Captured: Portraits of Crime 1870-1930 - Flipbook - Page 42
18 91 - 19 3 8
DA R L I N G H U R S T
GAO L
L O N G B AY
GAO L
DISORDER
Thomas Maguire
R I O T O U S B E H AV I O U R , D R U N K A N D D I S O R D E R LY
Thomas Maguire, a labourer from Sydney or Newcastle born
c. 1876, was convicted of criminal offences multiple times
from 1891 to 1938. During this almost five decade period, he
was photographed on at least seven occasions at Darlinghurst
and State Penitentiary, Long Bay gaols.
Maguire was also known as John Nathan, James Coady, James
Roley, Donald Foley and Thomas James, and he committed crimes
across all offence categories. The majority were against good
order and included riotous behaviour, loitering, drunk and
disorderly, indecent language, offensive behaviour, insulting
words and vagrancy. Offences against property encompassed
malicious injury, receiving stolen goods, stealing, larceny
and illegal use of a horse. He committed petty offences such
as throwing stones, rail and steamer fare evasion, not paying
licences and failure to pay the costs of an appeal. He was
convicted of malicious wounding, common assault, assaulting
police and wilfully and obscenely exposing his person. Maguire
had one conviction for uttering.
Maguire appeared before lower courts in Redfern,
Newtown, central Sydney, Penrith, Tamworth, Maitland,
Singleton, Morpeth, Newcastle, Moree, Narrabri, Wyong and
Werris Creek. He served sentences that ranged from rising
of the court — which lasted only a few seconds—to two years
hard labour. He was charged with so many offences over such
a long time that authorities at one point became confused
as to which crimes he had actually committed.
At the start of Maguire’s long criminal career
photographic portraiture of prisoners was the most modern
and effective means used to identify offenders. This was
particularly effective in cases such as Maguire where criminals
42
