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 Withdrawn.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- Agnes Lloyd charged as a above, Lloyd is her maiden name, married name Mears – withdrawn.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- Assault & Sly Grog - Sarah Walker with striking Charles Bowyer – withdrawn.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 - [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
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
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
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 - [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 - 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
