The North Eastern Ensign at KellyGang 19/4/1872
BEECHWORTH CIRCUIT COURT.
Tuesday, 16th April.
(Before His Honour Sir Redmond Barry.)
James Quinn was informed against for doing grievous bodily harm
Prisoner was defended by Mr F Brown
Margaret Quinn, who was in the sheriffs custody for having forfeited her recognisances, said she wished not to press the charge, lot His Honour said this was a case of public importance, and although the prisoner was her own brother, her feelings must not be allowed to interfere with the due course of justice.
Witness then deposed-I am the wife of Patrick Quinn, and sister of prisoner, all living at Fifteen mile Creek. My husband was not at home in January; prisoner was there working. On 14th January I was in bed, and Jane Graham in bed in the same room, in separate beds. My brother, the prisoner, came in undressed; he struck a match and began to pull the clothes off the girl. She cried out and I awoke, and told him he ought to be ashamed of himself. Could, not say whether he was sober or drank. He then lay at, the foot of my bed. I told the girl to get up, as it was daybreak, and put on her clothes. I got up and prisoner, hit me on the head a severe blow with his fist; knocked me senseless. Did not know what happened then for same time; did not remember any other blow. (The mark of the blow still remained.) Was bleeding and lying on the floor when I came to my senses; had then had several blows, and prisoner went for some thread to sow my wounds. I said nothing to him; he said he hit me for something I told his brother John; he held out his hand and said there is the hand that split your lip. A man named Burns came that day and took me away in a cart to Dr Hutchinson's. There was no one else there to inflict the injuries I received.
Jane Graham, daughter of William Graham, of Greta, was at Mrs Quinn's on the night of the 12th January; slept in the same room with Mrs Quinn. Prisoner had been there. Prisoner came into the room in the morning. He wanted to go into his own room, the kitchen; and came in for candle. He was undressed. and sat on the side of my bed.. He said nothing and did no thing. He wanted to lie alongside of me of course. Mrs Quinn was awake. He did not pull the clothes down. He lay beside me. I don't remember what happened after that. I did not sing out. Mrs Quinn did interfere, she said he must not come into bed with her. We were all in the same bed. He had got into the same bed before with me, and often when Mrs Quinn was there. He had done the same once or twice before. Mrs Quinn told him to get up and go out. I did not hear him say anything. She said something to aggravate him, and he gave her a shove like. I don't think it was with his shut fist. It knocked her down. She was senseless. I ran away. She had no marks in the evening. When I came back her face was cut.
I remember a man named Burns taking her away in a cart. Dr Hutchinson proved that Mrs Quinn when brought to him had one wound two inches long through the lip up towards the eye. Another on the lower lip through it, and a corresponding wound on the upper lip. The cartilages of the nose ere separated from the bone. All the wounds but one might have been inflicted by the fist. They were serious wounds, but not dangerous. The one wound particularly might have been inflicted by a thick boot or by a ring on the hand. She told me she was bruised about the body, but did not show where. She was weak having lost much blood.
By Mr Brown--The particular wound might' have been caused by her falling against a corner of anything.
Verdict, Guilty. .Remanded for sentence.- '
| ! | The text has been retyped from a microfiche copy of the original. We have taken care to reproduce this document but areas of the original text may been damaged. |
