South Australian Court Report - Some Names
Maurice E Bath
appearing in the South Australian Register, January 29, 1853. Do not know
where the court was sitting as I do not have the complete article but it
could have been Mt Coorong. Was that a goldfield?
George Waterman had only been eight days on the diggings, and had not
the means to take out a licence.
His Worship - That's no excuse for an able-bodied man; but no one can be
here without a licence. You are fined #2 10s.
Thomas Beachford had spent all his means in going to Mount Coorong, and
had no money to pay for a licence.
His Worship - Why then did you not remain at some settlers and earn some
money. You are fined #2 10s.
George James Whitfield, mate with the last man dealt with, appeared on
the same charge and under the same circumstances.
His Worship fined him #2 10s. also, but ordered them not to be locked
up, as on the rising of the Court he might make some arrangement for the
payment of the penalty without depriving the men of their liberty.
William Dodd pleaded inability to pay that month, although he had always
paid before. He was a defaulter now through being very unlucky.
His Worship - Any man can go and earn 30s. at other work. If you were to
go elsewhere and get employment you could soon earn the price of several
months' licences. You are fined #2 10s.
James McCurdy had no money and could not pay 30s. for a licence.
His Worship - Then you must pay #2 10s. as a fine.
John McKay Frazer stated that he had been laid up for several months,
and was only just from under the doctor's hands. He had while in health,
paid for five licences successively, but now was not possessed of one
farthing but a fourpenny piece.
Discharged; but informed that he was not safe from apprehension without
a licence.
James Savage could not raise money enough to pay for a licence.
His Worship repeated his former observations, and inflicted the penalty
of #2 10s.
George Smith had been two months digging, but had no success, and could
not raise money enough to pay for his licence, although he worked very
hard.
His Worship - You should go and look for other employment.
Defendant - I was going away for that purpose tomorrow.
His Worship - But I must fine you #2 10s. today.
Charles Rumley, a silly-looking lad of "the fat boy" class, admitted
that he had been at the diggings nearly a month without a licence; he
lived, he said, at a store, and was not a digger.
A storekeeper stepped forward and said he was the boy's master, but did
not know until he was arrested that he had no licence. He was getting #1
a-week, but went away one day and returned another; he was also in the
habit of going out and sleeping in the daytime.
His Worship advised the lad to keep his eyes open during business hours,
and with his consent directed the master to pay the licence out of his
wages.
Hope this may help somebody.
Maurice