Another Outrage In Sydney

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 76, 30 December 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

Another Outrage In Sydney

On December 2, at the Central Police Court, Edwin Davis (alias " The Knocker"), Johm Quinn (or Dunn), and George Smith were charged with having attempted to commit an assault upon Kate Wright. Mr Hill prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, and Mr Roberts, sen., defended the prisoners, who seem of the artisan class. Mr Hill, in opening the case, said it was one of a most serious nature. Three men in concert had attempted to assault a woman, and had subjected her to brutality. He would be able to prove that they knew they were attempting a capital offence. The facts of the case were: that the woman was married, and a* mother. She being overcome by sleep went into aa empty house in Victoria Place Sussex street. Screams of murder and police were heard at half past 2 in the morning by a passer by, who fetched the police. When they came Davis and Quinn were at the door. They saul, " there is no woman here." One, however, went upstairs, and on getting into the room the third man (Smith) jumped from the window into the street, 16 feet below. By the light of some matches which he struck he discovered a woman, in the corner of a room. She said she had been dragged up there by the hair of her head by the three men who had previously tried to assault her downstairs. Smith was captured by the Constable below. While they were waiting for assistance Davis said to the woman, " This is a hanging matter; you don't want to hang me, or us," and tried to induce her not to gire them into custody ; l»ut the woiqan was determined. The prisoners were committed for trial. [The woman has since disappeared .J -