- FRANCIS J - born 1866 in Sydney (NSW BDM 65/1866)
- MARY E - born 1867 in Sydney (NSW BDM 666/1867)
- unnamed - born 1870 in Binnalong (NSW BDM 7118/1870)
- JAMES - born 1871 in Gulgong (NSW BDM 13559/1871); died 12 January 1872 from "whooping cough" of 2 weeks' duration.
- THOMAS AUGUSTINE - born 1873 in Gulgong (NSW BDM 14454/1873)
- JAMES PATRICK - born 1875 in Gulgong (NSW BDM 15096/1875)
- GERTRUDE BRIDGET P - born 1877 in Gulgong (NSW BDM 15971/1877)
- STEPHEN Gerald Alphonsus - born 1879 in Gulgong (NSW BDM 18127/1879); died 26 June 1881 from "inflammation of lungs" of 20 days' duration.
- JANE A - born 1881 in Gulgong (NSW BDM 21387/1881)
1872 - Deaths
12th January, James Duncan Keenan, aged 1 year and 8 months son of Sgt. Keenan.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 49, 20 January 1872
1872 - POLICE COURT
Protection – Benjamin Nomously a poor feeble old man, came to the lock-up and asked for protection. Constable Canavan, lock-up keeper said that he was very weak and in a filthy state, his cloths had to be burned and they washed him. Sergeant Keenan had kindly given him a pair of trousers and under shirt. The poor old man had nothing to say to the Bench nor any questions to ask . Remanded to Mudgee gaol for one months protection.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 132, 20 November 1872
1872 - POLICE COURT
Poor Unfortunates – Three poor unfortunate children – John Lewis, aged 9, Agnes Lewis aged 7 and Elizabeth Lewis aged 3½, belonging to a worthless woman named Agnes Lewis were brought up by the police as neglected. Constable Callaghan, stated in the company of Sergeant Keenan they took the three children up on warrant because they were living with a woman named Agnes Lewis, who was a well known prostitute and a drunkard, he had visited the place several times and it was always in a dirty state; on one occasion there was a man there who refused to give his name; several neighbours complained of the conduct of the woman. Sergeant Keenan corroborated the evidence of Constable Callaghan. The Bench ordered the children be sent to the Industrial School.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 137, 7 December 1872
1873 - No Fire
During the hearing cases on Wednesday and Thursday candles had to be lit for the accommodation of the Bench and the C.P.S. On Thursday, Mr. Henry Tebbutt asked Sgt. Keenan why it was there could not be a fire provided in the Court, when the Sgt. in his usual polite manner replied, ‘Your worship, we have no wood, nor is there any arrangement for the supply of same’. His Worship, ‘Oh!’
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 191, 14 June 1873
Drunkenness – Mary Chambers a deplorable looking woman with a baby in her arms and a little boy hanging on to her skirt, was brought up charged with being and lying out in the open air in Herbert Street. Sgt Keenan said he found the woman huddled up near a fence in Herbert Street at 1am Sunday Morning. The children evidently suffering from the cold. The poor woman said that she unfortunately had taken some drink but if discharged she would never appear again. Caution, dismissed.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 194, 25 June 1873
1874 - Police Court
Catherine Henry aged 4 years, brought up for protection. Sergeant James Kneepan [Keenan?], stated he found the child in a house kept by Mary Jane Marrons, Home Rule, who said the mother had left the child there saying she had more children than she could keep; The mother’s name is Jane Smithers and the father James Henry. Ordered to be sent to the Industrial School.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 3 December 1874
1874 - Protection
1875 - [THIEVES CAUGHT]
Inglis Children, Mary Ann 11 ½, William James 10 and Peter Joseph 6 ½ years were brought up by Sergeant Keenan as deserted children. From the evidence of the Sergeant the mother was a most dissolute character and the children were most neglected. The children were ordered to be sent to the Industrial School.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 10 December 18741875 - [THIEVES CAUGHT]
‘No Rest for the Wicked’ a correspondent writes :--
‘Hard are time at Home Rule for honest men, they are harder still for rouges. To imprint our soil with his hoof-tracks is about the worst speculation a thief can enter into, for Sergeant Keenan and his two assistants know everybody and when a stranger shows among us he is spotted immediately and should he appear of the ‘tricky’ sort, he is shepherded carefully but unobtrusively. If he indulges in picking and stealing, he finds himself in Mudgee gaol before he has recovered from the bewilderment consequent on his speedy capture. It is a great mistake to often shift the police, except for promotion, for it is obvious they must be more efficient when they come to be acquainted with all around them.
One or two of the light-fingered sort have lately tried their hand, taking advantage of the distraction occasioned by the races. One—a coloured man, named Dixon—took a fancy to some boots and other things left in the tent of a musician, while the latter was professionally engaged at a ball; the vigilance of the Sergeant and Constable Flaherty was too much for the thief and he has now ‘left the township for the township’s good,’ on a three month visit to Mudgee, at our gracious Queen’s cost and charges. Constable Evans, too, has been rough on a pickpocket who robbed one of the circus men of their watch, and this rascal has found quarters for the same term and at the same place as the darkey. These are the only two offence of late and it speaks highly of the community and the police.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 8 May 1875
When the police do not do their duty we are all very apt to complain. It is therefore nothing but right to give credit when they deserve it; and this was so in a case which came before the Court on Monday, when Sergeant Keenan, succeeded in rescuing two interesting children from a life of misery and degradation and having them forwarded to an Industrial School.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 22 September 1875
Protection - Martha Jane and Mary Jane Doherty, aged 12 and 10 years were brought up for protection by Sergeant Keenan, being the child of Annie Newton. Constable Evans supported Sergeant Kneepan’s [sic] evidence, Annie Newton was a prostitute and drunkard. The children were sent to the Industrial School.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 22 September 1875
1875 - Police Court - Before L S Donaldson JP
Larceny - Jane Leroux charged by Sergeant Keenan, with Constable Stapleton went to Winter’s Hotel, with a warrant and arrested Leroux for stealing a silk Japanese dress piece, a polonaise, a chemise, and other articles the property of Eliza Greening. Prisoner said she had nothing there from the case and that all her things were at her place; the search found nothing. She was then taken to Home Rule to Mrs Greening’s hotel where a box containing certain articles was produced.
By Mr Cory: Anyone could have had access to the box.
Eliza Greening sworn: I am the landlady of the Home Rule Hotel, I know the prisoner, she is in my service and left on Monday.
Rosa Greening sworn: I am the daughter of the last witness, I assisted my mother in searching for the articles, I carried the box from the bedroom of the prisoner. Mother and the prisoner had an argument and mother gave her a week's notice.
Louisa Palmer sworn: I am a servant residing at Home Rule, knew the prisoner about three years. Identified the articles gave them to Sergeant Keenan. I told Mrs Greening defendant lent me the apron.
Committed for trial at Mudgee Sessions on Wednesday.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 9 October 1875
1875 - Home Rule - from our Correspondent
The fire in the Public School at Home Rule, raged furiously for more than an hour, destroying the school and three buildings adjoining as far as Greening’s Hotel, there was a steady breeze blowing south-east, fortunately it veered a point or two to the south, otherwise both sides of the street would have been in danger. The police are deserving of praise—under the command of Sergeant Keenan, who rendered most valuable service. The fire soon reached Mrs Leroux and her family and from there it soon reached Pope’ Bakery. This was a most critical moment, when to hesitate was to be lost. It was there that the calm, steady judgement of fire Captain Osborne came to be observed, he ordered a party of axemen to chop down the house next to Greening’s Hotel, which was the only way to save the town. The men worked with a will and during the time they were at this work, the heat was so intense that the engine had to be kept steadily playing on and around the fire. When all worked so well, it would invidious to single out any particular person or persons.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 23 October 1875
1875 - POLICE COURT
Assault on a Girl - George Hopkins a lad of about seventeen years of age, was indicted with having at Gulgong on November 17 and 18 unlawfully assaulted and abused a child named Maria Jane Hong. Pleaded not guilty.
John Hong, dealer of Gulgong, gave evidence: From certain information he received he had information against the prisoner, for assaulting his daughter, aged eleven years and 11 months.
Margaret Hong in her evidence that the child would be twelve years old on the 22nd instant. She was cross examined by Mr Buchanan as to the age of her children but her evidence could not be shaken.
Maria Jane Hong, an intelligent looking child, gave evidence of the offence which had been committed on two separate occasions; she was severely cross examined by the counsel for the defence but nothing material was elicited by him.
Senior Sergeant Keenan stated when the prisoner was arrested he denied the charge.
Rev Archdeacon Gunther gave evidence that on January 21, 1864, he baptised Maria Jane Hong, and the entry was that she was born on December 22, 1863.
Dr Ramsay gave evidence of a medical nature.
His Honour summed up the evidence with great care and the jury after a retirement of five minutes returned a verdict of guilty with a recommendation to mercy on account of his youth. His Honour asked of the foreman, if the jury were aware that the prisoner was nearly eighteen years of age and he replied yes.
Two letters were handed to his Honour, one of which he said he would read, written by the Rev Mr Newton, of Gulgong which gave the prisoner a good character and added that he had been for some time the main support for his family. The other letter from the prisoners employers, stated they were willing to take him back in their employ, after what had occurred.
His Honour said he would take into consideration the recommendation of the jury and the sentence was two years with hard labour.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 8 December 1875
Ill-treating Children - John Norman was brought up for ill treating his child, Emily Jane Norman aged 7 years. From the evidence it appears that the child, a half-caste, was in the habit of running away and in order to prevent her from exercising some of her native proclivities, the accused tied her with a dog chain and put a strap of leather round her neck and flogged her while she was tied. Her left her at night at sheep station of Mr Rouse without any person with her.
The child was examined by Dr Ramsay and Constable Evans, there was a mark around her neck and marks on her legs and shoulders.
Janet Vesperman stated: I live at Bailey’s Springs, three miles from the station, the child came to my place on Tuesday morning, she was making her way towards the Warrable Mountains, I took her in, she said her mother followed her with a stick and said if she came back again, she would kill her, I took her to the Home Rule police for protection. Husband of this witness corroborated the evidence and further stated that he had helped in the searches for the child.
Emily Jane Norman was examined by the Bench and was found to be both intelligent and very cautious—I know the prisoner, I call him daddy, I sleep at the sheep station by myself and he ties me up with string and beats me so does mammy, I get fed, I run away because I am frightened. After the prisoner put a few questions to the child she began to cry.
The Bench ordered the prisoner to pay a fine of 5 pounds in default 3 months imprisonment.
Sergeant Keenan, applied to the Bench for liberty to examine the mother of the child so as to send her to an industrial school if she was not claimed or have her discharged if Mrs Norman admitted her maternity. Louisa Ann Norman, after a few convulsive sobs, admitted the child was hers. The child was discharged.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 15 January 1876
1876 - Police Court before T A Browne PM
Child Desertion - Catherine Cassedy charged. Sergeant James Keenan stated at 8pm Saturday last, while near the lock-up he heard the cry of an infant, went over to the fence along the side of the road, saw no woman anywhere but found a bundle against one of the posts; opening it he found it to contain a living child, apparently newly born wrapped in a piece of new flannel; went for Dr Ramsay and some female assistance; the child was properly taken care of; then procured the services of a nurse. Sunday went to the house of Mrs Keenan, saw the prisoner there, asked her where she was on Saturday night, she replied at Mrs Kelly’s; when asked if the child found was hers, she replied, "Yes, I did it by myself". Showed her the baby and she said it was hers, took it and kissed it, shortly afterwards she had the child at her breast. I then charged her with concealing the birth of a child.
Dr Ramsay stated he examined the prisoner and she had recently given birth.
Committed for trial at Mudgee.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, 12 July 1876
