Policing in Victoria: 1858-1911 Watch House Records

Policing in Victoria 1858 - 1911: A large cloth-bound volume providing a manuscript record of 'Report of Charges Taken' at various Watch Houses: Mainly at Yendon but also at Rokewood, Rokewood Junction, Whim Holes and Stockyard Hill, all being in the vicinity of Ballarat. Many hundreds of entries giving the first-hand details of the name of the offender, his or her age, 'calling', country of origin, religion, education, the offence, previous convictions, property found on the prisoner, whether bailed, how 'disposed of', name of the magistrate and other remarks. Unique. A number of entries during July & August 1859 (at Rokewood & Whim Holes) record a number of Chinese miners (Ah Long, Ah Hang, Ah Hoy, Ah Chun, etc) found guilty of 'Having no residence ticket' or 'Stealing three pairs of boots...' or 'Having no residence licence' . They and their fellow countrymen appear many times in these pages in the months and years following. Also in that month, Alexander McIntosh, a miner from Scotland, was arrested for 'fighting in a public place on a Sunday', while in September 1859 Benjamin Hamer, a miner from America, was arrested for 'Stabbing one John Stevens with intent to do him grievious bodily harm.' [He was sentenced to 9 months in prison with hard labour at his trial in Ballarat.]. In December 1859, John Williamson from England was arrested for 'stealing a cockatoo from a hut'. In January 1875, Ellen Ryan from Ireland was arrested for 'Attempting to commit suicide.'