May 1847 happenings

A little unwanted attention for the 11th this month, as three separate disputes with civilians occurred - two in Tasmania and one in South Australia. One was a  very public disruption at the theatre by members of the 11th.

The Courier
Saturday 8 May 1847
BIRTH. At Norfolk Island, on the 21st February, the lady of Captain THORNTON, of the 11th regiment, of a Son.

The Cornwall Chronicle 
Saturday 15 May 1847
This usually quiet Township has been the scene of considerable excitement owing to an unfortunate misunderstand ing between Mr. Hope the Landlord of the Hoss Hotel and one of the officers of the 11th Regiment, it teems that a Company of the Regiment having arrived at Hoss en route, in charge of Lieut. Ball, that officer was quartered at the 'Hotel.' On the evening of Sunday the 2nd inst. Mr. Ball being detained from his quarters on duty until past ten o'clock, did not reach the 'Hotel' before the house was closed. On requesting admittance the landlord is said to have declined letting him in, unless he came in a private capacity, and interrogated him respecting him staying out so late. The Lieutenant put out his band to receive the candle for Mr. Hope, who thereupon forced him out of doors, and shut the door against him. Lieut. Ball then repaired to the District Constable, and that officer returned with the Lieutenant to Mr. Hopes, but his remonstrances were in vain, Mr Hope persisting in refusing admission, except in a private capacity. Lieut. Ball contented to these terms, and went to bed. The next morning on demanding his Bill, Mr. Hope charged him One pound seven shillings which the officer paid although he did not take the slightest refreshment at the Hotel. The case bas been represented to the Police magistrate of the District, and the hearing postponed in consequence of the Lieutenant's absence at Launceston. The Licensed Victuallers are certainly not well-used on all occasions in these billeting proceedings, but some of the people of Hoss think that the conduct of 'Mine Host' of the 'Hotel' in this instance is open to animad version.

Colonial Times (Hobart)
Tuesday 18 May 1847
Fracas at the Theatre
Strange conduct of "Soldier Officers" - On Friday evening last a party of young soldier officers, attached respectively to the 11th and 96th Regiments, at present in garrison here, accompanied by some civilian friends, entered the Theatre at half-price, paying the usual admittance fee of 1 s. 6d. to the upper boxes. Instead, however, of proceeding to that part of the house, they rushed en masse into a private box on the left hand from the stage, where they ensconced themselves, smoking the while, and speaking in a tone which, added to the smoking, very greatly annoyed two parties of ladies and gentlemen who occupied the adjoining boxes. Being apprised of this gross infringement of the very proper regulations of the Theatre, Lovell, the check-taker, hastened to the box, and remonstrated with them upon the impropriety of their conduct. For this he received only abuse and ill-treatment; but persisting in his remonstrance, a disturbance ensued, which resulted in the beating of Lovell, and in the interference of Constables Chapman and Sharpe (both most well-conducted officers), and in the
taking into custody of a young officer named Good, we believe a lieutenant.
On taking this young gentleman to the watchhouse at the Police station, a Mr. Lambert, with Mr. Cumberland, jun., both "soldier officers," accompanied him for the purpose of bailing him out, and in Macquarie-street Mr. Lambert abused the constables by every opprobrious epithet he could use. For this, Mr. Lambert was charged by Chapman, at the Police-office on Saturday, with using obscene language, and Sharpe and Lovell were called to prove the case, when they stated the language used by Mr. Lambert, which was of the most beastly description. On the part of Mr. Lambert, however, Mr. Cumberland, jun., was called, and he positively asserted that Mr. Lambert had used no obscene or improper language towards the complainant. He admitted, however, that Mr Lambert had declared that the Theatre 'ought to be burned down, when gentlemen were insulted in that manner'. Upon this evidence, the case against Mr. Lambert was dismissed - Mr. Good was now placed upon his defence for assaulting Sharpe, and destroying his hat. It was shown that this young gentleman had broken his walking-stick over Sharpe's head, demolishing his hat, and doing other damage to his person. With a most kind consideration for the gallant defendant, the worthy Magistrate, Mr. Mason, allotted Mr. Good to compromise the matter with Sharpe by paying for the damage done to his hat.
Mr. Good, availing himself of this liberty, retired from the office, and very liberally offered Sharpe half-a-crown. This paltry sum for a hat destroyed and a head broken, the constable refused, when the large sum of 10s. was produced, and ultimately accepted.
But this is not all. Yesterday, the check-taker, Lovell, was brought before the bench. upon an information charging him with assaulting Mr. Good, an officer of the 11th Regiment, on Friday night last. Mr. Carter sat with Mr. Mason, to hear this and other information cases. From the evidence adduced it was shown that the defendant, in attempting to remove a cigar from the mouth of the complainant, struck him on the mouth, and injured his face. It also came out, that before this occurred Lovell had civilly requested the gentlemen to cease smoking in the Theatre, as it was not only contrary to the rules, but extremely annoying to ladies in the private and other boxes. It was likewise shown, that the complainant struck Lovell with his stick, which was broken, and that his (Lovell's) hand was cut and bruised. In short, the facts we have already stated, and the language we have alluded to were proved, and the evidence being concluded, Mr. Mason considered the charge fully proved against the defendant ; and was of opinion that he ought to be fined five pounds! To this Mr. Carter decidedly objected If a conviction must follow, he thought one shilling would amply meet the case.
It had been shown that these - he would not call them "gentlemen,'' had behaved in a very improper manner, and from what he had heard, and Indeed from what he himself knew, he was perfectly aware that their conduct at the Theatre, as well as elsewhere, was anything but gentlemanly. No respectable family could visit the Theatre, if such proceedings were tolerated.. He (Mr. Carter) should certainly object to the imposition of so large a fine, under the circumstances of the case. After some discussion the information was withdrawn, to be again tried, if the complainant thinks proper, by two other Magistrates.
We have a few observations to make upon the conduct of Mr. Mason, throughout the course of the whole of these proceedings. On Saturday, while waiting for Mr. Lambert's case, that "gentleman" and his friends were politely invited to await the trial in Mr. Mason's private room ; and during the progress of the trial, every possible attention was paid to the defendant and his witnesses by his Worship. One circumstance we could not but particularly notice, namely, the unchecked interference of a civilian unconnected in any way with the legal profession, who kindly prompted the defendant in his defence, and acted in fact as his legal adviser, with the exception of personally examining the witnesses, and addressing the Bench. Yesterday also a marked leaning towards Mr. Good in this Instance a complainant, was evinced by Mr. Mason, so much so Indeed, and coupled with the same demonstration on Saturday, as to have excited considerable sensation in the subtle mind. There has been of late a strange inconsistency in the decisions of our police Magistrate, which, is hoped, will be avoided for the future.
We may add that we have just heard that a portion of the party who created the disturbance at the Theatre on Friday night, and who have figured so unworthily before the Police Bench, again visited the Theatre last evening, and persisted in smoking, and in otherwise annoying the audience. Is such behaviour becoming either an officer or a gentleman? and Is not such conduct amenable to the interposition of a court martial? We say no more for the present, but we earnestly beseech these young men to desist in time.

The Sydney Morning Herald 
Tuesday 18 May 1847
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVALS.
May 17.-Peri, brig, 146 tons, Captain Gwatkin, from Launceston the 12th instant. Passengers - Major Singleton, 11th Regiment, and Mr. R. Singleton.

South Australian
Tuesday 25 May 1847
QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY. YESTERDAY being the Anniversary of her Majesty's birthday, his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor held the usual levee at Government House, at one o'clock. His Excellency was attended by the members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, and by the officers of the detachment of the 11th Regiment stationed in Adelaide.

Adelaide Observer (SA)
Saturday 29 May 1847
John Blosom, a private of the 11th Regt., was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and assaulting the police in the execution of their duty.
It appeared from the evidence of P.C. Jasper, that Blosom had been walking with a brother soldier, whom be bad taken the liberty of knocking down, and the policeman when in the act of stooping to pick him up, received from the prisoner a blow in the facee which sent him spinning off the footpath into the middle of the street.
The Commissioner inflicted the penalty of 40s., and in default, of payment, fourteen days imprisonment.

The Courier (Hobart) 
Saturday 29 May 1847
PORT OF LAUNCESTON
May 22 - Sailed the brig Henry 107 tons, Tregurtha, for Adelaide, E. P. Tregurtha, agent. Passengers-Mr. J. F. Bennett, Mr. Morton King, Mr. M. O'Meara, Wm. Tait and three children ; J. Brown and wife; J. Baptiste, Mrs. Day, M. Kanney. J. Corrindand, B. Macnamara and three children ; five privates 11th regiment, V. B. Wood.

The Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston)
Saturday 29 May 1847
MARRIED. — At Trinity Church, Launceston, on the 29th instant, by the Rev. Thomas Reibey, Owen Florence Louis Ward, Captain in Her Majesty's 11th Regiment, and only son of James Ward, Esq., of Willey Place, Farnham, Surrey, to Annie Alice, fifth daughter of Major Harvey Welman, late 57th Regiment.