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Wellington Times (NSW : Thursday, 23 January 1947)

POLICE COURT

THEFT OF POTATOES. Month's Gaol for Half-caste Brothers.

Convicted at the Wellington Police Court on Tuesday morning, on a charge of stealing four bags of potatoes to a total value of £3/10/-, two half-caste aborigine brothers were each sentenced to a month's hard labour.

The two brothers are Sydney William Chatfield and Donald Chatfield. Police alleged that the brothers stole four bags of potatoes which were the property of Mr. Ah Yook, of Wellington. In evidence against Sydney William CHATFIELD, Constable Leslie John Marsh, of Wellington, stated that on January 8, defendant went to a paddock opposite Clifford's store house on the Wellington flats and carried away four bags of potatoes and hid them in some brier bushes in a lane. He later returned with his brother Donald in a taxi and took the potatoes to a store in Nanima Crescent, where he sold them to the proprietor for £2. The potatoes, the constable continued, were the property of Mr. Ah Yook, of Wellington, and defendant had admitted that he had no authority to take then.

MANY PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
Defendant pleaded guilty and the police prosecutor, Sergt. Kenny, stated that defendant was fined £7 on March 21, 1945, for forging and uttering a cheque, was sentenced to serve three months hard labour on January 24, 1944, for assault on the police, and had many other convictions for drunkeness prior to and since the two convictions. Appearing for the defendant, Mr. F. Davidson said that the accused was a married man with two children to support, and was overcome with the urge to obtain cheap liquor at the time of the offence

CHEAP LIQUOR BLAMED
Asking for leniency t0 be shown to his client, Mr. Davidson said "I submit to Your Worship that the offence was committed in broad daylight and no attempt was made to conceal the theft. This man is not all bad and there is a lot of good in him. At the time of the offence he was trying to obtain money to buy some more cheap iiquor, which is sold to these men in Wellington. The theft was not a sneak thief affair and for the sake of the man's wife and family I ask that Your Worship extend leniency as far as you can in the course of your public duty." Convicting defendant, the P. M., Mr. W. K. Earls said "The maxi- mum penalty for this offence is 12 months' hard labour, but under the circumstances I will deal leniently with the defendant. However, I do not intend to fine the accused but I- will impose, a gaol sentence. You are convicted and sentenced to serve one month's hard labour. I would lik to point out that only for the representations of Mr. Davjdson, I would have imposed a sentence of at least three months." Donald CHATFIELD, the brother of the previous defendant, was charg- ed with the same offence. Constable Marsh said that the circumstances were, similar to those of Sydney Chatfield and pointed out to the court in evidence that it was his opinion, that Donald Chatfield was only a pawn in the crime and that the real ringleader was his brother, Sydney. Sergt. Kenny stated that defendant had a criminal record and on July 27, 1942, was sentenced to one months' hard labour for stealing tobacco. On February 1, 1943, he was sentenced, to three months' hard labour and fined a total of £12 on three charges at the Dubbo Police Court, which included stealing, trespass and malicious damage to property. Defendant was also fined £3 on; September 16, 1946, for offensive behaviour. Appearing for the accused Mr. Davidson said "I have been talking to the mother of these two lads and she tells me that they are good boys until they get away from home and begin to drink cheap liquor. I ask that Your Worship extend leniency to the defendant and I submit that he was only a party t0 the crime." Mr. W. K. Earls sentenced the accused, to one months' hard labour.
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The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate (NSW : 13 January 1948)
Nine Fined for Heading 'Em
Charged with playing "Heading 'Em" on a vacant lot on the Coonamble Road on 1 January, 9, nine offenders appeared before Mr. Kearsley S.M., yesterday. They were: James Henry Burns, Donald CHATFIELD, James William Kenneth Daley, Edward Bartley, George Edward Daley, Henry Taylor, Sydney William CHATFIELD, Arthur Cecil CHATFIELD, and John Thomas Fleming. Each pleaded guilty. Sgt. Larkin said that the men in the company of about nine or ten others who had escaped arrest, had been playing two-up on the vacant lot to the annoyance of passers-by. One defendant made plea for leniency as, he stated, the game had been played for stakes of pennies and threepences. The Bench and Police, doubted the defendant's statement as to the size of the game.
A fine of £1, in default two days hard labour was imposed. Time to pay was refused.
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Wellington Times (NSW : Monday 20 December 1948
Fines for Theft While Drunk.

"I'm inclined to think that the defendant Chatfield led you astray. You are only a young man and unless yon resolve to become a good citizen you will appear in Court again," said the Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. Blackmore, in the Wellington Police Court on Tuesday morning last, when advising William Henry Brown, who appeared with Sidney William Chatfleld as defendant in a stealing charge. Police alleged that on Saturday last a search was made in some grass near the defendant Brown's camp at the Bell River Crossing, and three headlamp glasses, which were stolen from the boot of a car in Lee-st., near the Club House Hotel, were discovered. Defendant admitted that he took the headlamp glasses while in the company of the other defendant Chatfield. Chatfleld, when arrested, admitted that he kept watch for Brown while he stole the goods.
UNFAVOURABLY KNOWN. The Police Prosecutor, Sergt. Goggin, of Dubbo, said that Chatfield was most unfavourably known to the police. He had been sentenced to a month's gaol in 1947 for stealing and had another conviction for dishonesty, forging and uttering in 1945.

He appeared to be addicted to drink, and had a list of convictions for drunkenness. The defendant Brown was not unfavourably known, and appeared to have been a decent, clean-living citizen. Both defendants admitted that they were under the influence of intoxicating liquor at the time of the offence. Mr. Blackmore fined defendant Brown £4 and Chatfield £5. One month to pay was allowed in each case. Constable Armstrong said that so far police had been unable to find the owner of the three headlamp glasses.