I located the following article written about my great-great-grandfather, Michael Hogan. It appeared in the “Farmer’s Journal and Gardener’s Chronicle” (Melbourne, Vic.: 1862-1864), Friday 29 July 1864, page 4 under “Accidents & Offences”
“Accidents and Offences – In the district court, on Tuesday, an aged blind man named Michael Hogan, residing at Gardiner’s Creek Road, was fined £5, 20s damages, and 23s costs, for having in his possession improperly and unlawfully certain trees, to wit, two gum trees, belonging to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Corporation of Melbourne. The evidence was taken the previous day and the court postponed its decision to enable the defendant to bring evidence as to the way in which the trees got into his yard.”
“The information was lodged by Inspector Dobbs, who stated that he had ascertained that two trees had been removed from Fawkner Park, South Yarra, the stumps of which were left. He went to the spot, and observed the traces of dray wheels, which he followed to the defendant’s yard. There he saw the trees in question. On comparing the butt of one, about six feet in circumference, with one of the standing stumps, he found that the two ends corresponded in form, in the fitting of a long splinter, and in the rotten core. The wheel ruts also corresponded with certain ruts in the yard. This statement was confirmed by Constable Armstrong.”
“The defendant said he had simply bargained with a man to bring him certain loads of green wood, at 2s per load, and the man had delivered these trees under the agreement. As he could say no more yesterday, the penalty above mentioned was inflicted. In connection with this case Mr. Hackett remarked that the injury done to public property by the destruction of ornamental trees could not be compensated for by any penalties in the power of the bench to inflict. In consideration probably of the infirmities of the defendant, the fine in this instance was mitigated.”
Slight variations of the same article appeared in the following papers:
“Leader” (Melbourne 1862-1918) Saturday 30 July 1864, page 3 – “Accidents & Offences.”
“The Herald” (Melbourne Vic 1861-1954) Wednesday 27th July 1864, page 2 – “Theatre Royal”
“The Age” (Melbourne, Vic.:1854-1954), Wednesday 27 July 1864, page 5 under “The News of the Day”)
My “Michael Hogan – At His Majesty’s Pleasure” – (pages 10-15) is just one of many profiles published in “Port Phillip Pioneer Profiles, Volume Four” – Compiled by Maree A. Posthuma – Published 2002.
We knew then he ‘had sore eyes’ from a letter written in June 1856 back to his brother Mathew in Ireland but we didn’t know until this article – he was blind!
I LOVE THE PPPG and I LOVE TROVE
Contributed by Anne Mavric – PPPG Member No. 1171