John LEPLAW

DEATH

LEPLAW.- On June 28th, at his residence, Manly Beach Police Station, John, the eldest and beloved son of David and Ann Maria Leplaw of Corunna, aged 29 years.

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Sydney, 4th August, 1883

His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has been pleased to appoint the undermentioned members of the Police Force to be additional Sub-Inspectors under the Licensing Act of 1882, for the Metropolitan Licencing District.

H. E. COHEN.

Rank and Name*.

Manly …….. Senior-constable John Leplaw.

PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

The Widow of the late Senior-constable Leplaw desires to render her moat earnest and heartfelt thanks to the residents of Manly, also to the Officers and Members of the Police Force, who have aided her in her late bereavement, by so generously and liberally subscribing towards the relief of herself and little children.

August 14, 1884 (Signed) ELIZA LEPLAW.

WATER POLICE COURT.

Antonio Amaral was charged with having, on the 6th July, stolen a cow, the property of John Farrell.

Mr Lowe appeared for the prosecutor, and Mr Coonan for the defendant.

The proceedings were initiated on the 9th July, and the hearing of evidence has occupied portions of six days.

Eighteen witnesses were examined, an equal number being called by each side.

It appeared that the prosecutor resided at Manly, and the defendant resided near the same place.

A man named Thomas Lovett, residing at Penrith, purchased 20 head of cattle from the defendant, paying him at the rate of 35s. each.

On the 6th July Lovett, assisted by Thomas Antonio Amaral, son of the defendant, was driving those cattle along the North Shore-road, when he was met by Thomas Farrell, father of the prosecutor.

Farrell pointed to a black and white cow, which he said was his son’s property. The cow was, it was alleged, left at the prosecutor’s place on the morning of the 7th July, and the defendant was arrested the next day by Senior-constable Leplaw.

The defence was that the cow in question was the property of the defendant, and that a mistake had been made with regard to the identity of the animal.

The defendant was committed for trial. Bail was granted, the defendant being required to enter into his own recognisance for £50, and to find two sureties in the sum of £25 each.

A TROUBLESOME CUSTOMER

A stabbing affray between a Queensland black and a police-constable occurred in the bush, near Manly on Sunday morning (says the Herald).

Senior-constable Leplaw, who is stationed at Manly, received information on Saturday evening that two Queensland blacks were wandering about in the bush close by in a nude state, and on the following morning, accompanied by two civilians, he set out in pursuit of them, with a view of ascertaining how and in what condition they were living.

Having discovered their whereabouts he approached them, and by means of certain signs endeavoured to make them understand that he would give them some clothing and also food if they would accompany him. One of them wore a shirt only, whilst the other was going about perfectly naked. The former made some remark in his native tongue to the latter, who thereupon bolted off, but he was pursued and quickly overtaken by the two civilians who accompanied Senior-constable Leplaw.

The officer, thinking that the other would also attempt to run away, kept very closely to him, and immediately he drew a knife, which he had concealed about his shirt, and with it he rushed at the officer, making a blow. The latter, in endeavouring to ward it off, received a nasty gash on the back of the left hand, near the thumb.

A lively tussle ensued between Leplaw and the black, who fought most desperately, but the officer, notwithstanding that he lost a large quantity of blood, at length secured his assailant, handcuffed him, and brought him along with his mate to Manly.

Leplaw then escorted them by the s.s. Fairlight to Sydney, and had them locked up.

The wound on the officer’s hand was dressed at Manly. Although a very ugly one, it is not likely that it will have any serious results.

BARNUM THE SHOWMAN AGAIN.

The two Queensland ‘blacks’ who were arrested by Senior-constable Leplaw, near Manly, on Sunday morning, and one of whom stabbed the officer in the hand; were brought before Mr. Marsh, S.M., at the Water Police Court Sydney, on Monday ( says the S. M. Herald ) and on the application of the police they were remanded for a week.

Mr. Cunningham, an agent for the well known Barnum show, appeared in court, and he informed Mr. Marsh that the prisoners formed part of a contingent of nine blacks which he had recently procured in Queensland for the purpose of forwarding to Mr. Barnum to add to his list of curiosities. He had been instructed by Mr. Barnum to obtain six or more Queensland blacks, and with a view of carrying out his directions Mr. Cunningham proceeded to a camp in Queensland some few weeks ago, and after making certain offers to the nine in question they were induced to accompany him.

He brought them to Sydney, and the two prisoners deserted, thus accounting for their presence in the bush near Manly.

Mr. Marsh replied that it appeared to him as if the case partook very much of the character of kidnapping, and legal proceedings might in consequence be the result at any moment. He added that the matter should be thoroughly inquired into by the police, and he was informed that it would be.

NEWS OF THE DAY

Row at Manly Beach

The recent disturbances at Manly Beach formed the subject of investigation again on Saturday, at the Water Police Court, before Mr. Buchanan, S.M.

Adam Fraser, who was brought up on three charges of assaulting senior constable Leplaw, resisting the police, and assaulting constable Minogue, was fined £5 or the alternative of one month in gaol.

John Lewis, who was also similarly prosecuted by the same officers, was discharged, the case against him not being substantiated.

This matter will come on again at the Court on Tuesday afternoon, there being still two cases to be dealt with by the bench.

Charge of Arson.

( From the Echo. )

The hearing of a charge of arson preferred against one Robert Burman was concluded at the Water Police Court on Saturday, before Mr. Buchanan, S.M.

The prisoner was charged with having on or about Monday, 5th instant, wilfully set fire to a dwelling house at Manly Beach, the property of Mr. T. Stonier.

Sergeant Higgins deposed that when he arrested the prisoner at 5 o’clock on the evening of Friday, 9th instant, and informed him of the nature of the charge, he said “I do not know how I did it ; there is no use blaming anyone else for it ; I must have been drunk when I did it ; I have no recollection of how it was done ;” witness had seen the prisoner on the 7th instant, when a conversation took place concerning a robbery, which, it was alleged, occurred at the prisoner’s place some time before the fire, and also with respect to a bullet which prisoner had previously stated had been fired at him ; prisoner on this occasion said that the robbery was genuine, but that he fired the shot himself; he also stated that on the morning of the fire he was sleeping at Mr. Littlejohn’s house, and that about 2 o’clock he was awakened by hearing an explosion of cartridges and the barking of dogs ; he found that his place was in flames, and that the two back rooms were burnt ; he had lost everything by the fire, and did not know who had done it ; on the 7th instant prisoner was in a house which was situate about 220 yards from that which had been destroyed by fire ; when witness inquired about the shot, prisoner showed him a window through which he said the shot had been fired ; witness asked him how it occurred, and whether he knew who did it, when he made a statement to the effect that about two o’clock in the morning he heard a voice saying, ” Are you asleep ?” that was the way in which his master used to call him – when he (prisoner) opened the door, and looked out, and saw a man standing about 10 yards off ; the man ( prisoner stated ) said to him ” I thought I roasted you the other night, take that,” at the same time firing a shot from a pistol ; he pursued the man over the rocks towards the Quarantine Ground, where he missed him ; the prisoner showed witness some tracks, which he said were made by the man ; prisoner also stated that he knew the man, whose name was Carl Endersen, and that he had previously known him in Victoria, where they quarrelled ; that Endersen threatened to have revenge, and that he believed it was he who had set fire to the house ; subsequently, in the course of conversation, the prisoner stated that it was he (prisoner) who had fired the shot, and that he had never known a man named Carl Endersen ; witness had made inquiries, but had not been able to find any such man.

Constable John Leplaw deposed that at about half-past five o’clock on the evening of the 5th instant prisoner came to him at Manly, and stated that his house was burned down by fire at ten minutes past two o’clock that morning ; in reply to enquiries, prisoner stated that he was sleeping at Mr. Littlejohn’s, about 200 yards from the house which had been destroyed, and that his wife and family were away at Marrickville, at Mr. Stonier’s place ; prisoner said he first saw the fire himself, having been awakened by crackers and barking of dogs, that he had 40 cartridges in the house, and that the place had been wilfully set on fire. This witness, having described other conversations which took place between him and the prisoner, said he made a search in the house occupied by the prisoner since the fire, and found a leaden bullet (produced), and on the bed in the bedroom occupied by prisoner, he ( witness ) found a loaded pistol ; prisoner then said, ” Don’t go any further in this case, I’m the man you’re looking for;” witness asked him what he meant, and he replied, ” I’m the man that’s done the whole of it, do what you like with me, I will make a full confession ;” prisoner also said, ” I fired the shot into the room on the morning of the 7th, and I don’t know there is such a man as Carl Endersen, for whom I got a warrant, alive ;” witness asked him why he had done it, and he replied, ” I was afraid that I would be blamed for the burning of the house, I was trying to make up a scheme to get out of it ;” witness asked him whether he knew anything about the burning of the house, and he paused for a moment and then said, “No, I do not;” witness then asked him how he accounted for the footprints, and …. could show him ( witness ) the ……..belong to another party; I put them on to lead you astray; you will find the boots in Littlejohn’s house, in the largo room;” in consequence of that conversation witness arrested prisoner, and afterwards went to Mr. Littlejohn’s house and found the boots which corresponded with the tracks which prisoner had pointed out ; the house which was destroyed seemed to be scantily furnished. Other witnesses were called, and their testimony tended to show that prisoner was the first person seen near the house when it was discovered by some neighbours to be in flames ; that the building consisted of four rooms, and was constructed of weatherboard ; that it was the property of Mr. Thomas Stonier, of Marrickville ; that prisoner had arranged to purchase it for £500, the purchase money to be paid in weekly instalments of £1 ; that he had made four payments ; and that the building was insured by Mr. Stonier in the London and Lancashire office for £100, and that Mr. Stonier had made a claim on that policy.

The prisoner, having been cautioned in the usual way, made a statement to the effect that he had been drinking on the Saturday and Sunday preceding the fire, and that he went home at 8 o’clock on Sunday night, and could not remember anything more than that the house was in flames when he awoke next morning.

The prisoner was committed for trial at the next Court- of Quarter Sessions. Bail was granted, the prisoner being required to enter into his own bond of £100, and to find two sureties in £50 each.

WATER POLICE COURT.

Yesterday, Messrs Brown, Greville, and Captain Edwards, Js P were on the bench in the Charge Court.

Matthew Regan, on remand, was convicted of resisting Constable Leplaw while in the execution of his duty, and ordered to pay a fine of 20s , or go to gaol for seven days.

WATER POLICE COURT.

Yesterday, the bench in the Charge Court was occupied by Messrs. Reading, Penfold, and Cock, and in the Summons Court by Messrs. Hunt and Jenkins.

POLICE.

 

At the Central Police Court, yesterday, the Police Magistrate was assisted in the Crime Court by Messrs. Jolly, Reading, Thomas, Skerratt, and Carpenter; and in trio Summons Court, by Messrs. Neale, Ridge, Barden, and Blair.