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Residence date: 1913
Residence place: Rockhampton North, Capricornia, Queensland, Australia
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Residence date: 1903
Residence place: Rockhampton North, Capricornia, Queensland, Australia
- [S_1468638703] Ancestry.com, London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.Original data - Board of Guardian Records, 1834-1906 and Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1906. London Metropolitan Archives, London.Images produced by permission of the City ), London Metropolitan Archives, Limehouse St Anne, Register of Baptism, p93/ann, Item 007.
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Death date: 1920
Death place: Queensland
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Birth date: abt 1851
Birth place: Stepney, Middlesex, England
Residence date: 1861
Residence place: Hackney, Middlesex, England
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Birth date: abt 1842
Birth place: Limehouse, Middlesex, England
Residence date: 1851
Residence place: Stepney, Middlesex, England
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Marriage date: Apr 1858
Marriage place: Essex
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- .
St Annes Limehouse, Stepney: James Thomas Coker. Parents William Coker Master Rigger and Mother Jane. id no. 4086, entry no 2098 : Birth date 22 Sept 1841,
Baptism date 24 Oct 1841. <hr>
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1851 census for 10 Henry Street, Stepney.
Jane Coker, head, widow, aged 44, Rigger's widow, born Wapping, Middlesex
William J. T. Coker, son, unm, aged 19, apprentice grainer & house decorator, born Limehouse
Edward Coker, son, aged 11, scholar, born Limehouse
James T Coker, son, aged 9, scholar
Caroline Livingstone, visitor, married, aged 33, born Islington
Charlotte Winbourne, nurse, married, aged 41, servant nurse, born Greenwich, Kent <hr>
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1861 census for Tower Hamlets, Stepney, London, England, 76 Church St:
James Thomas Coker, 20, Warehouseman born Stepney
Emily Coker, 20, born Barking, Essex
Jane Elizabeth Coker, 2, born Ratcliff, Middlesex.
Ref: RG09, Piece 158, Folio 33 , Page 13 <hr>
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23 July 1867 saw the passing of the Coker connection to Narrow Street when brothers William John Tyler Coker, Edward Coker, James Thomas Coker and Francis Coker plus trustees James Swinton and uncle John Stonehewer surrendered the leases to the Lord of the Manor of Stepney. On the family's advice the leases were transferred to Henry Vane, the original partner of the boys' grandfather William Coker who started the business at 7 Narrow Street Ratcliffe.
NORTH ROCKHAMPTON MUNICIPALITY.
A MEETING of the North Rockhampton Municipal Council was hold in the Foresters' Hall, North Rockhampton, last evening, for the purpose of considering applications for the office of Town Clerk, and also to transact other business. Present :-The Mayor, and Aldermen Nobbs, Bennett, Wackford, Considine, Spencer, Norris, Paterson, and Elliott.
APPOINTMENT OF TOWN CLERK, &C.
The Mayor read applications from tho following gentlemen for the position of Town Clerk, viz.:-Messrs. W. R. Part. H. A. Brown, J. P. Delaney, J. Coker, J. Foran, H. Skinner, F. J. Batchelor, J. Vautin, and W. H. A. Phillips. References were forwarded as to the character and capabilities of Messrs. Part and Brown.
A letter was received from Mr. Thomas O'Connell licensed surveyor, stating his willingness to offer in anticipation of work required to be done in connection with the municipality terms for the alignment of the streets, levelling for the formation of road and drainage, and compilation of necessary mains to facilitate the operations of the Council ; he might inform them that he was engaged in similar work by the Gogango Divisional Board.
Alderman CONSIDINE moved that the communications be received, which was seconded by Alderman Norris and agreed to.
The MAYOR requested all aldermen to rise when the wished to address the meeting. Alderman BENNETT proposed that they resolve themselves into Committee of the Whole, for the purpose of considering applications for the position of Town Clerk.-Alderman ELLIOTT (seconded the motion.-Alderman Nobbs asked if all the references had been read, to which the MAYOR replied in the affirmative. -Mr. W. Part, acting Town Clerk, and an applicant for the permanent position, then left the room, and a discussion in Committee was carried on.-On resuming Alderman BENNETT reported that it had been decided after due deliberation to recommend that James Coker be appointed Town Clerk.-Alderman Nobbs moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Alderman WACKFORD, and agreed to-The MAYOR moved that the thanks of the Council be conveyed by means of a letter to the late acting Town Clerk for his services in that capacity.-Alderman Norris seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to.
Alderman WACKFORD moved that a copy of the Divisional Board rate roll he taken, and that they collect the rate roll ; also that an advertisement be be inserted in the local papers stating that the said rates be paid forthwith at the temporary Council Chandlers, Foresters' Hall, North Rockhampton.-Alderman SPENCER seconded the motion.-Mr. Coker then took his position as Town Clerk, and was greeted with a hearty shake of the hand by the MAYOR, who remarked that he was glad that he had been elected Town Clerk. From his past action in helping the consummation of that great event he hoped he would use every endeavour still to forward it and do his duty not only to himself, but to the Council and district generally. He felt sure they all wished him success in his office. (Applause). In speaking to the motion, he remarked that he had made inquiries and found that in the statement that would be handed them by the Board they would be charged with the cost of making the statement and preparing the rate book. They would not be allowed to take a copy of the rate book unless they paid for it. He thought the motion was premature, but would not move an amendment.-Alderman NOBBS read clauses 51 and 77 of the Local Government Act, and expressed an opinion that the only thing to be done was to instruct the Town Clerk to prepare a rough list or roll from the Divisional Board rate book.-Alderman ELLIOTT moved as an amendment that the Town Clerk be instructed to write the Chairman of the Divisional Board, requesting permission to copy from the books a list of the last assessments made by them on property within the boundary of North Rockhampton for the purpose of making a Voters' roll. - Alderman BENNETT seconded the amendment. -
Alderman NOBBS said that in looking up the Local Government Act, he found they had a great deal to do, and if the Mayor did not mind he would meet him any day and go over the Act carefully, so that they could work properly. He would also accompany him in his official capacity as Mayor to the Divisional Board, and see what was to be done. He took the Act to mean that they must have an act made by a certain date and if it was not done application would be have to be made for an extension of time. It would facilitate matters to let the matter stand over until next meeting, and inquiries could be made in the meantime. If necessary a special meeting be called.-After a few remarks from Alderman SPENCER in favour of the amendment, it was adopted.
Alderman WACKFORD moved that the Finance Committee be authorised to procure all books and stationery that may be required for the work of the Council, and also a seal for their use.-Alderman CONSIDINE seconded the motion.-Alderman NOBBS remarked it was usual to leave expenditure up to a certain amount in the hands of the Mayor.- The motion, after being amended so as to read, " and all requisite articles " it was adopted.- Alderman NOBBS, who opposed it, calling on the Town Clerk to make a minute of his vote.
Alderman SPENCER moved that a Legislative Committee be formed; to consist of the Mayor, Alderman Bennett, and the mover. Such a Committee had power to form by-laws, which it was necessary to adopt before debates could be carried on in proper form.- Alderman CONSIDINE seconded the motion.- The Mayor spoke in favour of the proposition, and Alderman NOBBS expressed an opinion that it was desirable a notice paper should be supplied to members, as they were not aware what subjects were to come on for discussion. He tendered a few words of advice as to how they should act, and said that though it might appear he was captious he did not intend to be so, but it was his wish to get them into proper working order. He again remarked on the necessity of notice papers being furnished, as it was impossible for them to read up a whole Act of Parliament. Alderman Spencer might smile, but it was no laughing matter.-Alderman SPENCER : You have no right to allude to me.-Alderman NOBBS : I saw you laugh, and I have a right to speak.-Several aldermen proceeded to speak on the previous resolution, when they were called to order, and the motion unanimously adopted.
Alderman BENNETT moved that Mr. C. S. D. Melbourne be appointed legal adviser to the Council.-The MAYOR explained the terms under which the gentleman named had promised to act as their solicitor. He required 20 pounds per annum for giving advice and attending tho Police Court in all cases for appeals against assessments, etc, but extra would be charged for drawing out documents and attending the District Court.-Alderman CONSIDINE seconded the motion, which was agreed to.
[LEFT SITTING].
NORTH ROCKHAMPTON MUNICIPALITY. (1883, November 6). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878-1954), p. 2. Retrieved March 5, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52076803
<hr>
Rockhampton Morning Bulletin 13 September 1890 page 5
NORTH ROCKHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL
THE TOWN CLERK ARRESTED.
A special meeting of the North Rockhampton Council was called for ten o'clock yesterday morning for the purpose of considering what further steps should be taken in view of the defalcations admitted by the late Town Clerk, James Coker.
It was not called as a meeting of Committee, but immediately on the aldermen assembling the Mayor proposed that the Council resolve itself into Committee - a motion that was seconded by Alderman Nobbs, and carried by a unanimous vote.
There was a bare quorum present, the aldermen in attendance being - Aldermen Thompson (Mayor), Nobbs, Norris, Lewis, and Linnett. The proceedings being conducted in private, we are unable to give a detailed report, but the Mayor has kindly furnished us with the following resume:
"He (the Mayor) informed the Council that on Wednesday evening, after the meeting held that day, he saw Mr. H. C. Miller, (government auditor, and asked him to make a special detailed examination of all the books.
Mr. Miller wired to the Auditor-General next morning embodying the request, and during the day received a message authorising him to proceed with the audit. On Thursday morning he (the Mayor) had an interview with the late Town Clerk, and he confessed to defalcations to the amount of 450 pounds, and handed him a complete list of the sums misappropriated, also a number of butts of receipt books, from which he had issued receipts for the sums embezzled.
Subsequently, Mr. Miller and himself, with the assistance of the statement and books given in by the late Clerk, made a complete investigation, and traced the system he had adopted. It was to give receipts for moneys paid out of hooks held privately by him, which of course were never submitted to the auditors, and which moneys were not passed through the books in the ordinary way.
There were, as aldermen were aware, printed receipt books, each receipt being machine numbered, and numbered consecutively. One set was for general and loan rates, and the other for miscellaneous receipts. The Clerk had issued all his receipts on these forms, but in the case of the moneys he had embezzled, he had taken them from books numbered considerably in advance of those that should then have been in use. In the books for rates he had carried on the amounts paid from year to year as arrears, and the presumption was that he had omitted them from the notices issued yearly to ratepayers.
Altogether, the Clerk had had eleven books that he used privately, and it appeared, both from the list he handed in at the time he confessed to the amount of his defalcations, and from the butts of the receipt books, that the system had been in operation from 1886 up till the time he was suspended from office.
The year in which money was received was not entered in the private receipt books, but from the books of the Council he discovered that there had been misappropriations in each year since 1886. On ascertaining these facts he had called the Council together to decide what course should be taken in the matter.
Although the actual sum embezzled was only 450 pounds, yet the Council had practically lost 1000 pounds. The difference was shown in this way - 258 pounds of the 450 pounds was for general rates, and presuming that the greater part of it was entitled to the double endowment, that is at the rate of 2 pounds for 1 pound, an endowment of 516 pounds would have been received. That would bring the total to 986 pounds, or virtually 1000 pounds.
After some discussion resolution was passed, empowering the Mayor to instruct the borough Solicitor, Mr. W Thompson, to institute criminal proceedings against the Clerk." Subsequently informations were sworn against James Coker for appropriating to his own use the sum of 2 pounds 10 shillings, alleged to have been received by him for the sale of timber on the Queen's Park, and a further amount of 3 pounds 0 shillings seven pence. alleged to have been paid to him for rates.
A warrant was then issued, and Coker was quietly arrested at his residence, North Rockhampton, shortly after five o'clock in the evening, by Detective Clark, and conveyed from the Fitzroy Bridge to the lockup in a cab. He will be brought before the Police Magistrate this morning.
NORTH ROCKHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. (1890, September 13). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878-1954), p. 5. Retrieved January 20, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52337390
<hr>
EMBEZZLEMENT
James Coker, on remand, was charged with having embezzled the sum of 2 pounds 10 shillings received by him as Town Clerk of North Rockhampton on the 5th of July last. Mr. W. Thompson, Borough Solicitor, appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. H. Lyons for the defence.
William George Thompson, Chairman of the Council of the Borough of North Rockhampton, stated : I have been in the Council about two and a-half years and I know the accused, who was in the employ of the Council in the capacity of Town Clerk up till Wednesday last, the 10th instant ; I produce the minute of his appointment, which is in his own (Cokers) handwriting ; the meeting at which he was appointed was held on the 5th of November, 1883; his duties were to make records of the proceedings, receive all moneys due to the Council, place them in the Queensland National Bank to the Council's credit, and pass them through the books, also to disburse moneys, and perform various other things; I know a man named George Toon, who had a contract with the Council for the right of cutting timber off lands the Queen's Park Reserve; it was part of the accused's duty to receive money due by Toon under that contract ; on Thursday, the 11th instant, in my capacity as Chairman of the Council, I had a conversation with the accused at his house in Charles-street, North Rockhampton.
What did he say to you ! - I can't remember the conversation. I can give you the purport of it.
Remember as much as you can of it, as it will have to be taken down. What did you say? - I acquainted him with the decision of the Council on the day previous.
The Police Magistrate : You can at any rate say what he said in effect. I don't suppose you can give us word for word. Mr. Thompson : Give us something. _ I said. "You saw the decision of the Council?" He said "Yes." He then said " The amount is more than you think," and handed me a list, saying " This is a list of it." I produce that list.
The Police Magistrate : Handing you a written document of six pages! - Yes.
Mr. Thompson : In whose handwriting is it - Coker's.
Yes?-In effect he said he thought it was better for his wife and family's sake to make a free admission.
The Police Magistrate : Did he say a free admission of what? - No. He said an admission, hoping that with the guarantee bond, and the amount due to him by the Council (about 40 pounds, amounting in all to 240 pounds, the Council might deal leniently with him.
Mr. Thompson : When he said to you the amount is more than you think, what else did he say? - He said he thought the amount was over 200 pounds.
Did you examine the document? - Yes. I looked casually through it at the time.
Can you say what it purports to be?
The Police Magistrate : It is there to explain itself.
Witness : It does not say what it is.
The Police Magistrate : Anyone looking through the depositions will turn to the document to see what it is.
Mr. Thompson : I will not press the question. What else occurred? - I said, " Have you the receipt butts?"
The Police Magistrate : What receipt butts do you refer to? - For the amounts mentioned in the list.
But was anything said about the amounts before that? - No. The document speaks for itself, you see.
Mr. Thompson : What did he say? - " Yes, I have them all here." I said, "You might give them to me," or " It is better to give them to me," I don't remember which, and he brought out a packet, which contained eleven receipt books, some of which were only partly used ; the butts are not complete ; I did not examine them all at the time, but did so subsequently ; I produce one of the books only a few receipts have been used out of it ; it is a receipt book in the proper form for miscellaneous receipts of the borough.
Is the accused's house the proper place for them to be kept in? No. But it is frequently done.
He had access to the books of the Council? - Yes.
On reference to the receipt book produced, you find an entry George Toon? " - Yes. It is dated the 5th of July, 1890, and in the handwriting of the accused, and is for 2 pounds 10 shillings.
What did you do with the list and the butts of the receipt books ? - I took them to the Council Chamber.
Had you any subsequent conversation with the accused ? - No.
Did he say anything to you about this item 2 pounds 10 shillings, when you saw him on Thursday?
No. I don't think so.
Did he say anything about comparing the receipt butts and the list? - Oh, yes. He asked me to send the acting Clerk if I wished, during the day, and he would go through them and compare them, to see if the list was in accordance with the receipt books. That was in consequence of a question I had previously asked him, - if there were any other receipts outside those contained in the list, and in reply to which he said " No. All the receipts have been given on proper printed forms."
Did you send the acting Clerk up to examine the books and list with the accused? - No.
Did you look through the list, and find the item of pounds 2 pounds 10 shillings, G. Toon, mentioned? - Yes.
It is on the last page.
The Police Magistrate (reading from the list): "G. Toon, Queen's Park account, pounds 2 pounds 10 shillings? - Yes.
Mr. Thompson : If that money had been received the Council where should it have been passed? It should have been passed through the general cash book, and credited to the Queen's Park account.
Have you examined the general cash book of the Council? - Yes.
Did you find an entry for the amount? - No.
Have you been able to discover any entry whatever for it ? - No.
Had the accused any right to detain the money after it was paid by Toon? - No.
Did you examine the list, and add up the amounts? - Yes, in company with Mr. Miller, the Government auditor.
What did you make of it? The Police Magistrate: You are going to call Mr. Miller?
Mr. Thompson : Yes. The Police Magistrate: That information would come with more authority from Mr. Miller, I think. It makes no difference, of course, and I just make the remark as a suggestion.
Mr. Thompson : Did you show the statement to Mr. Miller? - Yes.
Mr. Dawbarn : Where were the receipt books printed? - I really don't know, unless it is stated in the books. I think, though, that they have been printed at the Bulletin and Argus offices at different times. I think we noticed that when going through them.
The Police Magistrate : How are they numbered? Consecutively. From 1 to -? From 1 to 100, and, I believe, carried on in the books of 100; but I have not compared them with the books in the office. They are machine-numbered.
Mr. Dawbarn : Who gave the order for them to be printed? - The Town Clerk does that.
Would he receive authority for it? - I don't know. There was no authority given during my term of office, and I don't think it has ever been the custom for it to be given as far as I can gather.
When the books were delivered from the printing office who would receive them ? -- The Town Clerk.
And he would have charge of them ? Yes.
Would he require to have had the authority of the chairman for the time being? - It has not been the custom.
So you don't know officially what books are ordered? - No.
How often are the accounts audited ? - Half yearly.
And these defalcations have been going on for some years ? - Yes.
Should the auditors, do you think, ask to see all the receipt books there were on hand? - They should. Of course in the light of recent events they should have done so.
Are you aware whether they did or not ?- No
Mr. Thompson : Are there receipt books in the Council in addition to those you received from the accused ?- Yes.
Similar books ? - Yes. Mr. Dawbarn: You said that the Town Clerk's house was not the proper place for receipt books to be kept, but it was sometimes done? - Yes. What I wish to say is that it is frequently done. A clerk takes the books home to get up some back work.
Books that are not in use ? - No. So there was no excuse whatever for the accused having these books at home? -- No reasonable excuse.
Mr. Thompson : The accused has not accounted to you for the 2 pounds 10 shillings. in any other way than in the list? - No.'
George Toon, wood carter, North Rockhampton, produced a stamped receipt, signed by the accused, for 2 pounds paid by him to Coker on the 5th of July last.
Mr. Lyons, who had abstained from cross-examining the witnesses, here explained that the reason he did not ask any questions was because he had been instructed to enter a plea of guilty.
Reginald Charles Miller, inspector of public accounts in connection with the Auditor-General's Department, stated he had in that capacity examined the various books and accounts of the Council of the borough of North Rockhampton, commencing, he thought, on the 12th instant ; there was no entry of an item to correspond with the receipt produced by the last witness in the cash-book, or in any any other books of the Council : it should appear in the cash-book : he had seen the list produced by the Mayor. Mr. Thompson, and totalled each sheet, and also figured up the grand total ; the latter amount was on a separate sheet, which he had not there with him ; the total was 452 pounds, and, he thought, 2 shillings and eight pence, but he was not absolutely certain as to the shillings and pence.
By Mr. Dawbarn: All receipts used by Government officials were on forms printed by the Government Printer, and issued from the Auditor-General's office, a record of which was kept : each receipt was numbered consecutively ; the auditors were furnished with lists of the books issued to the various , offices, and when they went to make an inspection of accounts they saw all the books that had been issued.
Do you think that the auditors of the North Rockhampton Council did their duty?
The Police Magistrate demurred, and the question was not issued.
By the Police Magistrate: No two receipts were issued from the Auditor-General's office with the same letter and numerals.
We have evidence that in the case of the North Rockhampton Council the receipts were numbered consecutively from 1 up to a certain number, and then went back to 1 again, and on again. That cannot take place in connection with the Auditor-General's Department? - No.
This concluded the case for the prosecution.
Accused was further charged with having embezzled the sums of 3 pounds 0 shillings and seven pence. and 11 pounds on the 17th of February and the 15th of April respectively, 1889. The evidence was similar to that given in the first case : Coker received the moneys for and on behalf of the Council, and did not account for them.
Towards the close of the investigation, and while Mr. Miller, the Government auditor, was in the box, Mr. Thompson asked: Can you, from your inspection of the books, say how many years the moneys mentioned on the list given to the Mayor by the accused have been accounted for? - Some were on account of the year 1886, but I cannot say on what dates they are paid, as the dates are not given in the butts of the receipt books, or in the list. The furthest I can trace back is on account of 1886, and I traced that from the rate book itself.
Do you think, from your inspection of the books, that this could have escaped the attention of the local auditors? - Yes. I think it is quite possible. The deficiencies were done in such a manner as in quite little the local auditors, and as to quite exonerate them. I mean that there was no tampering with receipts, but that distinct receipt books were kept.
Mr. Dawbarn: Should they not have insisted on having the usual receipt books provided: You have taken upon yourself to exonerate the local auditors, Mr. Miller.
Now, would not you, as a matter of fact, have asked to see the unused receipt books if you were called on to examine the books? I thought it only due to the local auditors to exonerate them because there appears to have been some reference to them. I could have done no more than they did. As a matter of fact, there was no control over the issue of receipt books. The Town Clerk apparently had the right to go to the printer, and ask for any number of books he liked to be printed.
Has he the right to do so? He apparently had it. I am not here to question his right to do it, but he did it. He apparently gave an order for, say, twenty receipt books, and took ten of these into his office to use for certain purposes. The other ten he took home to use as he liked. Something like that it was.
I should like to call your attention to this minute of the Council, passed in 1883: "That the Finance Committee is authorised to procure all books, stationery, and other requisites that may be required for the working of the Council.' Don't you think it was someone's duty to supervise the issue of receipts books? - I think the system was extremely lax, but that is not part of my duty.
In the face of that do you think the Council exercised proper authority?
The Police Magistrate demurred and put the following question instead: You think there should be some control over the issue of receipt books? - I do.
That was all the evidence offered. Accused was then formally charged, and pleaded guilty to each. He was then committed to sentence at the sitting of the Supreme Court to be held on Wednesday, the 17th instant.
Mr Lyons applied for bail, which he believed would be forthcoming.
The Police Magistrate said the Bench could not grant bail to a man who had pleaded guilty. It had been done in Gympie once, and he (Mr. Ranking) was instructed to stop the offender at Maryborough.
Mr Lyons explained - I thought the reason he had asked for bail was in consequence of urgent private business having cropped up.
The Police Magistrate said Mr. Lyons could apply to His Honour, the Chief Justice, when he was in Rockhampton, for bail.
ROCKHAMPTON POLICE COURT. (1890, September 16). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878-1954), p. 5. Retrieved January 25, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52337467
<hr>
EMBEZZELMENT
James Coker, late Town Clerk of North Rockhampton, was brought up early in the morning for sentence, having pleaded guilty to various charges of embezzlement of moneys belonging to the North Rockhampton Municipal Council.
The Clerk of Arraigns : Have you anything to say why the sentence of the Court should not be passed upon you?
Prisoner: No.
His Honour (to the Crown Prosecutor) : He did not make any discovery of the offence himself, did he?
Thc Crown Prosecutor : No.
His Honour: It was found out by accident?
The Crown Prosecutor : Yes ; it was discovered by the auditor. The prisoner, however, gave every assistance.
His Honour : Well, prisoner, you seem to have been contrite, but it is a very serious offence a breach of confidence extending over four years, and not disclosed until it had been discovered by the auditor. I am quite unable, upon reflection, to give you the benefit of the First Offenders' Probation Act.
You have apparently occupied a position of comparative respectability for twenty-one years, in the enjoyment of the character which you fairly won ; but instead of continuing in it you have gone in for a series of frauds, extending over four years towards your employers. The greater their confidence in you the more should you have been bound in honour not to have abused it. I do not wish to say anything that will give you pain, but when a man stands in your position it is necessary that he must, to some extent, be made an example, which will deter others from the commission of similar offences.
Therefore I cannot give you the benefit of the First Offenders' Probation Act. There is one source of regret which is ever present in the mind of a Judge in cases such as yours ; that is the fact that your family must to a considerable extent be affected by the position in which you have brought yourself. It is always very sad to a Judge, and no doubt it is very saddening to you. I have taken into consideration your conduct since, and I hope your readiness to acknowledge your guilt is a sign of penitence. I shall therefore limit your punishment to the extent of making it an example to others, not with a desire to give expression to that natural resentment which society feels at such an abuse of confidence as in your case. I therefore give you the lightest possible sentence I can reconcile with my views of the matter, and that is that you be kept to penal servitude for four years. After its expiration, I hope you will endeavour to retrieve your character, and that this will be a life-long lesson to you and a warning to others. The prisoner, who had stood motionless while His Honour was speaking, was then removed.
There was no other criminal business.
SUPREME COURT. (1890, September 19). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878-1954), p. 5. Retrieved January 27, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52337582
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Rockhampton Morning Bulletin Thursday 28 April 1892
A petition to the Governor is now in course of signature at North Rockhampton for the release from St. Helena of James Thomas Coker, formerly Town Clerk there, who was sentenced to four years' penal servitude on the 18th of September, 1890, for embezzling moneys the property of the borough. It is from Emily Coker, wife of the prisoner, and residents and ratepayers on the north side of the river. The petition, after the usual formula, says:"2 That your petitioners have been informed, and verily believe the same to be true, that at the conclusion of the trial, and before passing sentence on the prisoner, the Chief Justice commented on the provisions of the First Offenders' Probation Act, and asked the Crown Prosecutor if the prosecution had been brought about by the prisoner's own confession, who replied that it had been found out by accident, and discovered by the auditor. 4. That your petitioners verily believe that on this material point the Crown Prosecutor was misinformed as to the true confessions made by the prisoner, and in support of their prayer a certificate accompanies the petition signed by the mayor of the said borough at the time of the trial. 5. That your petitioners are informed, and verily believe the same to be true, that since the said John Thomas Coker's incarceration, your petitioner, the said Emily Coker, by her own exertions, has supported herself and four children, which are of the respective ages of seventeen, ten, eight, and six years, the eldest of whom is an apprentice receiving a salary of only 15s. per week. 6. That your petitioners are informed, and verily believe the same to be true, that the letters received by your petitioner, the said Emily Coker,
from the said James Thomas Coker during his incarceration, tend to show, and inform her, that his conduct at St. Helena has been of an exemplary character, and she believes he has never committed any breach of the penal regulations, and that he has never had any charge preferred against him there. 7. That your petitioners pray that you will take into consideration the evidence given at the trial, the circumstances connected with the case, and the certificate annexed of the Mayor of the said borough, together with the term already served by the prisoner-over eighteen months ; and that you will, in your mercy, remit the remaining part of the sentence either absolutely or under the provisions of the First Offenders' Probation Act of 1886. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc. " The certificate to be attached to the petition, and which will be signed by Mr. W. G. Thompson, reads as follows : -" (1. ) That I, William George Thompson was Mayor of the borough of North Rockhampton for the year 1890. (2.) That in going through the ledger of the Council at a sub-committee meeting held on the 3rd of September, 1890, I noticed several amounts that I knew had been paid were not credited, notably an amount of 2 pounds 10 shillings. paid by Mr. G. Toon on Queen's Park timber account. James Thomas Coker (the then Town Clerk) was then called in, and admitted he had received the amount mentioned; but had mislaid the receipt book. He had the money, and would pay it into the bank. (3.) That this admission was made immediately he was questioned about it. (4.) That on the day following I sent him notice of suspension, which I afterwards, on his solicitation, withdrew, and allowed him to tender his resignation, which was accepted by the council at a meeting held on the 10th of September, 1890. The morning following the said meeting, he made a voluntary admission to me of all his embezzlements, and supplied a list, and the books and receipts for the amounts, and also full information regarding the discrepancies. (5.) Such admissions and data proved the prosecution, saved the Council much expense and labour, gained a large sum in endowment, and put the accounts into a position that months or years of search could or may not have done. (6.) At the time sentence was passed on the said James Thomas Coker I was not present in Court ; but if I had been, and required, I would have made the state-ment above set out."
The Morning Bulletin, ROCKHAMPTON. (1892, April 28). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878-1954), p. 4. Retrieved January 27, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52428847
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At a time when a petition from the people of Rockhampton for the release of J. T. Coker, an ex-Town Clerk of North Rockhampton, now a convict in St. Helena for embezzlement, is under the consideration of the Governor-in Council, residents will be interested in learning that efforts have been made to secure the discharge of John Wallis Rutter, an ex-Mayor of the same borough, who was sentenced for a similar offence, on the 27th of January, 1888, to seven years' penal servitude.
TOMORROW, SUNDAY, JUNE 5. (1892, June 4). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878-1954), p. 5. Retrieved January 21, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52435171
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1920 death in the district of Rockhampton in the State of Queensland.
Number 3765 273
When, where: 3 August 1920 at Upper Glenmore North Rockhampton.
Name: James Thomas Coker male 78 years 11 months.
Cause: Arterio Sclerosis, senility.
Medical attendant: Dr F.C.Wooster. When last seen, 29 July, 1920
Informant: Mary Coker, daughter-in-law, Charles Street, North Rockhampton.
Burial: 4 August, 1920, North Rockhampton Cemetery.
Where born: London, Middlesex England.
How long in Australia: 50 years.
Married: Barking, Sussex, England at 17 years to Emily Lee
Issue still living: Jane Elizabeth 60
Emily Florence 57
Ada 54
Arthur 51
Harry 49
Albert Napier 41
Herbert Leslie 39
Archibald Lawson 38
Deceased 5 males, 3 females<hr>
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Coker family plot at the North Rockhampton Cemetery is in the Church of England area Compartment 3, Section 3. There are eight burials; three each in graves 4, 5 and two in grave 6. Buried in grave 4 are: Arthur Coker 28/2/1945, Emily Ellen Coker 24/6/1970 and Estel Frances Maud Coker 16/1/1886.
Buried in grave 5 are: Arthur Coker 22/12/1925, Harry Coker 17/10/1924 and James Thomas Coker 4/8/1920. Buried in grave 6 are: Constance Ellen Coker 28/3/1884 and Mary Florence Coker 6/12/1902<hr>
- [S_1471163005] Ancestry.com, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.Original data - Church of England Parish Registers, 1754-1921. London Metropolitan Archives, London.Images produced by permission of the City of London Corporation Libraries, Archives), London Metropolitan Archives, Saint Anne, Limehouse, Register of marriages, P93/ANN, Item 027.
- [S_1276397397] Ancestry.com, Pallot's Marriage Index for England: 1780 - 1837, (Ancestry.com Operations Inc).
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London Metropolitan Achives record for marriage of William Coker and Jane Lawson
at St Annes, Limehouse, 1 March 1827, Witnesses J Livingston and Sarah Clough
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1858 Marriage solemnised at St Margaret's Church in the Parish of Barking in the county of Essex
No 346, June 7. James Thomas Coker, 18, bachelor, rigger of Barking. Father: William Coker, rigger
AND
Emily Lee 18 spinster of Barking. Father: Thomas Lee, farmer.
Married in the parish church according to the rites and ceremonies of the established church after banns by me H.F.Seymour. Witesses: Thomas Bray and Selina Allen.<hr>
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1841 - 1920 (78 years)
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