Re: McCart in Victoria Australia
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In reply to:
Re: McCart in Victoria Australia
Wendy McCarthy 10/02/11
Hi Ladies
The Argus newspaper on 17 December 1862 published the following story -
Criminal Sessions
Old Court House
Tuesday Dec 16
(Before Mr Justice Williams)
Mr Travers Adamson prosecuted on behalf of the Crown
RAPE
George Anstay was arraigned for having committed a rape upon the person of Jeannette Sprake, on the 5th November last.
He pleaded “Not Guilty”, and was defended by Mr. Dawson.
The prisoner was a farmer at Newlands, Pentridge, and the prosecutrix the half-caste child of an aboriginal woman of the Wakool tribe, by George Hamilton, the overseer of Grogran and Patterson’s Station, on Fiery Creek, since killed by the blacks.The mother died shortly after giving birth to the prosecutrix, and the latter was then adopted by Mrs. Sprake, a midwife, who got her christened by the Bishop of Melbourne at Fiery Creek, and finally brought her to Newlands, Pentridge, where the offence was committed.The girl stated that she would be thirteen years of age next Christmas.
The details of the case are unfit for publication.
At the conclusion of the examination of the prosecutrix and her mother by adoption, the learned Judge intimated his opinion that it was useless to carry the case further, as it had broken down in its material points.
The Crown Prosecutor wished to call medical evidence before the case was abandoned.
Mr Talbot, a surgeon, was then called, but his evidence added nothing to the strength of the case for the prosecution.
The Crown Prosecutor then abandoned the case; and, by direction of his Honour, the jury returned a verdict of “Not Guilty”.
So it looks like Janet (Jeanette) was of aboriginal descent.I've purchased copies of death certificates of three George Hamilton's who died in Victoria in the 1850, and none were "killed by the blacks".One was, however, a miner in the Mt Ararat area.
If you want copies of them feel free to email me at [email protected]
I would love a copy of the photo Wendy if it's possible to digitise and send through
Cheers
Laurie