From Western Post & Mudgee Newspaper 20 November 1861: POLICE COURT Tuesday 19th November Before the Police Magistrate, his Worship the Mayor, and E MARLAY, Esq. John NEAREN, Charles SKEREY, and Franklin KERR, were brought up on suspicion of stealing £200. C. HARDY, Chief Constable, said he apprehended the prisoners about 6 o'clock yesterday evening, at Oakfield, for stealing £200, the property of Mr. J PHILLIPS, of Avisford. They were working for Mr. WESTLEY, he apprehended them from the description given to him by the Police Sergeant of the Gold-Fields. They had said that they had come from Bathurst; he found not money upon them; they all denied the charge. John PHILLIPS, publican, at Avisford, said that he was robbed on Thursday last of a quantity of money, which he kept in a box in his bed-room. He and his family were about going to bed; he went to the stable to give his horse a feed; on his return to the house three men met him at the door and presented fire-arms at his head. They had their faces covered with calico. They tied his hands together and held him in a corner of the room. They next fastened his two boys together back to back, and afterwards secured an old woman. He could not swear to any of the prisoners. SKEREY and NEAREN looked very much like two of the men. He was so kept in the corner that he could not get a fair look at them. John PHILLIPS, jun., was present when the house was robbed; he had a pistol presented at his head; he could not swear to any of the men before the court, as the men had their faces covered and endeavoured to change their natural voices. The prisoners said that they knew nothing of the charge, and that the drive of the Mudgee mail could prove having seen them on the road near OLIVER's. The driver (Wm. GODFREY) having been sent for, said he had seen the men on the Sydney Road carrying swags and leading a horse; he could not say what day it was. One place he remembered seeing them at was near Stoney Pinch. The Bench said there was not sufficient evidence to detain them, and ordered their discharge. Thomas BROWN and John BANNON, remanded upon a charge of robbing the residence of Mr. DARE, were again brought up for examination. H. TEBBUTT said about nine o'clock on Sunday week evening, Mr. DARE's servant came to his house and told him that her master's house had been robbed. He went with her and saw the writing desk now before the Court on the passage floor. The back door was opened and there was evidence that the thieves had been committing depredations. Bridget FENTON, re-examined: Swore that the prisoner BROWN was the man who the desk on the ground. It was usually kept in the parlour. Mr TEBBUTT picked it up in the passage. She still had not the least doubt that the prisoners before the Court were the men. This being the whole of the evidence. Mr. BRODRIBB, on behalf of the prisoners, said he would reserve his defence. Both prisoners were fully committed. Bail refused. Patrick MOREN, appeared upon remand, upon a charge of stealing a mare. A. HODGKINS said he had seen the mare in the yard, it was the property of a man of the name of CURREN; he had seen it in his possession; on Sunday night week he saw here in the possession of a man he knew by sight, who jumped off her to get a light for his pipe. He had never seen the defendant before. Constable CAMPBELL said he had enquired about the man alluded to by the last witness, but could not find him; he was told that he had left his employer about a week since, he had gone to the diggings. There being no other evidence, The Bench discharged the defendant, and told him that he left the Court free from any stain upon his character. John CANNON, charged with obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty. C. HARDY said about 2 o'clock on Sunday morning he and another constable had two men in custody, when the prisoner made a desperate attempt to rescue them; he several times forced himself between the constable and the prisoner, and followed them to the lock-up, abusing them all the way. At one time he tucked up his sleeves and defied the whole force to take him into custody, and made such a noise that nearly the whole of the inhabitants of Perry-street came out in their night clothes t see what was the matter. He likewise endeavoured to prevail upon four men to rescue the prisoners they had in charge. He followed them to the lock-up, where he took him into custody. Prisoner's excuse was that he was drunk. Fined 20s or 48 hours imprisonment. ***END*** N.B. All care has been taken to transcribe the above accurately, however errors may have been inadvertently made. Spelling of names/places should be as appears in original. Transcribed from microfilm available from the State Library. Annette Piper Coolah NSW