Tales from the Bench

Posted on Saturday, 29th November 2025 by Janine Rizzetti

What stories our Magistrates’ Bench could tell!

The Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court heard cases from as far afield as Warrandyte, and on 29 November 1915 one such case was heard before Dr Rollason and Dr King, two local JPs. It involved the theft of a military overcoat No 5177, the property of the Defence department. William Guy, a soldier, and James Foster were charged with stealing the military overcoat issued to Francis W. Carrocan, a member of the Light Horse Citizen Forces. The coat, valued at £1/14/9d, had been left in the jinker cart driven by Mr Carrocan’s father when he went to visit his brother-in-law, and the theft was reported to the police. The charges against William Guy were dropped, but James Foster pleaded guilty. He said that he was an orphan and had tried three times to enlist, but had been unsuccessful each time. He admitted that he had had “a few drinks” on the day in question, and was not responsible for anything he did. He was fined £3 with 4s costs.

The magistrates’ bench is still there, but there are no fines, only enjoyment, at the Old Heidelberg Court House now. Visit us on Sunday between 2.00 and 5.00 to see our ‘Heidelberg of the Heidelberg Artists’ exhibition, perhaps before or after a visit to the Heidelberg Artists’ work up in the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub. Entry $5.00, members and children free. Our last opening for 2025 will be on Sunday 7 December