“A Well Developed Bump”
John Joseph Challoner, not a name well known for criminal acts in Adelaide, but back in the late 1800s through to circa 1913, a name well known to Police and Prison guards all too well in Adelaide.
Mr Challoner was a serial lawbreaker, spending more than 40 years in prison for crimes ranging from larceny, unlawful possession of goods, false pretences, forgery and one charge of “An unnatural act”.
Challoner was described in The Advertiser in 1913 as “A tall man with pointed features and a small beard who has spent more than half his 76 years behind prison walls”
Challoner began his life of imprisonment in 1867 when he was first sentenced and gaoled by a magistrate for six months. He was caught again, trialled and convicted for indecent assault in 1870, for which he received two years gaol.
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| Inside Adelaide Gaol - Photo by Allen Tiller |
Challoners law-breaking and imprisonments continued into his old age, when in 1913, aged 76 years old he was charged with stealing a silver plated teapot from Maria Attridge.
Maria lived on Halifax Street in the city, she left for work as per usual on May 28th at 10am, and returned at 4pm, to find her house had been broken into and her precious teapot gone. She dutifully reported the theft to the Police.
Yetta Akolsen, a general dealer in Adelaide, reported to Police that Challoner had come into her shop and pulled a silver-plated teapot from under his coat. He stated the teapot belonged to him and his wife. Yetta, knowing no different, until after she had read about the theft in a newspaper later that day, paid Challoner a small amount of money for it.
Challoner was arrested in Adelaide that evening by a police inspector.
The court proceedings became a bit of comedy session when the defence for Challoner, upon questioning from the prosecution stated that Mr Challoner had a bad fall and cannot remember anything – proceedings reportedly went something like this:
Mr Muirhead; “Don't you know the accused had a fall?"
The Witness; “No”
Mr Muirhead; “But hasn't he got a bump on the back of his head?"
Witness; “Yes, and it is pretty well developed, too.” (Laughter.)
Mr Muirhead; “The accused pleads guilty, but that he does not remember anything about it. The other day he hurt his head, and he does not recollect what had occurred since."
Sub-Inspector Edwards; “He is suffering from sticky fingers." (Laughter.) .
Challoner was ordered another 3 months to his already lengthy prison record.
Challenor was then charged with having stolen an overcoat, an accordion, a shirt and a coat, valued at £2 10/, belonging to Henry J. Gardiner. For this crime, Challoner was sentenced to a further 6 months.
At this time, Challoner, for some reason only known to him, stated to the court that he had in his possession a floor rug that he had stolen "From an old woman’s place”, the judge sentenced him to a further 2 months imprisonment, to run concurrently, with an urge for him to be treated for Kleptomania...
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