Colonial Night Life
In July 1847, trouble was brewing in George Street, Brisbane Town. A
group of soldiers from the local regiment were enjoying the hospitality at the
Victoria Hotel. Leaving the hotel, they decided to continue their night-out at
the nearby house of Mrs. Bailey, a popular local entrepreneur who catered to
the recreational and entertainment needs of the many single men and, no doubt
some of the married men, in the colony.
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| Hotel on George Street, ca.1870 |
Sometime after midnight, a police constable passing by on his beat, heard the sound of breaking coming from Mrs. Bailey’s house.
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| Colonial Infantry Private |
Constable Macalister, on being sworn, stated that while
on duty on Thursday night he observed some of the military coming out of the
Victoria Hotel, and that he saw them go to Mrs. Bailey's house where he shortly
afterwards heard the breaking of panes of glass. On hearing a screech, he
immediately ran to the barracks for the corporal and guard, who accompanied him
to the house.
Reinforcements arriving from the barracks, most of the riotous soldiers
quickly decamped. An unlucky two were
arrested while a third tried to disguise himself by changing out of his uniform. His attempt to flee was foiled by two of Mrs.
Bailey’s civilian guests, one of whom floored the desperate soldier with one
accurate punch.
All the soldiers then ran away, except two, who were
taken into custody by the guard. Corporal Horan corroborated the constable's
testimony, and informed the Magistrates that Randall broke away from the
soldier who had him in charge, and ran up to his room, where he put on an
undress[2].
Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Featherstone, who were visiting at
Mrs. Bailey's house on the evening in question, identified the Sergeant and the
prisoners at the bar as being present while the windows were being broken;
Randall was the most riotous person there. When the Sergeant attempted to burst
open the door, a well-directed blow from Mr. Hawkins sent him head over heels
to the ground.
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| The Original Brisbane Military Barracks |
Unfortunately the departing soldier in his haste to return to barracks
left behind a piece of incriminating evidence, namely his cap. His attempt to
discretely retrieve his cap from the Police Office the following morning was
not successful and the full force of the law was brought to bear on the
Sergeant and his comrades.
The man of war, on finding sharper work than he had
calculated upon, took to his heels, and ran to the barracks, leaving his cap
behind him, which was picked up by the constable. The Chief Constable stated
that the Sergeant called upon him on the following morning, and made enquiries
respecting his cap, and said that he wished to compromise the matter by paying
all expenses, provided he would not inform the Police Magistrate of what had
occurred.
The Magistrates, after a short consultation, found all
the defendants guilty, fined each of them £5, and sentenced them in default of
payment to be imprisoned for two calendar months with hard labour in Sydney
Gaol. They were then removed and placed in the lock-up. We understand that the
fine has since been paid by Sergeant Faulkner, and that the others will also
"shell out the tin" rather than go to quod[3].
What sparked the incident at Mrs. Bailey’s house was not revealed in
the court proceedings, but it might be assumed to be just another great night
out ruined by out of control high jinks.
© K. C. Sbeghen, 2012.
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