Wah Lim, a 17-year-old part-Chinese labourer, appeared before the Bendigo Court of Petty Sessions in 1896. He pleaded not guilty to carnally knowing and abusing a girl less than 10 years of age. The jury returned a verdict of guilty with a recommendation for mercy; the death penalty usually applied to rape convictions.

The Bendigo community was instrumental in ensuring Wah Lim was not executed. Prominent non-Chinese residents, including local police, testified that the defendant was hard working and well conducted. They also petitioned the Governor requesting he take into consideration the ‘low moral order of the case’.

Wah Lim’s death sentence was commuted to seven years hard labour and later converted to an order for his removal to Pakenham children’s reformatory.