Flying flathead

In May 1909 the peace of Skipton Street was broken by flying flathead after two men stole fish from the local fish shop.

The details
The case was reported in fully in the Geelong Advertiser: STREET BLACKGUARDISM WELL-DESERVED PUNISHMENT. At the City Police Court on Wednesday. William Henry Stout was charged with being drunk, assaulting Gaetano Carra and with using obscene language: and Patrick Joseph Duggan was charged with drunkenness, obscene language and with the theft of four flatheads. Constable Stewart deposed that on the previous night he arrested Duggan and Stout in Skipton-street, and both used very bad language. Both were drunk, and Carra stated that Stout had assaulted him. There was a large number of young girls going home from work, and the men used filthy language for three blocks. In fact they could not be quietned.

Gataeno Carra, a fish shop proprietor in Skipton-street said that the two men went to his shop. He was in the backyard when someone called him. He saw Duggan with four flatheads in his pockets. Stout took three fish and threw them at witness, and then struck him on the head. He missed about 9d. worth from his shop. Constable Stewart, re-called, said that the men were not very drunk.

In his own defence, Stout elected to be sworn, and then stated that he did not use obscene language. He met the police near the Western Ocean Hotel, and Stewart, who had hold of Duggan. punched him and Duggan also. He said. "You're not game to sing it out so that everyone can hear." Sergeant Beckman: Did you not use very bad language at the Redan watchhouse —I did not. Why did you assault Carra?—Well. Mrs. Carra was chasing Duggan with a rabbit, and I took the fish from Duggan and threw them at somebody. To Mr. Murphy. P.M.; Duggan had the fish for some hours but I don't know where he got them. Duggan pleaded that be bought the fish down the street at 11 o'clock in the morning "from a chap with a red moustache." Later on when he went to Carra's. Mrs. Carra hit him over the head with a rabbit, and he threw the fish at her.

Sundry priors were proved against Stout, and one against Duggan. Stout was fined £10 for using obscene language, and £5 for assault: while Duggan was fined £1 for obscene language. The charge of larceny was remanded until Friday. The default in the case of Stout was fixed at four months, and in Duggan's at seven days. Bail was allowed in £10 in Duggan's case, and Stout was refused time in which to pay.

Duggan was accused of being involved with the theft of jewellery and a revolver from the Western Ocean Hotel.