WOMEN ON THE GOLDFIELD

NEWS ITEMS

1871 - [SLY GROG]

At stump orators say, our society has been shook to its centre during the whole week by the raid made by the firm of Ephraim Lhobeth and Co., [euphonious named firm] ‘‘revenue protectors and public morals vindicators” on all decent married women on the gold-field who try to make an honest penny by catering for the thirsty miners by giving him a drop of sly grog. No less than sixteen of these generous hearted, but illicit vendors of grog, have had to put in an appearance before their worships in Mudgee and there was no little excitement when this large detachment of beauty and fashion of Gulgong arrived at the Temple of Justice on Monday. Some became overpowered by the heat, their Worships taking pity on the fairer sex adjourned the case till Wednesday. Meanwhile when Ephraim approached he was given a ‘piece of the minds’ of some of the friends of the ladies in question.

Sly Grog Selling.

• William Drew - a Storekeeper at Gulgong – charged by Charles Bowyer, with Ephriam Lhobeth and John Petherick. Thomas Shaw, miner gave evidence for the defence - fined 30/-
• Eleanor Ward – charged by Charles Bowyer. Withdrawn.
• Mary Ann Whitfield – Charles Bowyer informant again, Catherine Hayward mentioned – dismissed.
• Mary Wall of Black Lead, Restaurant Keeper, her husband lives there, with same offence - again Charles Bowyer informant with Robert Welsh - fined £30.
• Elizabeth Clairmont – has a store on Black Lead charged as above, again Charles Bowyer.
• Catherine Wales same as above, Bowyer stated that Welsh was very fond of grog and would go anywhere for a drink - usual fine.
• Agnes Lloyd charged as a above, Lloyd is her maiden name, married name Mears – withdrawn.
• Jane Casilian charged as above this time Ephriam Lhobeth [Frenchman], James Parker and Charles Bowyer, in her own home Gulgong. Vincent Casilian and Italian ‘I keep no other drink but abscyth’
• Assault & Sly Grog - Sarah Walker with striking Charles Bowyer – withdrawn.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 3, 4 March 1871

1871 - Lunacy

A woman named Margaret Stack aged 33 years from Gulgong was brought up before the PM and H. Tebutt for examination, Drs. Cutting and Rowling assisted, the poor creature was sent to the Receiving House Darlinghurst, for further medical treatment.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 8, 8 April 1871

1871 - [SLY GROG]

On Tuesday last our sympathies were keenly outraged by seeing a number of decent married women with their respective olive branches being gallantly escorted by ‘our guardians in blue’ to Tarrant’s coach, en route to Mudgee goal, there to expiate - of a £30 for sly grog selling viz., three months board and residence in that country retreat. While we do not agree with the sale of illicit grog, it does repulse us to see that a woman having a husband, should with her young innocent children, be sent to goal for 3 months for an offence that is allowed to develop with the knowledge, and often the patronage of those whose duty it is to prevent it.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 8, 8 April 1871

1871 - OLD AND DESTITUTE

Isabella Brady a poor worn out old woman who was brought up on charges of being without visible support was given one month in Mudgee gaol for her protection and medical treatment. 

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 13, 13 May 1871

1871 - POLIC COURT

Assault - Mary Madigan married woman, appeared in court with a child in her arms, charged a man named Kane with assaulting her the previous evening. Kane was drinking with her husband at their house, Kane knocked the husband down. John Hackester gave evidence. Dismissed.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 26, 12 August 1871

1871 - Serious Stabbing Affray - A husbands Revenge. 

At about 9pm on Sunday night last the residents in the upper part of Herbert Street were alarmed by hearing the shrieks of a woman proceeding from across the street at the rear of the new Joint Stock Bank. A crowd, attracted by the cries, proceeded to the spot, where is was found that a man named James Henry Bell had attacked his wife and a man named James Smith with whom she was cohabiting. Bell and his wife were married in February last, and have lived unhappily ever since. Bell had been charged before with threatening her and breaking up a sewing machine and sent to goal for one month. He had sold their dwelling and she had gone to Smith’s hut with her two children from a previous marriage. When released from goal, Bell discovered where is wife was and started to threaten her. On Sunday morning Bell met Smith in the street and stated he was starving and Smith gave him half a crown. Ten minutes later Bell arrived at Smith’s house armed with a tomahawk and a butchers knife, attacked Mrs. Bell, who received a wound to the forehead, stab wounds in the back and arm, she is near her confinement. Smith was stabbed in the lower abdomen and Bell himself had a blow with a tomahawk on the back of the head. Detectives Powell and Hannan arrested Bell, who has been remanded for 8 days. Dr. Ramsay attended the wounded, they are all on the way to a fair recovery.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 28, 26 August 1871

1871 - Road Side Shafts

There is an urgent necessity for the prompt enactment of some regulation by which shafts sunk within a certain distance of any road or footpath shall be protected against accidents by having an embankment or logs around the shafts, high enough to prevent people falling down them. The woman Helena Victor, who was killed on Monday morning last by falling down a shaft, would have escaped death had the mine been protected as we have suggested. This is a matter that the Progress Committee might well take in hand, if they had not already done so.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 29, 2 September 1871

1871 - Fatal Accident to a woman.

A magisterial inquiry took place on Monday 28th before J.P. Plunkett JP at the Black Lead Hotel, into the death of Ellen Victor, whose body had been taken from a shaft on the Black Lead Road, early in the morning of the same day.

About seven in the morning Patrick Lawler in formed Constable Flaherty that a woman had fallen down a shaft. He responded and was present when the body was removed and placed in the hotel.

Lawler stated that she came to him at 5 am asking instructions on how to get to the Black Lead road as she had been lost all night. He pointed her in the right direction and a few minutes later he heard a scream followed by a dull thud. He then roused some neighbours and they found her down a nearby shaft. 

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 29, 2 September 1871

1871 - Notice
I hereby publicly declare that I have authorised no woman to assume my name as my wife. Mark Gless.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 33, 30 September 1871

1871 - POLICE COURT

Obscene language — an old woman, Jane Mould charged, fined 20s.

Idle and Disorderly - Catherine Booth, better known as Scotch Kate, charged under the Vagrant Act as an idle and disorderly character. Arrested about mid-night by Constable Fitzpatrick in Herbert Street, in company with 3 men. Numerous previous convictions. 6 months hard labour Mudgee goal.

How doth the Little Busy Bee - Mrs. Golden charged with assaulting Mrs. Elliot. Complainant stated that early last week her husband got a hive of bees in Queen Street, and the next day asked her to watch them. She did so, and on seeing them coming out she ‘handed her child to a friend, and went to tin kettle them.’ As she was thus engaged, defendant came out, called her a drunkard, and struck her on the hand with a bell. There were many people present at the time, but no witnesses were called. Ruth Mitchell and Matilda Flacknoe, two witnesses for the defence they saw nothing of the assault Dismissed.

Mrs. Elliot v T. Golden - Complainant stated that at the time, alluded to the last case defendant came out and caught her by the shoulder threatened to smash her face and shook her, also putting his hand in her face. In cross examination complainant denied that the defendant asked her to stop tin kettling as his son was dangerously ill [since died.] Defendant said bees belonged to the man whose property they settled on, fined 15/6.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 38, 4 November 1871

1871 - Opening of the Hospital

We are glad to be able to state that the hospital was opened on Wednesday last, for the admission of pa-tients. As the funds are very low, the admission of patients will be confined to accidents and other cases in the opinion of the committee and the medical of-ficer are considered eligible.

The first patient was a woman form Tallawang who was admitted last Wednesday evening.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 40, 18 November 1871

1872 - Heroic Boy 

On New Year’s Day a woman on Billy Goat Hill ,who does not bear a very respectable character, went to the Temperance Picnic and locked her children outside the house. The little ones enduring the scorching hot sun for some hours began to cry for something to eat; the eldest boy a youngster about seven years old, after a great deal of trouble managed to get on the top of the house and then on the top of the chimney and let himself down the chimney into the inside, the others outside crying ‘Here’s a crack put some bread through this ‘O’ don’t eat it all’;  the boy having secured a loaf of bread got up the chimney again onto the roof and thence to the ground where the little ones clustered around him while he divided the loaf.  It is a pity the law could not teach this pattern of mother a lesson. 

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 47, 6 January 1872

1872 - Another Mother  

A woman in a state of intoxication, with an infant about a month old was found laying prostrate in the street, a kind Samaritan for the child's sake took the woman and infant into her home; having put her to bed, this paragon of maternal affection took her child and through it on the ground. On hearing this the police went to the house and arrested her, when an acquaintance promised to take the woman home and attend to her until she was sober. The police there upon gave her over to the woman, and saw the last of her.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 47, 6 January 1872

1872 - Sly Grog Selling.

There was a lively session at yesterdays Gulgong Police Court. No less than 19 summons were issued against sly-grog sellers, mostly against the ‘fair ones’ of Gulgong. Such a distribution of ‘silks and flowers’ has never been seen in the court before; and the ladies experienced a reciprocity of feeling as the ominous sounds “fined £30“ was uttered from the forum.

Only the cases of Margaret Ryan and Elsie Moffitt were disposed of. The informants were two beauties belonging to the genus homo; one had been a clown in a circus, and the other an unfortunate digger and splitter. So they put their heads together to enjoy pale brandy at the expense of the women, turned informers, but kept a most respectable distance from the young ladies who several times inadvertently expressed the desire of “laying hold of them”. The remainder of the cases will be disposed of next Tuesday.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 48, 13 January 1872

1872 - POLICE COURT

Sly Grog Selling 

• Mrs. Haggart [Canadian Lead], informers Bradley and Curr. Fined £30.
• Eliza Willoughby - Queen Street charged as above, same informers. Fined £30 and costs, to appeal. 
• Leah Hall - Queen Street, charged as above, same informers, but witnesses proved that the informers erred in this case, dismissed.
• Mrs. Leroux, Black Lead, charged as above by the same informers. Several witnesses swore that the informers gave false evidence but the Bench believed the informers. Fined £30 and costs.
• Ellen Walker, a married woman, living on the Black Lead, and keeping a store was charged by Sgt. O’Donnell. Bradley and Curr informers. Charles Wilson, Edward Tidswell, Andrew Whakely and Sarah Walker gave evidence that no grog was sold, that the husband was a member of the Sons of Temperance, who never allowed liquor on the premises. The respectability of the defendant was also proved for the past ten years, and although the witnesses swore on oath and were not impeached, swore contrary to the informers [men of doubtful character] the informers evidence was taken and the defendant was fined £30, half goes to the informants, as it in all other cases.

Murderous Assault – Henry Thomas Wilson charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm by striking Catherine Senior over the head and face with the back part of an axe. Dr. Ramsay attended the woman, she had contused wound to the scalp and a large wound to the jaw, she was in an advanced stage of pregnancy. The woman fainted in court had was attended by Drs. Ramsay and Belinfante, case remanded till Friday

Sly Grog Selling - Louisa Painter charged, did not appear, new summons issued.
Mrs. Hutchinson charged as above, informers Bradley and Curr, denied, fined £30.
Mary Ann Brooks charged as above, same two informers, fined £30.
Mrs. McKenzie charged as above, case dismissed, she allowed the liquor to be sold but did not do the selling. Same two informers.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 49, 20 January 1872
 

1872 - [ADVERTISING]

Wanted - A Respectable young woman and Laundress and General Servant. Apply Mrs. Brady, Shamrock Hotel, corner of Herbert and Bayly Streets.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 52, 10 February 1872
 

1872 - [MURDER]

Mary Anne Young killed her husband Edward Jacob Young, a retail butcher, in the street opposite No 4 N Black Lead by stabbing him near he navel, with a very large butcher’s knife. The couple had quarrel, appears that a feeling of jealousy has mutually existed between them for sometime. The wretched woman appears to be horrified at what she had done, said ‘I am the person who done the deed; I don’t deny it. I did it in a heat of passion.’ The scene in the closing stage of the man’s life is said to be heart rendering, as the wife was kneeling beside the dying man, begging for forgiveness, the family of little children grouped around their parents crying bitterly. A man named John Duggan gave evidence as did Constable Stapleton.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 54, 21 February 1872

1872 - [POLICE COURT]

Drunk – One man and two women were charged with being drunk, discharged with a caution.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 59, 9 March 1872

1872 - Murder near Windeyer   

A woman, aged between 50  and 60, named Aveling Littler of Gulgong, wife of the late William Littler, was murder by John Conn alias Coyne, for her cart and horse. Conn’s wife was also involved. The murdered woman had a receipt in her pocket for the purchase of the horse and cart from Patrick McInerney.  Trial to held at Bathurst. 

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 60, 13 March 1872

1872 - POLICE COURT 

Wounding with Intent - Henry Thomas Wilson charged with wounding Catherine Senior, with a squaring hammer, a woman named Mary Ann, with whom he lived, mentioned.  Found guilty. 

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 62, 20 March 1872

1872 - [TOWN TALK]

I was much amused much against my will at the Police Court, on hearing of the assault case brought by one women against an other. A witness stated, ‘Both parties had they met half way between their houses and agreed to fight. They met twice and retired calling each other coward. The third time they met and fought manfully like two men. It was a finer fight I ever saw. Complainant got the worst of it. If that is not equal to anything in Amazonian His-tory, I’m afraid Gulgong cannot make a better effort.’ Another witness swore, ‘Twenty men were looking on at the fight and never interfered as they thought it was better to let the women fight it out.” There was a good lot of rough justice and wisdom in this as the result is that the conquered one is quiet and the victim wisely followers her example. I hope venerable attendants at tea-fights in the metropolis will not up-hold this little episode of social life on the diggings as an awful example of our depravity. The neighbourhood of this pair of Amazons must be a delightful place to hang out. Rent and building sites will surely rise and this “Paradise Row’ will become famous as a Sunday afternoon sight for the townsfolk who ‘do’ the Black Lead.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 63, 23 March 1872

1872 - COURT NEWS

Manslaughter – Mary Ann Young of her husband. Wm Thompson gave evidence, had often seen the prisoner being abused by her husband, she was a good clean woman, and always appeared to be on loving terms with her husband, he had often invited her to take a glass of wine but she had always refused. Imprisoned at Darlinghurst Gaol for 6 months.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 65, 30 March 1872

1872 - Police Court

Stealing – Ah Chan charged with stealing a ring property of Ah Kit, married to a white woman, did not know how to treat his wife, she was sick of being chained to her bed like a dog. Ah Chan was a mutual friend and sympathetic to Mrs. Ah Kit. A great many Celestials were examined, resulting in the case being dismissed.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 67, 6 April 1872

1872 - School of Arts

Decided to allow women to be admitted as members, at 2/6 per quarter. Those present at the meeting were Messrs. L.S. Donaldson, Stacey, Cairns, D. Driscoll, McDiarmid, Goulding and Cook. The Secretary was instructed to request members to contribute new or second hand books for the purpose of starting a library. Mr. McDonald was requested to commence his canvass for books are early as possible.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 105, 17 August 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 compa-ny 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 - Town Talk by Photo

While prowling around looking out for a subject to photo, I do see some curious sights, such only as can be seen on a goldfield. For instance, I was returning from the rush on the land of that lucky fellow, Squire Rouse, of Guntawang, recently opened by Bob Frazer, when I saw a new thing in gold mining, invented by Bowie Wilson and kept alive by the present reg-ulations. I had often heard of it but never had ocu-lar proof of this novelty until the other morning.

The novelty was a decent married woman, her grown-up daughter and four little olive branches shepherd-ing a claim in 160 feet sinking, over ninety of which is thought to be basalt, as hard as belt metal. I bid her good morning and asked how her claim was progress-ing and to hear her go into mining technicalities would be instructive to the Commissioner who I’m sure could not cope with her. She said her old man was in the prospecting claim and was now helping put down the third shaft. The basalt was hard, my word it looked it, took over forty points to drill one hole. She didn’t like dynamite in a deep shaft but mixed with powder it did rip the rock up. She and her younguns held six men’s ground, all had miner’s rights, always brought some sewing with her and did her two hours under a bough gunyah; made the littleuns learn to read while shepherding. If her old man struck gold would be able to sell five shares in No 1 [her claim] and keep one share. I asked her opinion about the lead and it was a caution to hear her go into details how Ballarat Jack and his mates at the hole over there where I saw the old man fossicking got good gold and it was traced in the shallow ground to where it dropped into the deep under the basalt. I felt small at this novel thing in woman’s rights and bid her good day, convinced that Bowie Wilson did not do a good thing when he amended the Goldfields Act so that ‘any person’ could on payment of ten bob obtain a miner’s right. I’ve seen two young women on the ‘Flat’ earn good wages cradling headings and afterwards saw them cradling a tiny lump of humanity but as an old miner who can date back to Eaglehawk Gully rush on old Bendigo, I felt mean to think that my free and independent calling has so awfully degenerated when a little child in napkins can hold one man’s ground.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 165, 15 March 1873

1873 - [SLY GROG]

There is another crusade now on against the sly-grog sellers. These poor people who principally consist of decent married women who somehow have lost the run of their husbands and very often their names, are harshly dealt with. They are allowed to develop into full blown shanties in which no trouble is taken to hide the fact that grog is sold. Everybody patronises them form a J. P. down to a Chinaman who love Old Tom; even our guardians in blue don’t disdain to try a nip of summit short in the long lonely hours of the night when they are prowling around ‘doing their du-ty’ and it is hard that after such favoured patronage these poor lone grass widows should fall victims to the dodges of a sly-grog informer. How I do hate these bipeds who are ready to play ‘Judas’ for half the thirty pieces. The cure for sly-grog selling is not by using libels on humanity or yet in passing Permissive Liquor Bills but in adopting the Queensland plan of granting a license to any house measuring at least 20 feet by 12 feet and open to inspection by the police at all hours of the day and night. No accommodation for travellers is required and the license fee is £10 per annum. This law has almost exterminated shanties in that colony and more, has improved the public morals, though Joe Wearne and his crowd would like to think so. Publicans may and do object to shanties but I know many of them who spend more money shouting in these unlicensed dens than they do in public. I reckon over £1000 has been paid on Gul-gong in fines by sly-grog sellers and I dare assert that there are as many now at the trade as there was – a proof that shanty keeping may be naughty but it’s nice.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 165, 15 March 1873

1874 - Police Court

Constable Joseph Evans has charged the following women with language offences, Mary Kenny, Jane Kenny and Melinda Wilkinson.

Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, March 24, 1874

1874 - Police Court - Insulting Language 

Gibbons v Makay - Mrs. Gibbons deposed that at the Black Lead near Wilson dam, Mrs. Makay used the language which was very filthy, about an hour later she came out of her house and offered to fight, and used the filthy remarks again.

Mrs. Gibbons: I did not square up to Mrs Makay but she squared up to me; I did not tuck up my sleeves.

Charles Haddleman: I was on the Black Lead that day and saw women quarrelling, using their tongues rapidly, they were very angry and I could not hear what they were saying.

Henry Kitchen: Saw the women, Mrs. Gibbons put her baby on the ground; couldn’t hear them.

Peter Wilson: Saw the parties, they were calling each other names and quarrelling,.

Respondent was fined 10/- and 5/- costs.

Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, July 25, 1874

1875 - [ROBBERY]

What May Happen to a Man at Gulgong - On Saturday last we gave our readers the evidence taken at Police Court in the prosecution of two females charged with robbery from the person, which resulted in the committal of the said females. It appears that Mr James Calder, who had just finished the contract for having erected a whim at the Welcome Reef, Three Mile, was paid off and came into town for a jovial holiday. As he left the Moonlight Hotel and was passing up Mayne Street, he was accosted by a woman whom he approached and was pulled into a house. Here, according to the evidence he was plied with grog, the money [8 pounds] taken from his purse and then unceremoniously thrust into the street. It did not appear clearly whether he was thrust out the back or front door, and perhaps this is not material. The circumstances should set as a warning to all others who have money and who are bibulous in their habits, not to be beguiled by the siren voices of women who reside in the locality of ‘Billy Goat Hill’.

Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, September 1, 1875

1875 - Police Court 

Drunk and Disorderly - Annie Newton charged again at Home Rule, has been convicted three times within twelve months, sentenced to three months gaol.

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 evidence, Annie Newton was a prostitute and drunkard. The children were sent to the Industrial School.

Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, September 22 1875 

1876 - Police Court 

Protection - Ann Pearson brought up under warrant issued at the request of Mrs Ann McNab, an aged woman, who stated that the accused was her grand-daughter, aged 15 years and was the associate of common prostitutes. Constable Robert Forester made the arrest.

Mrs Ann McNab stated the girl’s father was living somewhere near O’Connell’s Plains, Bathurst and her mother was living with a Chinaman at Hargraves, the girl had been in the service at Mr T Ryan’s, he had treated her well; she would not taken their good advice, but would leave the house to seek the houses of the most abandoned women of the town.

Mrs Ellen Smith: She had know the girl for five years; the desolate women she kept company with were of lowest grade. Ordered to be sent to the Industrial School.

Another Waif - Charlotte Henry aged 10 years was charge with having no visible means of support. Constable Robert Forster made the arrest in Lower Mayne Street, knowing the child to be the frequenter of brothels of the worst description; the mother was an abandoned woman of the worst kind; the father died some time ago in hospital; he had seen the child frequently at houses, the owners of which bore disreputable characters; she is in all intents a deserted child. Order to the Industrial School.

Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, March 18 1876

1876 - Murder 

William Simmons charged with the murder of Joseph Todd at the Three Mile. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. There were five women who attend the court and sat out the whole proceedings listening to the evidence which many men present would if possible have not listened to. The verdict was mercy from His Honour, the sentence being one month’s imprisonment. Todd had been assaulting Simmons young daughter.

Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, April 26 1876

1876 - [LICENSE]
Transfer of License Publican’s License was granted from Eliza Greening, Home Rule Hotel to Thomas Halladice.

Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, April 26 1876