It is a hot November morning
in 1862 and just another day at the Central Police Court in Brisbane Town.
 |
| Police Court, Elizabeth Street, Brisbane |
John Hennessey, an aboriginal, was charged with, furious
riding. Prisoner, who said he was drunk at the time, was discharged with an
admonition.
Edward Ryan was sent to gaol for seven days, under tho
first clause of the Vagrant Act, for being illegally on the premises of the
hon. D. F. Roberts on the night of the 27th instant.
Patrick Maher was summoned for unlawfully blasting rock
at Kangaroo Point, on the 21st instant, with- out having previously obtained
the permission of a magistrate to do so.
Henry Stacey was summoned for allowing three horses, his
property, to stray about the streets.
Thomas Crawley appeared to prefer a charge of assault
against Mrs. Muir.[1]
The last case was little different than the usual line-up. Here a police sergeant was appearing on
a stealing charge.
Some time since a charge was formally brought against
Sergeant Wright, lock-up keeper, of illegally detaining a ring, the property of
an inebriate named Roche, a tailor, residing in Fortitude Valley. Wright was
immediately suspended, and an investigation accordingly took place.
 |
| Tailor Shop, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane |
The evidence, however, being of an unsatisfactory and
inconclusive nature, his Worship reinstated the sergeant in his former
position, informing him at the same time that the present decision would not
affect any ulterior proceedings which might be taken in the matter.[2]
The inebriate Roche
himself appeared in court a few weeks later.
Joseph Roche, a diminutive tailor, was brought up on
warrant for having used obscene language on the night of the 21st instant. The
prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge, and said that whenever he took a glass
too much he made a fool of himself; he also expressed a hope that his Worship
would overlook his offence.
In answer to a question from the Bench as to the general
conduct of defendant, Constable Hogan said that Roche was very often drunk and
disorderly. He resided in Fortitude Valley with some very decent people, who
had frequently to get out of their beds at the dead of night in order to pacify
him. Several other members of the force having given him a
"character," defendant was ordered to pay a fine of 40s - in default,
seven days' imprisonment.[3]
 |
| Petrie Terrace Police Barracks, Brisbane 1867 |
The diminutive inebriate tailor was back in court early in the new year.
Saturday.— Before the Police Magistrate and Mr. J.
Petrie, J.P. Joseph Roche, an inebriate
tailor, from the Valley, was mulct[4]
in the sum of 10s.[5]
Roche managed to stay out of trouble for a few months but was soon back
to his old self. He appeared with his female drinking partner.
CENTRAL POLICE COURT.
THURSDAY - Before Mr. L. A. Bernays and Mr. R. Cribb.
DRUNKARDS - Catherine Folder and Joseph Roche were each
fined in the sum of 5s. for drunkenness.[6]
He was back a week later with a new inebriate companion.
CENTRAL POLICE COURT.
Thursday. - Before the Police Magistrate.
INEBRIATE. - Joseph Roche and Richard Moss, the former
for drunkenness, the latter for indulging in the free use of the very vulgar
tongue, were respectively fined 5s. and 50s. for their sins.[7]
And with this last appearance the diminutive inebriate tailor vanishes
from the Brisbane newspaper reports of court proceedings. His last mention
is in an advertisement placed in the Toowoomba press, offering his services as
a tailor. He feels it important to mention that he has now given up the “barley
juice”.
To the Inhabitants of ToowoombaBY leaving your address at the office of this paper it will be punctually attended to by JOSEPH ROCHE, Tailor, for the repairing all kinds of clothing, who will call at the above place on MONDAYS and THURSDAYS.
J. R. undertakes to mend and make your clothes, adopting the quickest system in doing business, that is, simply — values the most trifling job, neither gives nor takes credit, dispensing with the barley juice, is always to be found at No. 1, SHARP NEEDLE. Therefore, encourage colonial industry, buy your own material in cloth, and he engages a perfect fit, good style, and workmanship.
Address— J. ROCHE, Trowsers and Breeches Maker, Brisbane
Street, Drayton, next Shepperd's New Saddlery Warehouse.[8]
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