Albert Robert Cheyne

#165, (1886-after 1 May 1919)
FatherRobert Cheyne (c 1853-1 Mar 1913)
MotherAgnethe Evensdatter Sørum (19 Dec 1849-19 Jul 1901)
Last Edited7 Sep 2022
WikiTree ID:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cheyne-879.
Albert Robert Cheyne
Source: His prison admission 1904
     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
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Albert was born in 1886 at Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. He was the son of Robert Cheyne and Agnethe Evensdatter Sørum. He presumably lived with his parents at Castle Street, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, in 1887.1

Albert emigrated from New Zealand circa March 1888 with his parents and siblings.2 Albert arrived at Melbourne circa March 1888.2


The family lived in three houses in quick succession; in 1891 they were firstly at 63 Flemington Road, North Melbourne; then at 16 Gardner street in Richmond, then at 10 James Street Fitzroy where they settled and stayed until the turn of the century. This was a 5 room house owned by a Henry Wernberg.3,4,5,6

In March 1901 at the approximate age of 15, Albert's and a Robert Patchett pleaded guilty to a charge of shop-breaking. They had attempted to break into the shop of Matilda Rutter at the Eastern Market and were caught meddling with a padlock.
They were treated leniently by the court; the judge asked that someone would take responsibility for them for three years. They were given a suspended sentence of 3 months of hard labour at Castlemaine Gaol, and asked for £1 recognisance from both as well as a £25 surety; Robert Cheyne provided this for his son. It was stated that the boys were from respectable parents, and were allowed to go home.7,8,9,10,11 He presumably lived with his parents at at 116 Fitzroy Street in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy in July 1901.12,13

His mother died 19 July 1901 at the age of 51 at the approximate age of 50. He was aged about 15 when this happened.12

He was charged on warrant with larceny of a purse containing 20 shillings that belonged to Effie McParland, one of the assistants at the World's Fair at Exhibition Buildings in Exhibition Street, in Melbourne. He was captured two weeks later.14,15,9 He was described as being 15 years of age, 5 feet 3 inches tall with fair hair and fair complexion.14

He was charged with theft:
Albert Cheyne, aged 16, was charged at the Carlton Court to-day with stealing a purse containing 20s, the property of a young lady assisting at the World's Fair. Mr Kane appeared tor the defence. The evidence was that the purse was stolen from under the table in the Fair by another lad, who handed it over to Cheyne. The latter opened it and found 11s and having got 5s 6d of this sum handed it back to the other lad, who threw the empty purse away. Mr Kane said that the painful feature of the case was the fact that the prisoner had been convicted of a trumpery offence in regard to some show cases at the Eastern Market, and that his honest, respectable father, who had become surety for his good behavior, would have to pay £25 if accused were again convicted whilst the prisoner would have to serve a sentence of three months imprisonment. Counsel contended there was no evidence that prisoner knew the purse had been stolen. Accused was fined 40s. in default of distress one month's imprisonment.16

Albert became a ward of the state. He absconded from the Bayswater Reformatory School, in Bayswater, Victoria, with 3 other boys 6 months later; when recaptured he absconded again with 4 other boys later in the same year.17,18,19

Albert, along with 2 other boys, was charged at the City Court with throwing missiles at a Chinese man in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton. They kept harassing theman until he sought the help of a constable. They pleaded not guilty, and were remanded.1920
Albert Robert Cheyne
Source: His prison admission 1904
He was Church of England.20

Albert Robert Cheyne was arrested at his home at at 307 Young Street in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy for theft, and the house searched.21,22

In 22 March 1904 a stolen silk handkerchief was found in his possession, and he was arrested. It was then that numerous other items relating to other thefts, such "a white silk dress, knives and forks, sheets, razor and a gold watch chain" as well as well as items stolen from someone else; a "watch and chain, keeper ring, trousers and vest, and a black suit" were discovered in his possession. Arthur and Julia Horton were also charged with the same crimes.23

On 23 March 1904 was charged with breaking into the house of Albert Kane and stealing some clothes and other items some 10 days earlier.:
Constables Coakley and Lewis were in Farrell's pawnshop, Victoria-street, Richmond, when Eng land entered to pawn a suit of clothes. As he made contradictory statements he was arrested, and the razors, bearing the name "Kane" on the cases, were found in his coat pocket. He after wards admitted that he and another man com mitted the offence, and that his mate had the rest of the property. Detective Howard subsequently arrested Cheyne, and as Mrs. Horton had, he said, "put the show away," he admitted the offence, and took the police to the Victoria-Street-bridge, where he pointed out the things in a bag secreted under some bushes.24



The four were presented to the court:
[The four were] charged with housebreaking. Last month the houses of Mr Charles Chapman, 30 Windsor street, and William Devine and John Steele, Princes street were robbed. From that of the last named property to the value of £5/9/11 was taken, chiefly wearing apparel; from Devine's, £10 worth, mainly jewellery and from Chapman's, a gold watch, valued at £22. This last-mentioned had been sold by one of the accused for 30/. ... In one case a back door had been burst open, and in the others panes of glass taken out to admit ingress. The property recovered was identified by the respective owners. Accused had been arrested in the city by Detectives Howard and Manning. They reserved their defence and were committed for trial at the coming criminal sessions of the 6th prox.
The prisoners on the previous day were before the Hawthorn Bench, and other charges are pending, against them.25,26

They were brought before Footscray court on 25 March 1904.27 Albert was able to read and write.20 He was a labourer in April 1904.28,20

They were remanded for sentancing:
Mrs Julia Horton, Arthur Horton, Albert Cheyne, and Wm. Thomas, the promising quartette, who were committed for trial at the Footscray Court recently on charges of house breaking and receiving in connection with robberies from the residences of William T. Devine, of Hotham-street, and Charles Chapman, of Windsor-street, Footscray. were found guilty at the Court of General Sessions on Thursday: The evidence was similar to that given at the local court,and the accused were remanded for sentence. There seems no doubt that this gang is responsible for a large number of the numerous suburban robberies reported during the past few months; in fact, they are each charged with several other offences in other districts, and probably there are others that have not come to light. The detective force is to be complimented upon having put a stop to their nefarious doings, and special credit is due to Constable Fitzgerald, of Footscray, who, by his arrest of Thomas, forged the first link in the chain that led to the capture of the gang.29,20



In the Melbourne General Sessions, he was sentanced to 3 years gaol with hard labour on Monday, 18 April 1904. The court recorded that he had nothing to say for himself.28,30 Albert's was originally sent to the Melbourne Gaol at Pentridge.20 On 13 October 1904 he was punished with 48 hours solitary confinement for "shouting out in his cell."20

On Tuesday, 24 January 1905 Albert was transferred to Beechworth Gaol.20 He was described as being 5 feet 9 1/4 inches tall with a freh complexion, brown hair and grey eyes. in April 1906.31

He may have attended the wedding of his sister in the marriage of Henry John Barrett and Lily Hawthorne Cheyne in 1906 at the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy. Henry and Lily went on to have two known children together.32

On Tuesday, 7 August 1906 he was discharged from Beechworth Gaol, in Beechworth, Victoria, and received pay of £4.16.6.31,20

On 14 May 1907 his brother Arthur died at the approximate age of 19.

He attended the wedding of his in the marriage of Albert Edward Oaten and Violet Barbara Cheyne in a Congregational Church ceremony at at the manse 101 Gore Street on Wednesday, 24 November 1909 at the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy. Violet needed the consent of her father to marry; both Violet and Albert had lost their mothers in their early teens. Violet and Albert went on to have four children together, three of whom lived to their adulthood.33,34

His father died 1 March 1913 at the approximate age of 60.. Albert was about 27 when this happened.

Albert died after 1 May 1919. He is mentioned in an obituary for his brother-in-law in 1919, otherwise no further records of his life have been found.35

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
1886BirthDunedin, Otago, New Zealand
1901Note memo only CR CR7,8,9,10,11
1901Note memo only CR CRExhibition Buildings in Exhibition Street, in Melbourne14,15,9
Description14
1901Quotation type 316
1902Note memo onlyBayswater Reformatory School, in Bayswater, Victoria17,18,19
1902Note memo only CR CRthe Melbourne suburb of Carlton19
1904Religion20
1904Note memo only CR CR at 307 Young Street in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy21,22
1904Note memo only CR CR23
1904Quotation type 324
1904Quotation type 325,26
1904Note memo only27
1904Note memo only20
1904Occupation28,20
Quotation type 329,20
1904Note memo only CR CR28,30
1904Note memo only20
1904Note memo only20
1905Note memo only CR CR20
1906Description31
1906Note memo only CR CRBeechworth Gaol, in Beechworth, Victoria31,20
1919Death35

Citations

  1. [S933] New Zealand Directories,New Zealand (1866-1954), 1887-1888 Dunedin p.150.
  2. [S265] Victoria, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1913 No.2898.
  3. [S355] Sands and McDougall Directories,Victoria, Australia (various dates), 1891 p.692.
  4. [S355] Sands and McDougall Directories,Victoria, Australia (various dates), 1892 p.684.
  5. [S355] Sands and McDougall Directories,Victoria, Australia (various dates), 1893 p.654.
  6. [S929] Victoria, Rate Books, 1855-1963 City of Fitzroy [copy of VPRS 377] [1864-1901] James Street 1892.
  7. [S1031] The Herald, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1901 'YOUNG OFFENDERS.', The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), 29 March, p. 8. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243020615
  8. [S1031] The Herald, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1901 'SENT FOR TRIAL', The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), 7 March, p. 4. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243003529
  9. [S1180] The Bendigo Advertiser, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, 1901 'A DISHONEST LAD.', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 9 November, p. 5. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89435063
  10. [S921] The Age, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1901 'NEWS OF THE DAY.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 30 March, p. 8. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196063698
  11. [S921] The Age, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1901 'NEWS OF THE DAY.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 22 March, p. 4. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196063376
  12. [S265] Victoria, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1901 No.9587.
  13. [S355] Sands and McDougall Directories,Victoria, Australia (various dates), 1901 p.835.
  14. [S927] Victoria, Police Gazettes, 1855,1864-1924 Name: Albert Cheyne; Age: 15; Birth Date: abt 1886; Year: 1901; Place: Victoria, Australia; Reference Description: AU7103-1901 Victoria Police Gazette 1901.
  15. [S927] Victoria, Police Gazettes, 1855,1864-1924 Name: Albert Cheyne; Year: 1901; Place: Victoria, Australia; Reference Description: AU7103-1901 Victoria Police Gazette 1901.
  16. [S1031] The Herald, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1901 'THEFT OF A PURSE.', The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), 8 November, p. 1. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article241885715
  17. [S927] Victoria, Police Gazettes, 1855,1864-1924 Name: Alfred R Cheyne; Age: 16; Birth Date: abt 1886; Year: 1902; Place: Victoria, Australia; Reference Description: AU7103-1902 Victoria Police Gazette 1902.
  18. [S927] Victoria, Police Gazettes, 1855,1864-1924 Name: Alfred R. Cheyne; Age: 17; Birth Date: abt 1885; Year: 1902; Place: Victoria, Australia; Reference Description: AU7103-1902 Victoria Police Gazette 1902.
  19. [S1031] The Herald, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1902 'PELTED A CHINESE.', The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), 12 March, p. 1. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article241893508
  20. [S1182] Victorian State Government, Prison records, various Series title: Central Register of Male Prisoners; Sub-Item title: Cheyne, Albert: No. 30472; Sub-Item number: Page 136; Date range: 1903; Public access: Open; Format: Digital; This Sub-Item is part of; Series number: VPRS 515; Consignment number: P0001; Item title: Volume 57: Prisoner nos. 30337 - 30738; Item number: 57.
  21. [S1181] The Coburg Leader, Coburg, Victoria, Australia, 1904 'BRUNSWICK POLICE COURT.', The Coburg Leader (Vic. : 1890 - 1913), 9 April, p. 4. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article67428823
  22. [S323] The Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, NSW, Australia, 1904 'Victoria.', Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954), 18 March, p. 2. (SECOND EDITION), viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44326857
  23. [S927] Victoria, Police Gazettes, 1855,1864-1924 Name: Albert Cheyne; Year: 1904; Place: Victoria, Australia; Reference Description:AU7103-1904 Victoria Police Gazette 1904.
  24. [S921] The Age, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1904 'HOUSEBREAKING AND STEALING AT KEW.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 24 March, p. 6. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197232932
  25. [S336] The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1904 'COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 25 March, p. 7. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10605553
  26. [S336] The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1904 'CHARGES OF HOUSEBREAKING.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 24 March, p. 7. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10605316
  27. [S971] The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, South Australia), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1904 'ALLEGED HOUSEBREAKING.', The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), 25 March, p. 4. (4 O'CLOCK EDITION), viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208766803
  28. [S336] The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1904 'MELBOURNE GENERAL SESSIONS.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 19 April, p. 8. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10315278
  29. [S1179] The Independant, Footscray, Melbourne, Victoria Australia, 1904 'REMANDED FOR SENTENCE.', Independent (Footscray, Vic. : 1883 - 1922), 9 April, p. 2. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73252716
  30. [S1179] The Independant, Footscray, Melbourne, Victoria Australia, 1904 'HOUSEBREAKING AND RECEIVING.', Independent (Footscray, Vic. : 1883 - 1922), 23 April, p. 2. , viewed 29 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73252776
  31. [S927] Victoria, Police Gazettes, 1855,1864-1924 Name: Albert Cheyne; Age: 20; Birth Date: 1886; Year: 1906; Place: Victoria, Australia; Reference Description: AU7103-1906 Victoria Police Gazette 1906.
  32. [S264] Victoria, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1906 No.6463.
  33. [S264] Victoria, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1909 No.9213.
  34. [S921] The Age, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1909 'Family Notices', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 11 December, p. 7. , viewed 17 Dec 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article196041590
  35. [S921] The Age, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1919 'Family Notices', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 3 May, p. 5. , viewed 08 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155204541