John Charles Langley was born in 1876[1] in Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia as the ninth child of Charles Langley and Emma Shergold. He had twelve siblings, namely: Clara Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary Ann, Charles Henry, Emma, Thomas Henry, William, Amy Jane, George, Arthur, Eva, and Robert.

In April 1896, when John was 19, he along with Daniel Window (18) and James Martin (26) were charged with commiting robberies in Kangeroo Mount on 25 March. They were found guilty, and John was sentenced to 18 months goal in Darlinghurst.

When he was 28, He married Hilda Capewell Ross, daughter of James Thomas Ross and Jane Ainsworth, in 1904[2] in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia.

John Charles Langley and Hilda Capewell Ross had the following children:

1. Roy W Langley was born in 1904 in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia. He died in 1905 in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia.

2. Elva Gertrude Langley was born in 1906 in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia. She married Harold Kenneth Knox in 1928 in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia. Elva died on 11 April 2006 in Emu Plains, New South Wales, Australia.

3. Gladys Jane Langley was born in 1908 in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia. She married William Hedger Ormond in 1939 in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia. She died in 1974 in New South Wales, Australia.

In 1937, John was assulted by Thomas Both at the Railway Hotel. Booth was fined £1.

John died on 03 February 1953[3] in Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia, age 77.

When she was 67, Hilda got re-married to Robert Brenner in 1955[4] in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia.

Hilda died in 1962[5] in Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia, age 74.

Citations:

1. NSW Registry Of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 20198/1876

2. NSW Registry Of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 3305/1904

3. NSW Registry Of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 6092/1953

4. NSW Registry Of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 11300/1955

5. NSW Registry Of Births, Deaths and Marriages, 7969/1962 (Brenner)

External Links:

MOUNTAIN ROBBERIES. SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST FOUR MEN. AT THE BERRY POLICE COURT - The Shoalhaven Telegraph (NSW : 1879 - 1937) Saturday 4 April 1896 p 2 Article

MOUNTAIN ROBBERIES. SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST FOUR MEN AT THE BERRY POLICE COURT. Four persons, namely, Daniel Window, John Charles Langley, James Martin, and John Alexander Maxwell appeared in custody on Saturday morning, before Dr. Lowers, in connection with several robberies which had taken place at Kangaroo Mountain, on the night of March 25. Preliminary evidence was taken, after which the police asked for a remand, which the Doctor granted. Bail was allowed in the case of Maxwell. There was an unusually large gathering of interested and curious folk at the Police Court on Wednesday. The Court-room was packed, and people stood at the doorways unable to gain admittance. The solicitor's table was covered with socks, stockings, shirts, trousers. tobacco, jam, cocoa, pipes, ham, pickles, pocketknives, starch, shot, boots, razors, and other articles. Daniel Window (18), John Charles Langley (19), and James Martin (26) were the persons whom the law had arraigned on suspicion of being responsible for the collection. The three accused are well known in the district, and so it was that people came from all quarters to hear the cases as they proceeded, and ascertain the fate of evil-doers. There was a goodly array of the justiciary. Besides the Police Magistrate, Mr. M, Reynolds, Mr. John Gray, and Mr. Lewis McIntyre occupied seats on the dais. Dr. Lewers sat in the afternoon, when the young men were proceeded against for breaking into and stealing. Three charges of petty larceny were prefered against the young men. A Posse of police was to hand to prove the case right up to the hilt, and Sergeant Crawley directed operations , on behalf of the Crown. Senior Constable Morris, who sat en wufti as he is suffering from the results of an accident, took down the depositions in his capacity of Clerk of Petty Sessions. Mr. Blackmore appeared for the accused, and fought their battle manfully. The first charge laid against them was that of stealing three turkeys and a ham from the premises of Mr. James Wilson, of Kangaroo Mount, on the night of the 25th March. The ham, as already stated, lay on the table, and the turkeys were safely enclosed in a box. which lay in the corridor awaiting production for identification.

Constable George Stephens, stationed at Nowra, stated that he came to Berry on the 26th March, and on the 27th he went part of the road up the Kangaroo Mount, and there met the accused Window in company with Thomas Somerville and Henry Graham. Somerville asked witness if he was going to Graham's, and he replied yes; Somerville told him there was no need of him going any further as Window had told him all about the robbery; witness then accompanied them to the Court-house at Berry.

Examined by Mr. Blackmore, witness stated that Somerville told Window "The best thing you can do is to tell the truth," that was after Window said he would like to make a statement, or, rather, he said he would confess.

Examination -in -chief resumed : Window made a statement which was taken down in writing, and afterwards signed by Window ; witness then arrested Window and charged him in company with John Charles Langley and James Martin, with stealing three turkeys and one ham the property of James Wilson, of Kangaroo Mount, on the 25th March ; he then locked him up ; witness and Constable Crowe shortly afterwards proceeded to Jasper's Mount to the residence of John Alexander Maxwell, who witness saw coming away from his house, and at the same time he saw the two accuced.

The second charge was that of stealing two shirts and one collar off the clothes-line on the premises of the public school at Bellawoogarah, the clothes being the property of James M'Kay who was a temporary teacher at the school on the mountain. The date of the alleged offence was March 25.

Constable Crowe, stationed at Berry, said he went to Jasper's Mount on the 27th March, and there saw Langley and Martin, who were the accused, witness said to Langley, "Where are those shirts and collars you took off the clothes-line at the public school ground at Kangaroo Mount ?" he made no reply, but went into a bedroom in Maxwell's house, and brought the two shirts and collars (produced) ; he said, "Those are the shirts;" he was then charged with the larceny of the goods in company with Martin and Window, and brought to the lock-up.

James McKay, a school teacher who had been residing at Kangaroo Mount from the 24th to the 27th March, identifed the two shirts and collar (produced) as his proporty ; he valued them at 13s ; he had lost other articles.

The third case of petty larceny set down against the hapless trio was that of stealing, on the night of March 25, a quantity of clothing from the line of Henry Jamieson, a public school teacher at Bellawongarah.

At the conclusion of the evidence the accused pleaded guilty to the three charges and elected to be dealt with summarily.

Mr. Blackmore asked that the suspensory clause of the First Offender's Probation Act be applied to the cases of the prisoners. The younger boy, perhaps, was induced by the other to take part in the affair. Window was only 18, Langly was 19,and Martin was a shade older— 26. Window had been three years with Mr Somerville, who gave him an admirable character. Martin also had a good character. The Langleys were old residents of the district, and it was not necessary therefore to refer to Langley's character. Window, according to Mr. Someville, had been a good boy, and when he was shown the seriousness of the offence he went and made a clean breast ot it. The offence had only been committed in the light of a "lark." The accused were out for the night.

The Police Magistrate: We don't approve of those "larks." Seeing that they had a more serious offence to meet, and with which the Bench could not finally deal, he hoped they would make the punishment as light as possible. The value of the stolen property was not much. There was a good deal in what Mr. Blackmore had said. There was a good many mitigating circumstances about tho case. Window having beed led astray by Martin and Langley was not so bad as the other two Martin was 26 years of age and he ought to have known better. As far as a "lark" was concerned, he did not think there was much "lark" about it. No matter how small it was, it was the beginning of a serious offence. He was afraid they could not let the accused out under the First Offenders' Act. The Act provides that they must not have committed any offence under the Criminal Law Amendment Act. But here they had three cases. Under the circumstances they might be dealt with leniently. This thieving was, however, getting very prominent in the district. Fowls wero stolen, clothes-linos were stripped and farmers wore robbed.

Mr. Blackmore said that Window had such a good character that Mr. Somerville would pay the fine if he was fined.

After consultation the Bench announced their decision as  follows :— In Wilson's case the accused were each fined £1, in default three weeks ; In McKay's case, £2 or six weeks ; in Jamieson's case £3 or two months.

he Police Magistrate said they could not make any alteration in the sentences.

Mr. Blaokmore asked the Bench to reduce the amount of the fine in the third charge. The items concerned were very small.

The Police Magistrate said it was not the amount, so much as the systemmatic way in which they went about the robberies.

Mr. Blackmore said it would have been totally different if the accused had gone round on different nights. The whole thing might have been done in a few minutes.

Mr. Gray said it was a regular systematic raid carrying goods from one house to another. Mr. Blackmore said it was a senseless raid. The Police Magistrate said he would like to keep the accused out of gaol if possible.

The Bench then consulted over Mr. Blackmore's application, and after a while the Police Magistrate said that Mr. Blackmore had moved the Bench, and they would reduce it to £3 reduction of the alternative, which was reduced to 21 days.

Window, Langloy, and Martin were then charged with entering and breaking into and stealing from the store of Henry Graham, of Kangaroo Mount, on the date set out in the other offences, a quantity of articles, namely — 3 pairs tweed trousers, 1 pair moleskin trousers, 2 pairs woollen socks. 10 pairs cotton socks. 7 pairs hose. 4 undershirts, 1 cotton shirt, 331/2 cakes Mazeppa tobacco, 13 figs. Sir Roger tobacco, 1 pair blucher boots, 1 pair brown shoes, 1 hair brush, 1 piece of embroidery, 1 pound of candles, 2 bags of shot, 11 reels of cotton, 1 box of starch, 5 boxes of Beecham's pills, 4 pipes, 4 tins of cocoa, 3 tins of jam, 1 bottle of pickles, 2 tins of sardines. 1 tin of herrings, 1 pound of currants, 1 pound of plums, 3 pocket knives, 2 pairs shoe laces.

Dr. Lewers sat in this case, together with the magistrates already mentioned.

Mr. K. Ryan (who appeared for John Alexander Maxwell in another case) asked 'that the two cases be heard together so as to economise time. They were kindred in character, and would, if a committal took place, be heard together by the Judge at Wollongong.

The police raised the point that the depositions might got confused.

The Bench decided to take them separately. The evidence taken before a magistrate on Saturday, when the police applied for a remand, was partly read, when Mr. Blackmore toook exception.

After some argument it was decided to commence the proceedings in the case de novo.

The case was concluded on Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock when each of the defendants was committed to take his trial. Bail was allowed, accused themselves in £50 each and two sureties of £75 each.

A further case against Maxwell was being investigated yesterday.

THE QUARTER SESSIONS. WOLLONGONG, Monday - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Tuesday 14 April 1896 p 5 Article

John Charles Langley and James Martin, charged with stealing goods from a store m Kangaroo Valley, were found guilty, Langley being sentenced to 18 months' and Martin to 12 months' imprisonment in Darlinghurst.

ASSAULT CHARGE MULLUMBIMBY, Tuesday - Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954) Wednesday 5 May 1937 p 11 Article

ASSAULT CHARGE MULLUMBIMBY, Tuesday. Pleading guilty in Mullumbimby Police Court to a charge of having assaulted John Charles Langley, Thomas Booth was fined £1, or, in default, two days' hard labour. Langley said Booth came to the Railway Hotel after hours and wanted a drink. Booth struck him. Witness then got into holts with him. Several mugs and glasses were broken. Booth said he was drunk at the time.

MR. JOHN CHARLES LANGLEY - Cootamundra Herald (NSW : 1877 - 1954) Wednesday 4 February 1953 p 2 Article

MR. JOHN CHARLES LANGLEY - A well known local resident Mr. John Charles Langley, 76, passed away in the Sacred Heart Hospital; last night. Deceased lived at 11 Hume street, Warren's Sub. The funeral is to leave the Church of England after a service at 11:30 tomorrow. Prior to coming to Cootamundra six years ago, the late Mr. Langley had spent most of his life on the Northern Rivers district of NSW. He is survived by his widow and two daughters, Mrs. .Ormond (Cootamundra), and Mrs. Knox (Penrith).

Family Notices - Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954) Wednesday 11 February 1953 p 4 Family Notices

DEATH. -  LANGLEY.-At Sacred Heart Hospital, Cootamundra, on 3rd February, 1953, John Charles Langley, aged 76, late of Richmond River, dearly loved husband of Mrs. H. C. Langley and father of Mrs. Ormond (Cootamundra) and Mrs. Knox (Penrith). Interred at Cootamundra.

Know more than me about John, email me here