William Joseph Weston (1892 - 1937)

Born 1892 in Bullarto, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Died 1937 at about age 45 in Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia

Biography

Electoral Roll: * 1914 Grampians/ Cobbler's Gully, Daylesford, (page 67 #3962) Labourer

OFFENCES AGAINST WOMEN. JUDGE ORDERS LASH.

• Deterrent Punishment Necessary.

BALLARAT, Wednesday - William Joseph Weston, labourer, aged 31 years, who was found guilty at the Court of General Sessions before Judge Woinarski today, of an offence against a young woman at Blampied, said that he had nothing to say. "I am not surprised at that," remarked Judge Woinarski, and I have already expressed my concurrence with the verdict. It is a monstrous thing that a decent young woman should be imperilled as she goes along a countrv road by attacks from men like you. Only for the providential arrival of another person the girl would have had to fight for her life to protect her honour, and you would have had to answer to a much heavier charge than the present. You will be sentenced to imprisonment, with hard labour, for 18 months, and, in addition to that I order that you be once pri vately whipped with 12 strokes of the cat-o'- nine tails.

• The Argus 6 Mar 1924.

SENTENCED TO BE FLOGGED.

• Appeal to Full Court.

William Joseph Weston, a woodcutter, of Daylesford,was sentenced at the Court of General Sessions, Ballarat, by Judge Woinarski to 18 months' imprisonment, with hard labour and a flogging of 12 lashes with the cat o'-nine tails for an offence against a young woman near Daylesford on the night ot Sunday, December 16. The case for the Clown was that Weston and his brother had ridden on bicycles from Dalesford to Ballarat. On the return journey William Joseph Weston called at the Newlyn Hotel. He was then very drunk. A young woman who had also called at the hotel left on horseback. She had not proeeeded far along the road when Weston came out of the bush and attempted to drag her from the horse. He interfered with her in other ways. Weston, in defence, said that it was a case of mistaken identity. He had not in any way interfered with the young woman. Mr. Shelton (instructed by Mr. R. W. Shepherd, of Dalesford) appeared for Weston, and Mr Reyolds appeared for the Crown. The Court of Cinmnal Appeal obtained three reports from Judge Woinarski in regard to his summmg up. The chief point argued was whether, in the circumstances, Judge Woniarski had correctly directed the jury regarding the care to be taken in dealing with the uncorroborated testimony of a woman in such circumstances. The Court reserved judgment.

• The Argus 3 Apr 1924.

Sources

• BIRTH: VIC BDM #1683.
• DEATH: VIC BDM #3900.