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A Depraved Woman
Women who appeared in the Beechworth Courthouse often suffered harsher justice than their male counterparts. One of these women was twenty-five-year-old Rosanna Nicholls.
Rosanna Nicholls was tried in the Beechworth Court on 8th April 1857 for wilfully and feloniously murdering her infant son. In charge of the proceedings was Justice Edward Eyre Williams. Three of the witnesses who testified at the trial were particularly critical of Rosanna’s dissolute way of life.
At the conclusion of the case, Justice Williams directed the jury to consider whether the evidence presented to the court could allow them to conclude that William Nicholls had died from natural causes and if that was the case, the prisoner should be acquitted. He also said that in order to find the prisoner guilty they must know that she either had the means of providing sustenance or had breast milk available.
The jury retired to consider their verdict but after about fifteen minutes returned a guilty verdict based on their opinion that William Nicholls’ death had been caused by neglect. Justice Williams refused to accept their decision and sent them out again. After deliberating for a further twenty minutes, the jury returned the same verdict. This caused uproar in the court because with a guilty verdict came the ultimate penalty, the death sentence.
Once order was restored in the court, Justice Williams addressed Rosanna and told her that she was a depraved woman who, through her penchant for alcohol had neglected her maternal duty. He then bestowed on Rosanna the dubious honour of not only being the first person to be sentenced to death at the Beechworth court but, if the execution was carried out, then she would be the first woman to be executed in Victoria.
Rosanna Nicholls Article for Beechworth Online Feb 2008.doc 977 words ©Anne Hanson 2008 annehanson1@bigpond.com
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Beechworth Courthouse
One of the finest remaining gold-rush courthouses in Australia. Built in 1858, the courthouse served many judicial purposes until its closure in 1989. The courtroom was the scene of countless trials involving Ned Kelly, his mother Ellen, bushranger Harry Power and Elizabeth Scott. Click here for more info
Beechworth Ghost Tours: Murder and Haunts
Step back into a time when drunken brawls, murders and prostitution was just the way of life in the heart of Beechworth Town. In this tour you will explore inside two of the oldest buildings in Beechworth, going deep into areas not open to the public, you will stand on the footsteps of history, here you will learn of murders, mayhem and madness on the goldfields in the 1800s. Click here for more info
Echoes of History Walking Tour
Join expert guides and discover the stories behind historic buildings, people and events that helped shape Beechworth. Click here for more info
and many more... come see us at the Beechworth Visitor Information Centre and begin your journey through history.
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