William Edward Linn1

M, #1635, b. 22 January 1876, d. 13 April 1943
FatherWilliam Linn1
MotherHarriet Herbert1 b. 12 Feb 1845, d. 15 May 1910
Relationship2nd cousin 3 times removed of Timothy George Sheens
Last Edited9 Dec 2021
Birth*22 January 1876 Camden, NSW1 
Marriage*26 December 1900 St Barnabas', Orange, NSW;Bride=Mary Elizabeth Lockhart2 
Birth of Son29 July 1901 Orange, NSW;Principal=Herbert Lockhart Linn3 
Birth of Son15 March 1903 Orange, NSW;Principal=Edward Cunningham Linn4 
Birth of Son14 May 1905 Orange, NSW;Principal=Harold Purcell Linn5 
Birth of Son3 June 1907 Orange, NSW;Principal=Reginald Athol Linn6 
Birth of Son7 March 1909 Orange, NSW;Principal=Walter William Linn7 
Death of Mother15 May 1910 Orange, NSW;Principal=Harriet Herbert8 
Birth of Son26 March 1911 Orange, NSW;Principal=Harry Milton Linn9 
Birth of Daughter1913 Orange, NSW;Principal=Lilian Ida Linn10 
Birth of Daughter15 March 1915 Orange, NSW;Principal=Violet Valerie Linn11 
Article*27 September 1915 "The Leader", Orange, NSW;
ALLEGED WIFE DESERTION
William Edward Linn will appear before Mr. Marriott, P.M., at the local court to-morrow morning on a charge of wife desertion. He was arrested in Auckland, New Zealand, and was brought back by Constable Perkins on an extradition warrant on Thursday. When presented at the court on Friday he aplied for bail, which was refused.12 
Article24 November 1915 "The Leader", Orange, NSW;
WIFE DESERTION ALLEGED.
William Edward Linn was charged |with wife desertion at Orange on July 12. He pleaded not guilty, and conducted his own defence.
The following jury was empannelled: Willie Hicks, Win. J. Gartrell, Fredk E. Haynes, John T. Oates, Conrad F. Schmich, George Couldwell, Wm. A. Grassick, John E. Edye, George H. Cantrill, Charles Blunt (foreman) Allan E. Baker, John H. Kerr.
Defendant's wife deposed that on the date in question she and her husband had a disagreement over his as sociations with another woman, and she believed she told him that in consequence thereof they had better separate. He had a carrying business, and in the good times earned from £1 to £8, and latterly from £3 to £4 a week. He left her and went to New Zealand, and did not provide for her and their eight children. Two horses and two lorries were left on her hands, and she rented them for £2 a month. They wore mortgaged, and had since been sold by the mortgagee. After the lower court hearing he went away to Sydney, and had not sent her any money since.
To accused: I did not tell you on July 12 to clear out and not come to the house and pollute the children, nor did I shut the door in your face. After you were granted bail you proposed going away and getting work, and that I should then join you.
To his Honor: We were to go where this thing is not known. I agreed if he did this I would go to him.
To accused: The first week after you left me you wrote and told me where there was £63 odd to collect. Up to the time of your arrest in September I received none of this, but since then I have collected £7 of it. I did not receive a letter from you from New Zealand, saying you thought I had been sufficiently punished, and that you would make a home for me there.
To His Honor: Mr. Beplate was supposed to owe my husband the money, but he denied it, saying my husband owed him £4/4.
To Mr. Moriarty: He wrote me from Sydney, saying he was going to the front, and would not return to Australia. He further stated that, if I repented for what I said to him, he would make a home for me in some other country.
Witness (to his Honor): I would like the court to see this book. I found it amongst his papers. It purports to show what moneys were due by Beplate to my husband.
To Mr. Moriarty: My husband was a good, hard working man before this episode transpired.
Constable Perkins gave evidence of having brought the accused back from New Zealand.
Accused, addressing the jury, stated he and his wife had been disagreeing for two years. His wife accused him of being the father of the other woman's child. She did that in Summer street. He told his wife that, if she separated the other woman from her husband, lie would contribute to her support, and he did this for a time. His object in gong to New Zealand was to make a home in a new country. Those whom she thought were her friends were really her enemies. They had corrupted her mind, and that led to the trouble. He was still agreeable to take her and the children away and make a new home for them, away from these associations. In New Zealand he did not conceal his identity, and he wrote to his wife from there. If he had wanted to beat the police he could have done so.
His Honor, in summing up, said this was the first time in his experience that he had seen a man charged with wife desertion under the Crimes Act, although it was a common procedure in the police court.
The judge went carefully into the legal aspect of the case, which he pointed out, was not in favor of the accused.
The jury retired at 11.42, and returned into court at 12.50 with a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy, on account of his previous good character.
Accused was remanded for sentence.13 
Death*13 April 1943 Manly, NSW14 

Family

Mary Elizabeth Lockhart
Children

Citations

  1. [S13] NSW Birth Index, 9464/1876 William Edward Linn.
  2. [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Leader (Orange), Tuesday, January 1, 1901.
  3. [S13] NSW Birth Index, 25113/1901 Herbert L Linn.
  4. [S13] NSW Birth Index, 14726/1903 Edward C Linn.
  5. [S13] NSW Birth Index, 16123/1905 Harold P Linn.
  6. [S13] NSW Birth Index, 27399/1907 Reginald A Linn.
  7. [S13] NSW Birth Index, 17401/1909 Walter W Linn.
  8. [S11] NSW Death Index, 6547/1910 Harriet Linn.
  9. [S440] Orange Parish Registers, baptism Harry Milton Linn 1911.
  10. [S13] NSW Birth Index, 22207/1913 Lilian I Linn.
  11. [S13] NSW Birth Index, 9044/1915 Violet V Linn.
  12. [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Leader (Orange), Monday, September 27, 1915.
  13. [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Leader (Orange), Wednesday, November 24, 1915.
  14. [S11] NSW Death Index, 10545/1943 William Edward Linn.