John Marquis Hopkins (27 August 1870 – 3 July 1912) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, representing the electoral districts of Boulder and Beverley. He had previously been mayor of Boulder. In 1910 he was jailed for five years for uttering, but was released in October 1911.
John Marquis Hopkins | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Hopkins | |
| Minister for Lands | |
| In office 23 January 1903 – 10 August 1904 | |
| Preceded by | Adam Jameson |
| Succeeded by | John Drew |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia for Beverley | |
| In office 11 September 1908 – 28 July 1910 | |
| Preceded by | Edmund Smith |
| Succeeded by | Nat Harper |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia for Boulder | |
| In office 24 April 1901 – 27 October 1905 | |
| Preceded by | Electoral district created |
| Succeeded by | Philip Collier |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 August 1870 Ballarat, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 3 July 1912 (aged 41) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Resting place | Springvale Cemetery |
| Spouse |
Thomasina Henrietta Alice Benzley
(m. 1896) |
| Children | 5 |
Early life
editJohn Marquis Hopkins was born on 17 August 1870 in Ballarat, Victoria to John and Alexandrina MacKay.[1]
He was left orphaned at the age of thirteen and subsequently educated at a state school.[2]
Hopkins worked for the Victoria Railway Service as a porter for two years before going into business with his brother. By 1896 he was working as an auctioneer and sharebroker in Boulder, Western Australia.[1][2]
Political career
editHopkins was the first Mayor of Boulder, being first elected on 11 October 1897.[3][4][5] He served in the position for three terms.[2]
In March 1901 Hopkins stood in the federal election, contesting the Kalgoorlie seat in the House of Representatives. He secured 3015 votes, losing to John Kirwan's 5374 votes.[6][7]
The following month, Hopkins successfully contested the Boulder seat in the state Legislative Assembly. He was elected as an oppositionalist.[8] At the 1904 election he was re-elected with a majority of 497.[9] His next attempt at election in 1905 resulted in a narrow loss, by 19 votes, to Phillip Collier.[10]
Conviction and imprisonment
editHopkins was accused of having forged a promissory note and subsequently uttering it. Amongst the witnesses for the trial were Samuel Joseph Fortescue Moore, a fellow Member of the Legislative Assembly, and Edward McLarty, a Member of the Legislative Council who accused Hopkins of having also uttered their promissory notes.[11][12]
Following a trial at the Criminal Court in Perth before Justice McMillan and a jury of twelve men, Hopkins was found not guilty of forgery and guilty of uttering on 13 April 1910. He was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of five years.[11][12] An appeal was lodged with the Full Court, but Hopkins' full sentence was confirmed on 18 April 1910.[13] He was imprisoned at Fremantle Gaol.[14]
As a result of his conviction, Hopkins was removed from office as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Beverley.[15]
In October 1911, he was released having served only 18 months of his five year sentence.[1] Hopkins had been granted clemency by the Governor of the state owing to his declining health.[13]
Death
editHopkins died in Melbourne, Victoria on 3 July 1912 at the age of 42.[14][16]
He was interred at Springvale Cemetery in Melbourne.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia: John Marquis Hopkins". Parliament of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Thiel, P. W. H. (1901). Twentieth Century Impressions of Western Australia. Perth: P. W. H. Thiel & Co. p. 32. Retrieved 19 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Mr. John Hopkins, Mayor of Boulder City". The Miner's Right. Vol. I, no. 33. Boulder. 14 October 1897. p. 4. Retrieved 20 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "BREVITIES". Esperance Chronicle And Dundas And Norseman Advertiser. No. 178. Esperance. 20 October 1897. p. 3. Retrieved 20 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "ALBANY SCHOOL BOARD". The Albany Advertiser. Vol. X, no. 1449. Albany. 14 October 1897. p. 3. Retrieved 20 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "THE KALGOORLIE ELECTORATE". Western Mail. Vol. XVI, no. 791. Perth. 23 February 1901. p. 17. Retrieved 20 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "KALGOORLIE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES". Kalgoorlie Western Argus. Vol. VII, no. 332 and 333. Kalgoorlie. 9 April 1901. p. 28. Retrieved 20 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.<
- ^ "State Elections". Kalgoorlie Western Argus. Vol. VII, no. 337. Kalgoorlie. 14 May 1901. p. 30. Retrieved 20 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "BOULDER". Kalgoorlie Miner. Vol. 8, no. 2734. Kalgoorlie. 29 June 1904. p. 6. Retrieved 20 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "BOULDER". Kalgoorlie Western Argus. Vol. XI, no. 567. Western Australia. 31 October 1905. p. 29. Retrieved 20 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "TRIAL OF JOHN M. HOPKINS". Kalgoorlie Western Argus. Vol. XVI, no. 806. Kalgoorlie. 19 April 1910. p. 32. Retrieved 18 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "A POLITICIAN IN TROUBLE". Western Mail. Vol. XXV, no. 1268. Perth. 16 April 1910. p. 18. Retrieved 18 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "RELEASE OF J. M. HOPKINS". Sunday Times. No. 719. Perth. 29 October 1911. p. 1. Retrieved 18 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "THE PASSING OF J. M. HOPKINS". Sunday Times. No. 755. Western Australia. 7 July 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 18 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Bourke, Keane (28 August 2023). "James Hayward makes history after being forced from office as an MP for child sex crimes". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "NEWS IN BRIEF". Bunbury Herald. Vol. 22, no. 3537. Bunbury. 6 July 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 18 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
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