Pub crawl in 1918 leads to licensing prosecutions at the Bunyip Police Court

The Bunyip and Garfield Express of October 4, 1918 had this following interesting account of a pub crawl by four lads -  Frederick Sippo, Hugh Murdoch, Stephen  McMillan (spelt as M'Millan in the article) and George Schmutter which saw the licensees of three hotels end up in the Bunyip Police Court on licensing charges. 

Bunyip Police Court. Wednesday, Oct 2, 1918.

Before Messrs Tanner, P.M., and a’Beckett and Barker, J.’sP.

Licensing Prosecutions

Inspector M’Loughlin proceeded against Edward Augustus Dreier, licensee of the Iona Hotel, Garfield, for serving 3 persons, apparently under the age of 18 years, with liquour, on 3rd August last.
Mr Davine, for Mr Dunn who was ill and unable to be present, appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.
Permission was given to the inspector to amend the summons, as it was since found that one of the persons supplied was over 18 years.
Frederick Sippo, said on the day in question he went to the hotel at Garfield, where he had a few shandies; the drinks were supplied by Mrs Dreier, who never asked anything about his age; he was born on 10th Nov, 1901, and knew the difference between a soft drink and beer, as he had drank beer before.
In reply to Mr Davine witness said he told defendant prior to that date he was over 18.
Hugh Murdoch, aged 16, said a lady whom he did not know served them, and he had never previously told Drier he was over 18.
Stephen M’Millan, aged 18, also gave evidence as to being served, and that Dreier made a practice of keeping boys out of his hotel.
The defendant, who was away in the city on this day, said he always made it a practice of inquiring about young fellows ages, and had asked them to leave the billiard room if not 18. Mrs Dreier was in charge while he was away but he could not say if he asked their ages in the presence of his wife, but the three youths had previously told him they were over 18.
The Bench said the information would be dismissed, as defendant had evidently put his foot down on this matter by taking every precaution.

A similar charge was preferred against Henry Wilson, licensee of the Gippsland Hotel, Bunyip, for serving a person under 18 years of age on the same date.
The youth Sippo said he went into the hotel in company with G. Schmutter, who called for two drinks; he had a shandy, but had never had drink there before.
To Mr Davine (for Mr Dunn) – he was standing near the window in the bar parlor, so that the licensee did not have a full view of him; he knew now that Mr Wilson would not supply anyone under 18, and heard him refuse to serve Murdoch and M’Millan.
George Schmutter said he called for 2 drinks and Sippo had a shandy; Sippo would not be visible to the licensee when he served the drinks.
Without calling any evidence for the defense, the case was dismissed.

Inspector M’Loughlin v Thos. Stacey a similar charge to the previous one.
Mr Backhouse for the defendant.
Sippo again said he went into the bar with Schmutter and had a shandy, but he wouldn’t contradict Tom Stacy if he swore he refused to serve them.
G. Schmutter said he did not suppose Tom knew who he was getting the drinks for as there were several about; he remembered going to the side window for a bottle of wine.
Mr Backhouse said the licensee, who had never had a charge brought against him for over 20 years, had no knowledge that the lad Sippo had been served with liquour.
Thos Stacey, jun. said he refused drinks to a crowd and never at any time did he serve Sippo with drink; he only supplied Schmutter with a bottle of wine.
The licensee and R. M’Namara gave evidence that they were playing cards in the room behind the bar, and heard the previous witness refuse to serve them.
The Bench said they were satisfied that the youth had not been served, and dismissed the information.

In a Koo Wee Rup Sun article of this case it concluded with a pun. They reported that as Frederick Sippo was involved in all cases he was the youth who should not be allowed to sip drinks in a hotel (1).

I have written about the Iona Hotel at Garfield here and the Gippsland and Railway Hotels at Bunyip, here. 

.................................................................................

Who were these boys?

Frederick Sippo. Frederick, born November 10, 1901 at Bunyip South, as Iona was then called, and was the son of Simon and Olive (nee Warren) Sippo. Listed in the Electoral roll at Iona, Simon was a contractor and bridge builder. 

Simon Sippo bridge building in a flood

The Age June 21, 1911, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196202311

Olive died April 11,  1929, at the age of 65,  and her death notice lists their children as Winifred, John (Jack), Ollie, Annie, Leslie, Charlie, Joe, Fred, Alfred and Ernie. The family were then living in Seddon, and she is buried at the Footscray Cemetery along with Simon, who died a few weeks later at the age of 68. Also in the grave is Frederick, who died at the Melbourne Hospital at only 32 years of age on September 3, 1934. (2).

Death notice of Frederick Sippo

The Age September 4, 1934 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205889071

Hugh Murdoch. Hugh James Murdoch was born in 1902 in Balranald, NSW to George Petrie Murdoch and Emma Rose Parker, who had married in Balranald in 1897. Hugh was the brother to Arthur, Mary, Allan, Lily, Stanley, Archibald and Alice.  George opened the Cora Lynn General Store in 1907 and operated it until 1922, and had also opened the Bayles General Store in 1921. You can read about the Cora Lynn store, here and the Bayles store, here.  Hugh followed in the family trade as he is listed in the Electoral rolls as a shop assistant at Narre Warren, and later as a farmer, also at Narre Warren.  Hugh married Elizabeth McMillan in 1924 and died August 16, 1994, aged 92. Elizabeth died in 1985 aged 82 and they are buried at the Bunyip Cemetery. (3)

The death notice of Hugh's wife, Elizabeth.

The Age June 19, 1985, p. 31 newspapers.com

Stephen McMillan. Stephen was the brother of Elizabeth, Hugh Murdoch's wife. They were the children of Robert James and Bridget (nee Guthrie) McMillan. The births of Stephen and Elizabeth were registered in Dean in 1900 and 1903 and the Electoral rolls list them at Bullarook, near Ballarat. They later moved to a farm at Garfield. Bridget died in 1935 aged 70 and Robert in 1932, aged 68 and they are buried at the Bunyip Cemetery. Stephen married Sophia Joyce Baxter in 1922 and are listed in the Electoral Roll on farms at Cora Lynn and then Koo Wee Rup Road, Pakenham.

On June 4, 1941 Stephen enlisted in the Australian Army (SN VX57181). He said his birthday was December 26, 1902, so it seems he took three years off his age, and given that most men who lied about their age kept the actual day and month, he was most likely born December 26, 1899.  He served in the Middle East, but was discharged January 4, 1943 on medical grounds. Stephen died in Frankston in 1960, aged 60 and he is buried at Frankston Cemetery. Sophia died in 1987 in Mount Martha aged 87. (4)

Death notice of Stephen McMillan

The Age, July 26, 1960, p 16. newspapers.com

George Schmutter. George was born at Bunyip South (Iona) in 1895, the son of William and Mary Ann (nee Hannington) Schmutter. This makes him about 23 when the pub crawl took place. However,  the 1919 death notice of Mary Ann and the 1932 death notice of William both list their children as Henry, William, Agnes, Florence and Jack, with no mention of  a George. There is  a George Schmutter listed in the Electoral Rolls from 1916, the year George would have turned 21, with the occupation of labourer and address Iona, so that is likely to be him. George Schmutter married Ella May Chadwick in 1925 and they are in the Electoral Roll at Iona or Vervale up to at least 1949 and from the 1954 Roll they are living in Parramatta in New South Wales, where his occupation is a gardener. George died in South Melbourne in 1963, aged 68, and Ella died in Parramatta in 1977. I was unsure whether this fitted together, then I found Ella's death notice in the Sydney Morning Herald and George is called Jack, so that pulls all the pieces together, and confirms that George is the Jack listed in his parent's death notices. Then as double confirmation, Find a Grave has a photo of their memorials at the Rookwood General Cemetery in Sydney, and they have his name listed as George John Schmutter, hence the diminutive, Jack. (5).

Death notice of Ella Schmutter

Sydney Morning Herald, September 30, 1977 p.19. newspapers.com

George and Ella Schmutter's memorials at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189592770/ella-may-schmutter

There is one remaining mystery with George/Jack. As you can see from his father's death notice, below, it states that he (Jack) was late A.I.F - a  returned soldier. However, I cannot find any reference to him enlisting. To add to this mystery, the Iona Honour Board, lists a W. Schmutter, who I can't firmly identify, but I have written about this  here.

William Schmutter's death notice 

The Age, March 24, 1932, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205096553

Footnotes

(1) The Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 9, 1918, see here.

(2) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Olive Sippo's death notice The Age, April 13, 1929, see here;

Footscray Cemetery records   https://www.gmct.com.au/our-locations/footscray-cemetery

(3) Indexes to the Victorian and the New South Wales Births, Deaths and Marriages, Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; 

Bunyip Cemetery records   http://www.ozgenonline.com/~kayemac/bunyip.htm

(4)  Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages, Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; 

Bunyip Cemetery records   http://www.ozgenonline.com/~kayemac/bunyip.htm; 

National Archives of Australia Second Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947 - read Stephen's file here   https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6123791; funeral notice The Age, July 26, 1960, p 16. newspapers.com

(5) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages;  Mary Schmutter's death notice The Age March 15, 1919, see here;  William Schmutter's death notice The Age, March 24, 1932, see here; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

Bunyip Magistrates Court

The establishment of the Court of Petty Sessions at Bunyip was ‘gazetted’ in the State Government Gazette in an announcement dated February 14, 1905. (1) The first court session took place in Kraft’s Hall which was a privately owned hall operated by William Kraft, of the Gippsland Hotel. The Mechanics' Institute Hall opened on June 15, 1906, on the site of Kraft's Hall, Mr Kraft having donated the land. This 1906 building burnt down March 14, 1940 and the existing hall opened October 8, 1942. (2) 

The Court at Bunyip is established.

 Victoria Government Gazette, February 22, 1905, p. 834.

 https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1905/V/general/24.pdf

The first sitting of the Bunyip Court was held on Wednesday, March 15, 1905.  The South Bourke and Mornington Journal reported - 

As reported in my last, a court of petty sessions was held in Kraft's Hall on Wednesday, March 15. Naturally, being the first, some little speechifying was looked forward to, which however did not come off. Mr. Cresswell, P. M.,(3) and Messrs. Ramage and a'Beckett. J's.P., occupied the bench. Only two cases were listed. Myrtle Morris was charged by Constable J. Ryan with having no visible means of support, and was remanded to Prahran for further hearing.

John Mannix, aged twelve, was charged with endangering the property of R.McAllister by setting fire to some scrub whereby a quantity of grass and fencing was destroyed. After hearing the evidence the Bench stated its unwillingness to record a sentence, and on the father entering into a recognaissance for the boy's future good behaviour, the case was dismissed. (4)

This article shows how the legal system has changed, for better or worse depending on your view point, as a 12 year old would never have his name mentioned in relation to a legal trial today (if it even made it to Court)

In another case, heard on March 16, 1910 before Presiding Magistrate Harris (5) and Justices of the Peace, A’Beckett and Pearson, George Nicklen, a farmer of Iona was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on his 15 year old niece, Elizabeth Bidwell. This report was in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal - 

Evidence was given by Mesdames Gully and Robinson two neighbours, that Nicklen was in the habit of beating the girl unmercifully, and the case had been brought under the notice of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Dr. Withington said he had examined the girl, who was covered with welts and bruises. She had apparently been subjected to a severe handling. Lizzie Bidwell, the girl in question, said her uncle, Nicklen, had chained her to her bed for days at a time, and on one occasion threatened to hang her with a rope. She was compelled to run away to Mrs. Gully's place, and that lady took her to the doctor. Nicklen denied giving the girl more than she needed. He was fined £10, with £3/5 costs, or three months in gaol. (6)

Ironically, on the same day the Court fined a man £8.00 for stealing four heifers or three months in gaol, if he didn’t pay. I don’t know what happened to poor Lizzie Bidwell but it’s sad to think that the Court valued her suffering at about the same rate as the theft of four cows.

Parents who did not send their children to school often faced court, here are two cases - 

In August 1910 Constable Ryan proceeded against J. Mannix for neglecting to send his child to school the required time. The constable stated that the teacher's report was that the child had played the truant. There were two charges against defendant The P.M. warned parents against future occurrences, as the new Act empowers the Court to deal with children by sending them to a reformatory or other suitable place. A fine of 5/ was imposed in each case. (7)

March 1914, Frank Gallagher was charged with neglecting to send his child to school - 

Constable Anstee said the boy in question had not attended school from 7th Nov. till January, and had evidently been kept at home to weed onions. The police magistrate said the case was a bad one, and defendant would be fined 5/- or three days. (8)

The Bunyip Free Press of January 15, 1914 reported that the court was crowded  when four charges of sly grog selling  were launched against an aged Assyrian with the very Anglicised name of  John Ellis. Ellis was represented by Mr M. Davine and had brought his own interpreter as he didn’t speak English. A Revenue Detective, Joseph Blake, had been working undercover in the area and he had visited Ellis  on a number of occasions as Ellis had a little shop, at Iona, with general stock; Ellis also did hair cutting.  Blake alleged that Ellis sold him alcohol, Ellis denied this.  Patrick McGrath, who leased the house to Ellis and had known him for nine years, called Ellis one of the best and straightest men on the Swamp. Mr Davine presented evidence that Joseph Blake was a professional liar and an informer.  In the end, the case was dismissed with the payment of costs; the Presiding Magistrate said we will give Ellis the benefit of the doubt if he will pay costs.  The costs were just over £17.00 but were reduced to £15.00 after some haggling; a report a few months later said the costs had been paid and the case was withdrawn. (9)

In April 1916, Ellis was back in Court -
Mr. W. W. Harris, P.M., presided at a special sitting of the Bunyip court yesterday to hear a charge of attempted murder which was preferred against a Syrian named John Ellis. The evidence of two young immigrants named Cyril and Frank Borwick showed that Ellis brought a revolver from Melbourne with him on 30th March. He was drunk, and told them he intended to shoot Constable Anstee. During the night Ellis consumed about half a bottle of whisky, and the brothers alleged that Ellis fired at both of them whilst they were asleep in bed. Cyril was shot in the hand, and Frank was shot in the left cheek. Accused was committed for trial in Melbourne. (10)

Ellis' trial was held in May 1916 and at the sentencing, Mr Justice Cussen, was reported as saying - 

said prisoner appeared almost to have been temporarily insane owing to certain charges made against him which he said were false. At the same time prisoner ought to consider himself lucky that he was not standing in the dock on a capital charge. Sentence, two years' imprisonment. (11)

Another case  involving a revenue officer was this gambling case from Garfield, heard in July 1914.

Bunyip - A young man named Frederick Carpenter in January last was convicted of conducting a common gaming house, at Garfield, and was mulcted in fines and costs totalling £15. The alternative of two months imprisonment was also imposed, but as Carpenter, who is an ex-jockey and a cripple, promised not to offend again, time to pay the fine was given him. That time was extended, but the fine was not paid. To-day Carpenter was ordered to pay £18 11/2 (fines and costs imposed previously), and was also fined an extra £10, in default two months' imprisonment, for failing to comply with the previous order of the court. Carpenter fainted in court when the decision was given, and lay across the barristers' table, but was carried out bodily by two constables and the revenue officer. The P.M. remarked that it was more "drink" than "faint." (12)  I had never come across the term mulcted before, but have discovered that a mulct  is a fine. 

In March 1915 a case concerning Cora Lynn farmer, John Rutter was heard at Bunyip and was reported in The Age and picked up by some rural newspapers -

A case of great importance to farmers was heard by Mr. W. W. Harris, P.M., at Bunyip police court, when a Cora Lynn farmer named John Rutter was proceeded against by Constable Anstee for having failed to produce a book showing the records of cattle slaughtered by him. The charge was laid under section 32 of the Butchers and Abattoirs Act. Superintendent Fowler, who conducted the prosecution, stated that on 24th February Constable Anstee and Thomas Garrett, an inspector of Berwick shire council, visited defendant's farm. Rutter told them he kept a book containing his general business transactions, but refused to let either Anstee or Garrett see it. 

For the defence Mr. Dunn contended that no offence had been proved. Every farmer was allowed to slaughter one beast weekly for his own use. Mr. Harris, P.M.: But he is not allowed to sell portion, and he must keep a book. Mr. Dunn contended that it would prove a great hardship to farmers if they were deprived from killing one beast a week for their own use. If a conviction was recorded it would probably open up many legal points. Mr. Harris, P.M., reserved his decision. (13)

Mr Harris made his decision a month later, and this was also reported in The Age - 

The police magistrate held that where a wrong construction was placed on the wording of the Government Act injustice should not be meted out to any defendant. He therefore dismissed the case without costs. Some months ago two young farmers were fined at the same court for slaughtering several calves on their farms and sending them to market for sale. Since then farmers have been afraid to kill beasts for fear of a prosecution. The decision given on Wednesday will relieve them of much anxiety. (14)  The two young farmers referred to were Victor Little and Thomas McGuire who were found guilty of slaughtering without a license in October 1913,  see here.

The sitting times for Courts were set by the Government, and they were on occasions altered, with the new hours published in the Government Gazette, but it did appear to sit weekly on a Wednesday from 1911 (15)

Sitting times in 1911

Victoria Government Gazette, November 15, 1911, p. 5528 

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1911/V/general/171.pdf

Sitting times from January 5, 1938

Victoria Government Gazette, November 24, 1937, p. 3852 

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1937/V/general/328.pdf

 

The newspaper reports of Court cases at Bunyip show that the Bench dealt with the whole range of legal matters including murder, theft, assault, arson,  traffic matters, incest, debts, using bad language and having no visible means of support.  I presume that the Court met at the Bunyip Hall, so I would be interested to know if that was the case.

The Bunyip Court officially closed on May 1, 1981. The announcement  in the Victoria Government Gazette stated that the  books and other records of the said Court and of the Clerk thereof be delivered to the Clerk of the Magistrate’s Court at Warragul. (14)

Closure of the Bunyip Court

Victoria Government Gazette, April 15, 1981, p. 1207.

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1981/V/general/33.pdf

Having said that, last case I could find in the newspapers concerning a hearing at the Bunyip Court was from May 1953 when the Dandenong Journal reported that Berwick and Cranbourne Shire rate payers will be pleased at the success Health Inspector K. N. McLennan is having in his war against roadside rubbish dumpers. Mr McLennan successfully prosecuted at the Bunyip Court,  J. Lyon, grocer, of Boronia, fined £3, with £3/6/6 costs, for depositing rubbish on the Princes Highway near Tynong. He also had four cases at the Pakenham Court. (17) The same paper noted in August 1953 that Mr Tom Drake was the chairman of the local Bench at the Bunyip Court. He had been appointed as a Magistrate on November 8, 1949. (18)

Tom Drake appointed as a Magistrate to the Bunyip Court

Victoria Government Gazette, November 16, 1949, p. 6120. 

https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1949/V/general/901.pdf 

When I first researched this in 2014, my parents, Frank and Wendy Rouse, said they had no memory of the Bunyip Court at all, in spite of the fact that Dad had been at Cora Lynn for his entire life, having been born in 1933 and Mum had been there since she was married in 1956, so perhaps it didn't sit on a regular basis after the mid 1950s (or perhaps they just didn't know anyone who was involved in Court cases).

Footnotes

(1) Victoria Government Gazette, February 22, 1905, p. 834.   https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1905/V/general/24.pdf

(2) Nest, Denise Bunyip Mechanics' Institute 1906-2006: a place of learning and entertainment (The Author, 2006)

(3) Charles Alfred Costley Cresswell - Traralgon Record, March 17, 1908 see here.

(4) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, March 22, 1905, see here.

(5) Walter William Harris - West Gippsland Gazette, June 6, 1916, see here.

(6) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, March 23, 1910, see here.

(7) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, August 17, 1910, see here.

(8) Bunyip Free Press, March 12, 1914, see here.

(9) Bunyip Free Press, January 15, 1914, see here. Bunyip Free Press, March 12, 1914, see here.

(10) The Age, April 27, 1916, see here.

(11) The Age, May 27, 1916,  see here.

(12) The Age, July 16, 1914, see here.

(13) The Age, March 16, 1915, see here.

(14) The Age, April 16, 1915, see here.

(15) Victoria Government Gazette, November 15, 1911, p. 5528
https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1911/V/general/171.pdf 

 Victoria Government Gazette, November 24, 1937, p. 3852
https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1937/V/general/328.pdf

(16) Victoria Government Gazette, April 15, 1981, p. 1207.   https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1981/V/general/33.pdf

(17) Dandenong Journal, May 6, 1953, see here.

(18)  Dandenong Journal, August 26, 1953, see here; Victoria Government Gazette, November 16, 1949, p. 6120.      https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1949/V/general/901.pdf 

100 years ago this week - Bunyip Court

One hundred years ago, this week in January 1914,  the Bunyip Court had to deal with this case of  bicycle theft. A seventeen year old, William Ayres, was found guilty of stealing a bike from Michael Dineen, of Cora Lynn. He was sentenced to three months in gaol, an extraordinary sentence compared to what he would have got today and, of course, today his name would not be published as he is under 18. 

Theft at Cora Lynn

Bunyip Free Press January 8, 1914   http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129628102

The Bunyip Court Bench, consisting of Messrs. Chas. Pearson and A. J. Botterill, J's P., was occupied for some time in hearing a case of bicycle theft preferred against a young man named William Ayers. The evidence of Constable Boxhall, of Campbellfield, was to the effect that from information received he arrested Ayers at Craigieburn on a charge of stealing a bicycle, valued at £6, the property of Michael Dineen, of Cora Lynn. Michael Dineen swore that Ayers had worked for him and after leaving returned and took away the bicycle which was witness's property. The machine had new tyres on it now, but the old tyres (produced) he could identify as well as the frame. Accused pleaded guilty, asked to be dealt with at once, and admitted a prior conviction for a similar theft in Gippsland last year. In answer to questions from the Clerk of Courts Ayers said he was a native of Bullarto, near Daylesford, and was 17 years of age. Accused was then sentenced to 3 months' imprisonment and the Bench ordered that the bike be returned to the owner.

This article made me wonder when the Bunyip Court first started - I found this article, below, in the South Bourke and Mornington Journal.  The first court session took place on March 15, 1905 in Kraft’s Hall which was a privately owned hall operated by William Kraft, of the Gippsland Hotel. Kraft's Hall was located where the public hall is now.

First  session at Bunyip

South Bourke and Mornington Journal March 22, 1905  

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66142961

As reported in my last, a court of petty sessions was held in Kraft's Hall on Wednesday, March 15. Naturally, being the first, some little speechifying was looked forward to, which however did not come off. Mr. Cresswell, P. M., and Messrs. Ramage and a'Beckett. J's.P., occupied the bench. Only two cases were listed. Myrtle Morris was charged by Constable J. Ryan with having no visible means of support, and was remanded to Prahran for further bearing.

John Mannix, aged twelve, was charged with endangering the property of R.McAllister by setting fire to some scrub whereby a quantity of grass and fencing was destroyed. After hearing the evidence the Bench stated its unwillingness to record a sentence, and on the father entering into a recognaissance for the boy's future good behaviour, the case was dismissed.

Once again, this article shows how the legal system has changed (for better or worse depending on your view point) a 12 year old would never have his name mentioned in relation to a legal trial today.

I have written in more detail here about the Bunyip Court here

100 years ago this week - Bunyip Court case

The following appeared in The Argus of September 16, 1913 (see here)  - 100 years ago.
Two farmers of Iona, named Victor Little and Thomas McGuire, were charged at the Bunyip Court on Wednesday, at the instance of Constable Wagner, with slaughtering vealers without licenses. The evidence showed that both defendants had slaughtered poddies and vealers on their farms, and Mr B. J. Dann, who appeared for both defendants, admitted the offences, which he contended had been done
in ignorance of the law. Little was fined 1/ per head for 21 head, and McGuire 1/ for nine head, with 11/10 costs each. Sergeant Bowden, who conducted the prosecution, explained that the proceedings were lodged to he a warning to those who were illegally trafficking in cattle, although no thing of that nature could be proved against defendants.

Case against Victor Little and Thomas McGuire

The Argus, September 16, 1913 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7232973

Victor Little (1892-1939) was the fourth of five children of James Little and Hannah Hughes. James had land at Iona and Little Road was named after the family. Victor and his wife Mareia lived at Iona and his occupation on the Electoral Roll is listed as a Dealer. They are both buried at the Bunyip Cemetery.

There is a Thomas McGuire listed in the Electoral rolls of 1909 at Bunyip South, occupation is farmer. Margaret McGuire is listed at same address. I presume that they are the same couple buried at the Bunyip Cemetery - Thomas, died 1933, aged 82 and Margaret (nee Fitzsimmons) died 1921, aged 67. They have three sons buried at Bunyip as well, Thomas John, died 1922 aged 33; William Patrick, died 1928, aged 38 and Peter James died 1952, aged 58. 

A report from April 1915 of a judgement in a similar case referenced this Little/McGuire case, read about it here.