I had to think a little before deciding to compile the story of Alexander Ferrier. There are things in his life which, if not already known by relatives of descendants, will not be welcomed by them. But his story is a valid one, and throws some light on a less happier family of 120 years ago.
SUPREME COURT
TUESDAY, MAY 28. (Before His Honour Sir Joshua Williams.) His Honour took his seat at 10.5 a.m.
CRIMINAL BUSINESS.
GRAND JURY. The Grand Jury were empanelled as follows:— Mr R. C. Tennent (foreman), and Messrs D. A. Mitchell, Isaac Jenkins, J. M. Laing. G. E. Glen, W. W. Shireffs, J. Martin. H. Marshall, Wm. Munro, N. J. M. Rein, Jas. Hunter, Jas. Leggat, K. S. Perry, Geo. Featherstone, G. B. Brown. H. E. Drewe, Jno. Stevenson, F. Brooke-Smith. K. G. Undrill, T. D. A. Moffett, J. T. F. Mitchell, and Wm. Wesney.
HIS HONOUR'S CHARGE. His Honour said: "Mr foreman and gentlemen of the Grand Jury, there are only four cases for your consideration. Two of these, I am sorry to say, are offences against women. There is a case where a man is charged with an assault against a woman with intent to commit a crime. In that case the offence is admitted by the accused. There is another case of the same class where there can be no doubt that an assault was committed. The question for your consideration is whether there is prima facie evidence that the person who assaulted the woman is sufficiently identified with the accused. So far as the depositions go, it seems to me that there is prima facie evidence of identity. There is a case where a man is accused of perjury by swearing falsely in the Magistrate’s Court that he was not indebted to plaintiff. The evidence in the depositions shows that this statement was untrue, and that he must have known it to be untrue. In another case a man is charged with breaking and entering a house by night with intent to commit a crime. He seems to have been known to the inhabitants of the house, but when they were away at a bazaar, accused apparently went into the house and was found under the bed. He is charged with breaking and entering. If a door or window is shut, and a person opens the door or window and enters the house by that means, that is breaking and entering within the definition of that offence in the Crimes Act. You will remember that your function is not to try cases out, but simply to see whether from the evidence before you, there is a case which calls for an answer. If there is, you must find a true bill, but if the evidence falls short of that, the case must be thrown out."
TRUE BILLS. The Grand Jury returned true bills in all the cases submitted to them.
ASSAULT WITH INTENT. Alexander Ferrier was charged that on March 3rd at Aparima; (1) Assaulting a voting woman with intent to commit a serious offence; (2) indecently assaulting her: and (3) assaulting her. Mr Eustace Russell (instructed by Mr W. G. Tail) appeared on behalf of accused, who pleaded guilty. Counsel said accused was only 17 years of age and resided at Riverton. The offence, as could be seen from the depositions, took place in the vicinity of Otautau. He was instructed that accused had only a short time before the offence took place, unfortunately consumed a flask of whisky, and while riding along the road he had seen the girl, apparently had made an improper remark to her, and then the assault took place. Accused had up to that time borne an unblemished character, and counsel suggested that the offence was committed through his having taken the liquor. No damage had been done to the girl, though she had doubtless suffered some fright and alarm. Immediately the detective spoke to accused, the latter admitted the offence. The detective said that he was perfectly frank and seemed very sorry for what he had done. But for this frankness, there might have been some difficulty in identifying him. The young man was well known in Riverton, and counsel read a number of testimonials from well-known business men and others in Riverton, all certifying to accused's previous good character. Counsel respectfully submit led that though charge was a very serious one, in view of these testimonials the case was one for probation. He was given to understand that the young man's home surroundings were not of the best.
His Honour said that he was afraid it was not a case for probation. If accused had not been interrupted, he would have completed the offence. He would take into consideration accused's previous good character and also his youth, but the best thing for him was to undergo a course of reformatory treatment. It was absolutely necessary that offences of this kind should be punished in a country where women had at times to be alone on solitary roads. He would not pass a sentence of imprisonment, but would sentence accused to be forthwith committed to prison, there to be detained for reformatory purposes for any period not exceeding three years. -Southland Times, 29/5/1912.
PRISONER'S BRIEF LIBERTY
By Telegraph.-—Press /Association. Invercargill, June 20,
Alexander Ferrier, one of twenty prisoners working in a gang outside Invercargill gaol attempted to escape yesterday. He was chased and was recaptured in one of the adjacent streets within five minutes. -Waikato Independent, 20/6/1912.
Late Locals
Mr J. W. Smith, who succeeds Mr Empson as Stock Inspector in this district, is at present on a visit to Reefton, and is staying at Dawson's Hotel.
At the Invercargill Police Court, an inmate of the prison reformatory, William Edwards, was sentenced to fourteen days' bread and water for smashing a cell window. Another, Alexander Ferrier, was sentenced to six month's hard labour for escaping from custody. -Inungahua Times, 4/7/1912.
At the end of his three year term, Alexander enlisted in the NZ Rifle Brigade. The Conduct Sheet in his military records shows that he was not a good soldier. Absent without leave appears four times, also "hesitating to obey an order by his S O" (Senior Officer, presumably.)
He suffered a bullet wound to his left thigh on September 16, 1916, in the thick of the hard fighting on the battlefield of the Somme. It put him in hospital for just over two months. He returned to the front but his wound might have had permanent effects, as he was discharged by reason of being physically unfit for service in 1919.
Arriving home, it seems he married, indicated by the age of his oldest child when he died. But his life seems not to have been a settled one.
RIVERTON S.M. COURT.
TUESDAY, MAY 18. (Before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M. and Warden.)
—Licensing Case. — For refusing to quit the Wallace County Hotel on the 18th February when requested to do so by the licensee Henry Butcher was convicted and fined 10/-, costs 9/-.
—Assault.— Alex. Ferrier, jnr., was charged with assaulting William M. Johnstone on the 9th April. Mr Hunter appeared for Johnstone and Mr Patrick for defendant.
The facts of the case were that on the evening previous to the assault defendant’s wife and some friends were present at an entertainment, and Johnstone and his friends were also present, seated at the rear. When the entertainment was over he asked Mrs Ferrier her reason for turning round and making grimaces at him, and received a reply that she was not looking at him but at another man. He replied stating that her character was no better than his. Mrs Ferrier told her husband (defendant) what had transpired, and he accosted Johnstone in the railway station the following morning and struck him on the face and body, and also used obscene language. — Evidence was given by informant, Ernest Hamilton, cadet at the railway station. — Mr Patrick said the information was a private one, and as the indecent language took place in the stationmaster’s office it was not a public place. In regard to the assault Ferrier had done what any other man would have done whose wife had been insulted. Defendant was convicted and fined £3 and costs for the assault. He was convicted and discharged for indecent language. -Western Star, 18/5/1920.
His family life was definitely unsettled, and this is what led to his last court appearance.
At the Riverton Magistrate's Court last week Grace Edna Ferrier proceeded against Alexander Ferrier, jnr., for separation, maintenance, and guardianship of two children, aged four years and two years, on the grounds of persistent cruelty to complainant. An order was made for separation and maintenance to the amount of £5 8s 4d per calendar month, at the rate of 10s per week for the wife and 15s for the children, the children to be sent to the Salvation Army Home in the meantime. Ferrier attempted suicide on the same afternoon at Riverton by shooting himself in the left breast with a shotgun, the charge entering above the heart. He now lies in the Wallace Hospital in a precarious condition.
All through life it’s just the same, The “Fit” the prizes win;
And that’s why Marshall’s Fospherine, Will give you plenty vim.
The nerves it steadies, grit it gives, “Cold feet” it scares away;
Sleep that’s sweet it brings at night. Makes light of work next day.... -Otago Daily Times, 12/4/1922.
IN MEMORIAM.
FERRIER — In Loving Memory of Alexander Ferrier, who died April 13, 1922.
There is one link death cannot sever; Fond remembrance lives for ever.
Inserted by his, sister, Grace Gray, Riverton. -Western Star, 9/4/1925.
I do not think that I have found enough in Alexander Ferrier's life to assess it - and I think it is not my place to do so. Most telling is the 1907 phrase: "the young man's home surroundings were not of the best."
Perhaps it should rest at that. Perhaps it should be remembered that, as novelist L P Hartley once wrote, "the past is a foreign country."
No comments:
Post a Comment