]
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 145, 4 January 1873
1873 - POLICE COURT
Assault – John Hoolan, Michael Tracey and Rose Noonan. Mr. Spring for complainant, Mr. Clarke for defence. This case rose from an alleged assault committed in Noonan’s Bell of Union Hotel, Home Rule, upon John Hoolan. Mr. Noonan was sentenced to two months goal and his wife fined £5. The prosecutor not content with this conviction, brings another case against Rose Noonan, Michael Noonan’s son-in-law. The plaintiff with a German named Slickman\Stichman went to the Hotel to get drink. He first summonses Mrs. Tracey, then finds she is not the young woman; next Emily and then Rose Noonan. His particular witness, the German swore most positively to Tracey being one of the men who threw Hoolan and he could only swear to the young woman who struck the blow, by her teeth. Mr. Clarke had the two young women appear and show their teeth, he then admitted he could be mistaken. Constable Duffy gave evidence as did Joseph Warren who swore Tracey had been with him at the time the incident took place. Rose Noonan was discharged, the Bench were divided regarding Tracey. Mr. Browne had doubts to the identity, Mr. Tebbutt was for a conviction.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 148, 15 January 1873
A week or two ago, an old man crippled with rheumatism, who couldn’t knock down a child but who unfortunately had his name over the door of a public-house as its licensee (“Bell of Union Hotel” Home Rule), was sentenced to two months imprisonment and his wife fined £5 for assaulting a drunken rowdy, who swore that a woman behind the bar had hit him with a tumbler – possibly as the answer to some improper proposal or language and that the old man Noonan threw him out of the house, a feat physically impossible for him to perform as was apparent to everyone in Court but their worships whose grotesque desire to protect the public excited a smile of pity for the sending to gaol an old man who could hat have committed the offence, was the cruelest blunder that I ever remember being perpetrated to illustrate Justice’s justice.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 149, 18 January 1873
