Ernest George Collins (abt. 1881 - 1928)

Born about 1881 in Moonambel, Victoria, Australia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Ada (Ferguson) Collins — married 28 May 1902 in Lexton, Victoria, Australia

Died 18 Jan 1928 at about age 47 in Maryborough, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lauren W [send private message]

Biography

Birth

abt. 1881

Moonambel, Victoria, Australia

Marriage

1902

Lexton, Victoria, Australia

to Ada Ferguson Click for marriage certificate

Occupation

Rabbit Trapper

13 June 1911

Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Adelaide_Advertiser-14June1911

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5292666

Event

Most likely Statutory Rape of Ellen Ferguson

Court proceedings - "Assault" on Step-Daughter

13 June 1911

Ballarat, Victoria, Australia^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

^[7]

Ernest George Collins was presented charged with an offence against his stepdaughter, Ellen Ferguson, a girl 13 years' of age, at Amphitheatre, in September. last. Mr J. B. Pearson appeared for the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. Ellen Ferguson gave evidence in support of the charge. She did not report the occurrence to her mother in her step-father’s presence, although she had sworn that she had done so in the lower court. Donald Cameron Ferguson, grand father of the last witness, gave evidence as to her age. He said she was 14 1/2 years old. Senior-Constable Matthews of Avoca, said that when he arrested the prisoner- and told him the charge, he said, “She will have to prove it.” The prisoner, on oath, absolutely denied the charge. After, deliberating for over an hour the jury found the prisoner not guilty and he was discharged. ^[8]

Residence

stated on wife's probate

9 Oct 1919

Amphitheatre, Victoria, Australia

Probate

See document [1]^[9]

Note

Sources

1. ↑ The Avoca Mail
2. ↑ Source: #S-1714607618 Page: Bendigo Advertiser, Wednesday 14 June 1911, page 3 Data: Date: 14 June 1911 Note: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89848837 Note: Bendigo_Advertiser_14June1911 CONT Data: Text: OUR COUNTRY SERVICE,BALLARAT SUPREME COURT.Ballarat, 13th June.At the Supreme Court to-day Mr Justice Hood presided. Ernest George Collins pleaded not guilty to an offence against his step-daughter, aged 14 years who is about to become a mother. The offence is alleged to have taken place at Amphitheatre, in September of last year. A verdict of not guilty was entered.
3. ↑ Source: #S-1714607422 Page: The Adelaide Advertiser, Wednesday 14 June 1911, page 10 Data: Date: 14 June 1911 Note: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5292666 Note: 1911 'SERIOUS CHARGES.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 14 June, p. 10, viewed 16 March, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5292666 Note: Adelaide_Advertiser-14June1911 CONT Data: Text: STEPFATHER IN COURT.. Melbourne, June 13.Ernest George Collins, rabbit-trapper, of Amphitheatre, was charged with an offence against his stepdaughter, aged 14. The offence was alleged to have been committed in the house of the accused in September last year, during the absence of the mother of the girl. The girl told her mother that her stepfather had assaulted her, but in giving evidence to-day she contradicted this statement. She also said she had made a mistake when giving evidence in the Police Court in regard to the case. The accused, in giving evidence on his own behalf, denied the accusation of the girl, who prevaricated when replying to questions put to her by the judge. The jury returned a verdict of acquittal, and Collins was discharged.
4. ↑ The Avoca Free Press & Farmer's & Miner's Journal
5. ↑ SERIOUS CHARGES. (1911, June 14). The Advertiser
6. ↑ METEOROLOGICAL. (1911, June 8). The Ballarat Star
7. ↑ STEPFATHER IN COURT. (1911, June 14). The Express and Telegraph
8. ↑ BALLARAT SUPREME COURT. (1911, June 14). The Ballarat Star
9. ↑ Public Records Office Victoria

• Public Records Office Victoria

Ernest G Collins Labourer Amphitheatre 11 Jan 1928 274/370 VPRS 28/P3, unit 2745; VPRS 7591/P2, unit 962

http://prov.vic.gov.au/search_results?searchid=54&format=freetext&Family_name=collins&Given_name=ernest&Alternative_name=&Occupation=&Residence=&Year_of_death=0&Year_of_deathto=0&SearchRecords=25&x=0&y=0

• The Avoca Mail

Avoca Mail 16 Jun 1911 page 2 from the State Library of Victoria

Transcript:

Avoca Mail 16 Jun 1911 page 2

BALLARAT SUPREME COURT

STEP-DAUGHTER'S ALLEGATION.

ACCUSED ACQUITTED.

At the Ballarat Supreme Court on Tuesday last, before His Honor Justice Hood, Ernest George Collins pleaded not guilty to an offence against his step-daughter, a girl 13 years of age, at Amphitheatre, about September, 1910. Mr. J. B. Pearson appeared for the defence.

His Honor said the charge disclosed two offences. What was Mr. Dethridge going to do?

Mr. Dethridge (Crown Prosecutor): I propose to endeavour to go straight along.

Mr. Pearson: The charge seems to me to involve two or three sections.

Mr. Dethridge: This is the form the Crown has always adopted, and I am instructed to go on.

After more discussion, Mr. Dethridge applied to have the charges amended to one of an offence against his step-daughter, a girl over the age of 10.

Ellen Ferguson, residing at Amphitheate with her mother and the accused said one day in September, about the 19th, while her mother was away milking, accused assaulted her. She did not complain to her mother. She made a mistake when she said in the Police Court that she did.

To Mr. Pearson: She was 14 1/2 years old. On one one occasion, about the time of the offence, her two brothers found her with a man named Jim Mann.

To His Honor: She told her mother the accused was responsible for her condition.

Donald Cameron Ferguson, grandfather of the previous witness, said she was born in December, 1896.

To Mr. Pearson: Accused was a sober man.

Sen-const. Matthews stated that when told he would be arrested on account of the girl, accused said he was not responsible.

This was the case for the prosecution.

Accused gave evidence and stated he was a rabbiter, and followed the shearers as wool roller.

To Mr. Dethridge: The mother told him of the girl's condition in December. It was then that he first knew of it.

To HIs Honor: He first heard he was alleged to be concerned when the constable told him.

After retiring for an hour, the jury found a verdict of not guilty, and he was discharged.

- "Courier."

NOTE: What the article and the court studiously neglect to mention is the fact the "man" she was "found" with by her brothers was a likely fabrication as no such person was called as a witness, and that her (half)brothers, Ernest Alexander and Walter were aged 8 and 6 respectively. Got to love the character assassination of a 14 year old - child abuse all over again by the court and the press.

• The Avoca Free Press & Farmer's & Miner's Journal

Saturday, June 17, 1911.

STEP-DAUGHTER'S ALLEGATION.

ACCUSED ACQUITTED.

Ernest George Collins pleaded not guilty to an offence against his step-daughter, 13 years of age, at Amphitheatre, about September, 1910. Mr J. B. Pearson appeared for the defence. His Honor said the charges disclosed two offences. What was Mr Dethridge going to do? Mr. Dethridge: I propose to endeavor to go straight along. Mr. Pearson: The charge seems to me to involve two or three sections. Mr. Dethridge: This is the form the Crown has always adopted, and I am instructed to go on. After more discussion Mr. Dethridge applied to have the charge amended to one of an offence against his step-daughter, a girl over the age of 10 years. Ellen Ferguson, residing at Amphitheatre with her mother and the accused, said one day in September, about the 19th, while her mother was away milking, accused assaulted her. She did not complain to her mother. She made a mistake when she said in the Police Court that she did. To Mr. Pearson: She was 14 1/2 years old. On one occasion, about the time of the offence, her two brothers found her with a man named Jim Mann. To his Honor: She told her mother that accused was responsible for her condition. Sen. Const. Matthews stated that when told he would be arrested on account of the girl, accused said he was not responsible. This was the case for the prosecution. The accused, in giving evidence in his own behalf, denied the accusation of the girl, who prevaricated when replying to questions put to her by the judge. To Mr. Dethridge: The mother told him of the girl's condition in December. It was then that he first knew of it. To his Honor: He first heard he was alleged to be concerned wen the constable told him.The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and Collins was discharged.

NOTE: What the article and the court studiously neglect to mention is the fact the "man" she was "found" with by her brothers was a likely fabrication as no such person was called as a witness, and that her (half)brothers, Ernest Alexander and Walter were aged 8 and 6 respectively. Got to love the character assassination of a 14 year old - child abuse all over again by the court and the press.

• Source: S-1714607422 Repository: #R-1781018953 Title: Adelaide Advertiser Author: Adelaide Advertiser Publication: Adelaide Advertiser Note:
• Repository: R-1781018953 Name: National Library of Australia Phone Number: +61 (0)2 6262 1111 Address: Parkes Place Canberra ACT 2600 Australia Note: www.nla.gov.au CONT trove.nla.gov.au
• Source: S-1714607618 Repository: #R-1781018953 Title: Bendigo Advertiser Author: Bendigo Advertiser Publication: Bendigo Advertiser Note: National Library of Australia

• AVOCA POLICE COURT. (1916, September 6).

Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved May 25, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151684486

• AVOCA POLICE COURT. (1916, September 5).

Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 - 1900; 1915 -1918), p. 2. Retrieved May 25, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151729683

• BALLARAT SUPREME COURT. (1911, June 14). The Ballarat Star

(Vic. : 1865 - 1924), p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article216640692

Ernest George Collins was presented charged with an offence against his stepdaughter, Ellen Ferguson, a girl 13 years' of age, at Amphitheatre, in September. last. Mr J. B. Pearson appeared for the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. Ellen Ferguson gave evidence in support of the charge. She did not report the occurrence to her mother in her step-father’s presence, although she had sworn that she had done so in the lower court. Donald Cameron Ferguson, grand father of the last witness, gave evidence as to her age. He said she was 14 1/2 years old. Senior-Constable Matthews of Avoca, said that when he arrested the prisoner- and told him the charge, he said, “She will have to prove it.” The prisoner, on oath, absolutely denied the charge. After, deliberating for over an hour the jury found the prisoner not guilty and he was discharged.

• STEPFATHER IN COURT. (1911, June 14). The Express and Telegraph

(Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), p. 3 Edition: 5 o'clock.. Retrieved February 14, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210088874

• SERIOUS CHARGES. (1911, June 14). The Advertiser

(Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), p. 10. Retrieved February 14, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5292666

• METEOROLOGICAL. (1911, June 8). The Ballarat Star

(Vic. : 1865 - 1924), p. 2. Retrieved February 14, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article216640028

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Lauren W for creating WikiTree profile Collins-4576 through the import of Ferguson Family Tree.ged on May 1, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Lauren and others.