( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: Murphy Family Funerals, Nowra, NSW 02 44230722
Former Son-In-Law to Artie DOVER # 14576 & former partner to Artie Dovers daughter – Shelly ( previously of Cessnock Police Stn )
Service 1: Goulburn Police Academy PREP Class # 270
New South Wales Police Force
Service 1 & 2: Regd. # 31897
Rank: Service 1
Service 1: Commenced Training at Goulburn Academy on 18 May 1997 ( aged 23 years, 9 months, 11 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed Friday 14 November 1997 ( aged 24 years, 3 months, 7 days )
Constable – appointed 14 November 1998
Stations: Service 1
Service 1: Kurringai LAC – Hornsby GDs, HWP – Scone ( from 15 September 2002 – 3 November 2002 ), Hunter Valley ( 4 November 2002 – 17 December 2005 ) , Lower Hunter LAC – Kurri Kurri & Cessnock GDs ( Team 4 ) ( 18 December 2005 – 17 September 2011 ) – ( left ‘the job’ – Resigned )
Service 1: From 18 May 1997 to 17 September 2011 = 14+ years Service
After Resigning from the employ of NSWPF, Scott joined the mining industry as a ‘Fly In – Fly Out’ miner in Western Australia before rejoining the NSWPF as a Rejoinee.
Service 2 – REJOINEE: NSW Goulburn Police Academy – PREP Class # “possibly” 324 – 328
Rank: Service 2
Service 2: Commenced Training at Goulburn Police Academy on ? ? ?
Probationary Constable- appointed 24 October 2016
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( NO )
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank = Senior Constable
Stations: Service 2
Service 2: North Shore – Harbourside LAC ( ProCst ), North Shore PAC – Hornsby ( 3 June 2018 – 17 December 2019 ), Central Hunter, Bingara ( 2 man station as Lock Up Keeper – New England Police District ( 18 December 2019 – 9 November 2020 ) Death
Service 2: From? September 2016 to9 November 2020 = 4+ years Service
Total Service with NSWPF = 18+ years
Awards: No Find on Australian Honours system – however
National Police Medal – granted on ? ? ?
National Police Service Medal – granted on ? ? ?
NSW Police Medal for Ethical & Diligent Police Service – granted on ? ? ?
1st Clasp to NSW Police Medal – granted on ? ? ?
Commanders Citation & Commanders Unit Citation granted 30 November 2020 ( Posthumously ) – Acts of Bravery re Arrest at North Shore Command
Born: Tuesday 7 August 1973 – Royal Newcastle Hospital, NSW
Died on: Monday 9 November 2020
Age: 47 years, 3 months, 2 days
Cause: Suicide – Carbon Monoxide poisoning
Event location: Bingara Police Station
Event date: Monday 9 November 2020
Funeral date: Monday 23 November 2020 @ 11am
Funeral location: *North Chapel, Newcastle Memorial Park, 176 Anderson Dve, Beresfield, NSW
*Due to the current Public Health restrictions, attendance at the funeral service is by personal invitation from the next of kin. No other persons are permitted on the grounds of the Memorial Park.
Registration will be required via name and email address after which an invitation to the streaming service will be received at the email address given.
In an effort to include all that knew and loved Scotty, we would like to extend an invitation for you to attend the service via livestream on the day.
any Future Wake location: ??? TBA
any Future Wake date: ??? TBA
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( November 2020 )
SCOTT is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
SCOTTSHOULD BE entitled to be mentioned on the Sydney Police Centre Memorial Wall, Surry Hills
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( November 2020 )
MAX is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
C.I.B. Centenary 1879 – 1979 Page 74 North West District Detectives ( 1979 ) Back row ( L – R ): DetSenCon Bob SMALL of Tamworth, DetSgt 3/c Jim HAWKINS of Tamworth, DetSgt 3/c Bill TUNSTALL of Armidale, DetSenCon Dave DAVIS of Tenterfield, Plain clothes Constable Mal BROWNE of Stock Squad – Moree, DetSenCon Phil WALKER of Narrabri, DetSenCon John BARNES of Inverell & Plan clothes Constable Dave THOMAS of Armidale. Front Row: DetSenCon Warren THOMPSON of Tamworth, DetSenCon Max McDONALD of Stock Squad – Tamworth, DetSgt 1/c Jack WINNEY of Tamworth, DetSenCon John GLASHEEN of Glen Innes, DetSgt 3/c Ken CALLIGHAN of Moree, DetSenCon Ken LOCKYER of Tamworth & DetSgt 3/c Ray TAGGART of Tamworth.
Max and Annette McDONALD, at Crookwell, July 2006, 70th birthday gathering for lifelong friend Russell LYNAM.
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this man at the time of publication.
Wake location: Belrose Bowling Club, Forest Way, Belrose, NSW
Wake date: Wednesday 2 December 2020 after the 2.15pm burial
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: Burial at Frenches Forest Bushland Cemetery, 1 Hakea Ave, Davidson, NSW @ 2.15pm
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( November 2020 )
GREG is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Dave DREW, Bill BUSH, Col COLMAN & Greg FAULKNER Photo from Col COLMAN.Greg FAULKNER giving a presentation of his career in the NSW Police at the Northern Beaches RFPA meeting in 2020. Photo from Col COLMAN.
Was a ‘ long time ‘ Secretary of the NSW Police Golf Club.
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this man at the time of publication.
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( November 2020 )
BOB is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
With regret I can let all his mates know, that Bob Allgood slipped away on Saturday night (28/11) at home, surrounded by family after a long battle with the rotten cancer.
His wife, Wendy just rang to let me know. There has been a private family celebration of Bobs’ life, and at his request there will be no other service.
Bob is remembered, by some, for his VW Beetle ( that he owned ) with DOG number plates.
Sad news to hear of Swoopey’s passing. Worked with Bob from 73 -76 at NTH Syd. A few trips to Bathurst was always a great week away.
Did a wide load with Bob out in NSW, he went outside from the motel and came back with a rock. “ What’s the rock for Swoopey?” He told me he always took a rock from wherever he went and took it home for his wife. Little things that we do. RIP Bob, thanks for your service and training you gave me.
RIP Bobby. It was a pleasure to have you as my boss at 16 Division. Remember the nights you would come & find Chris Berry & myself with our tea set up on the bonnet whilst performing radar duty on Mona Vale Road. You always found us Swoopey. Gone but not forgotten. Say hello to grumpy. Two of the best bosses you could ever hope to have. Thank you for your service.
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this man at the time of publication.
RIP Bobby. Worked with him at the Daceyville section in the 70’s. Remember his number plate was DOG ??? And he often came out to find a picture of a dog stuck over his number plate. A great Sergeant to work under.
Back in my early days Constables no class, usually only drove an unmarked car when in company with a senior man.
I went down to 29 Div thinking just that. 2 marked cars and 2 unmarked..1 was radar car, the other a patrol car.
Bob Allgood was the Sgt..I started working 5am to 1p shifts..to catch the speeders in the early mornings.
Going up Pittwater road heading for work…Warriewood straight was the place to nail em if not before..within 2 weeks Allgood promoted me to unmarked car status..his thinking if I could nail that many in a marked car. I would be deadly in an unmarked one.
NSW Police Cyclists Sgt Harry Brennan ( # 6424 ) with John Birt ( # 9372 ) , Bob Allgood ( #9686 ) , Col Nicholson ( # 11422 ) photo taken 26 June 1967. Redfern Police Academy. Monday 26 June 1967. The date that Class 111 were ” Sworn In ” at Redfern Police Academy – where this photo was obviously taken.
NSWPF Triumph motor cycle – NSW Rego CE-003 ridden by SenCon Bob ALLGOOD. Photo taken at Redfern Academy – Monday 26 June 1967.
NSWPF – Ford Falcon XE 351 HWP vehicle – Rego MCL-065 Classic Pursuit Vehicles Frenchs Forest HWP around 1982 with our XE 351 Falcon. Left to Right: The best boss known to man, Bob Allgood, Me ( Darryl PITT # 19054 ), Porky Levy ( possibly Levey )( # ????? ) & Dave ‘catsbum’ Minarik ( # 19216 ).
Dave Morris Going through some old shots, how is this for a group of legends? Around ’75 and Harry Brennan ( # 6424 ) is giving the Maroubra HWP people a stir up, Bob ALLGOOD ( # 9686 ) is behind him, Stevo Bill White and Jerry Ambrose ( #12831 ). Four out of the six have gone.
Rear ( L – R ) ?, ?, Bob ALLGOOD ( # 9686 ), ?, ?, ? Front – Seated ( L – R ) ?, Dave MORRIS ( # 12746 ( In the Group are: Bob ALLGOOD, Keith BLACKET ( # 11078 ), Russell FRASER, Jimmy PROBST ( # 23929 ), Greg AQUALINA ( RIP )
Outside of Collaroy Police Station: ( L – R ) Bob ALLGOOD ( # 9686 ), ?, ?, ?
Mick Youll (# 12708 )( left ) and I ( Dave Morris )( # 12746 ) caught up with Bob Allgood ( # 9686 )( Right ) and his lovely wife, Wendy, at Port Macquarie today. I grabbed a few of Bobs’ old photos – these two are from Collaroy, must be late 70’s early 80’s – if anyone knows any of the other heads let me know.
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ? TBA
Buried at: ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( November 2020 )
UNKNOWN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * BUT SHOULD BE
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
A father of three year old Twins, was stationed at the Sydney Police centre in Goulburn St, Sydney, around 7.30am when the shooting occurred.
He has been a member of NSWPF for 15 years and is married to another member of NSWPF.
A New South Wales police officer had been found deceased at a Sydney Police station.
The father of three-year-old twins was found deceased at the Sydney Police Centre
It is believed he was in the police force for 15 years and married another officer
NSW Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious
Policeman dies in suicide at NSW Police headquarters in Sydney
A police officer has taken his own life at the central Sydney offices of NSW Police.
The apparent suicide occurred in an office at the Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills on Monday morning.
Initial inquiries indicate the man’s death was not suspicious, a spokesperson for NSW Police said, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
A spokesperson for the Police Association of NSW said the union was aware of the death and would be providing support to those affected.
The death follows a number of suicides among police officers recently, including a senior constable in the New England region.
Police suicides in previous years have prompted discussion about the high-pressure nature of the job and whether officers are adequately supported.
A coronial inquest into the 2013 suicide of a former officer, Ashley Bryant, highlighted the psychological effects of police work, including the stress of constantly being alert to danger and coming into contact with victims of crime.
The inquest found NSW Police was working to help its members deal with the “extreme stressors” they face although more needed to be done.
If you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide, you can seek help by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ? TBA
Buried at: ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( November 2020 )
SHAKEY is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
A wonderful man . Had so much respect for him when stationed at Manly.
Thank you Sergeant Geoff Shattles for your fine and dedicated Service to your Community and the New South Wales Police Force.
You really did make a difference, with your knowledge, patience, and understanding, in particular to the lives and service of numerous young Constables at your station.
December 13 1971… First day as Pros Ventry Lewis, John Williamson, Terry Cobby and I waltzed into Manly PS and, seeing a couple of blokes we knew, headed for the Muster Room where Bumper Farrell, Col Fitzroy and others were getting ready for the shift. Suddenly a voice roared behind us… “Are you the 3 new Pros?” Yes Sergeant we stammered. “Well when you come into MY station you will report ‘All Correct Sergeant!’ Nobody told us about that at the Academy. Over the years we came to respect and learn from Geoff.
Worked with Geoff as a young con stable at Manly and later when I was stationed at Forestville and Frenchs Forest. Was not afraid to leave Manly Station and come out to give help and advice one the more serious jobs. New his stuff and always prepared to impart it to the young bloke.
Very sorry to learn of the demise of Geoff Shattles as a probationary Constance at Manly I spent time as the PD driver with Geoff as the observer. He was an excellent officer for young officers to work with. He was an ethical/knowledgeable officer. I learned so much from him which stood me on good stead in the development of my career. He most probably did not realise the impact he had on my career, but I in no way diminished that impact. RIP Geoff thank you.
Teacher’s Pet podcast: from the archives, friend’s cry for justice for Lyn Dawson
A formal complaint from a friend of Lyn Dawson that NSW police were failing to investigate her suspicious disappearance from Sydney’s northern beaches has been discovered decades later in a sealed file in state archives.
Susan Strath was so disturbed by the inaction of police that she wrote to the NSW Ombudsman’s office and begged the independent government watchdog to intervene.
Ms Strath’s complaint of 1985, three years after Lyn went missing, documented her alarm that a woman could vanish without officers interviewing work colleagues or friends, or conducting any serious investigation.
She pointed out that shortly before Lyn went missing her husband Chris — a teacher and former star footballer — was widely known to be in an intense affair with a teenage schoolgirl who had been one of his students.
“Her husband was so sure she would not return, his girlfriend was moved in the following week,” she wrote.
“He has now married his schoolgirl lover, has a beautiful home and established family.
“Everything seems too easy. He got exactly what he wanted and his wife, who wasn’t up to standard, has vanished from the face of the earth, having no further contact with family or friends.
“It doesn’t seem possible that a person can be swept under the rug and forgotten.”
The ombudsman’s file on the complaint was discovered by The Australian in storage with NSW State Archives and Records after lengthy investigations for podcast series The Teacher’s Pet and is detailed in a new episode, released today.
The ombudsman’s office had said no trace of the complaint could be found and that records would have been destroyed.
But after archives staff located the file for The Australian, the ombudsman’s office agreed to waive restrictions that would have prevented the documents being released for 90 years from when they were created.
Among the documents was Mr Dawson’s long-lost handwritten statement to police of August 1982, in which he blamed his marital problems on his wife’s credit card spending but did not mention his teenage lover.
Mr Dawson’s statement had disappeared along with the rest of the separate police file in the 1990s and was not available to the former investigating officer, Damian Loone, or to two coroners who examined the case.
Despite Ms Strath’s complaint, neither police nor the ombudsman’s office interviewed Mr Dawson’s schoolgirl lover, Joanne Curtis, or numerous other witnesses including fellow teachers, neighbours, family members and friends at the time.
Senior police who were forwarded the complaint insisted there was a satisfactory investigation when Lyn disappeared and there was nothing to indicate foul play or suspicious circumstances.
It would be another five years before Sydney homicide detectives looked at the case, acting on information from Mr Dawson’s former teenage lover, Ms Curtis, after they split up.
The two coroners later found, in 2001 and 2003, that Mr Dawson murdered his wife. He has not been charged and maintains his innocence.
The sealed ombudsman’s file includes correspondence about Ms Strath’s 1985 complaint, showing Lyn’s disappearance was brought to the attention of the highest levels of the NSW police force.
Sue Thompson, an ombudsman investigator, referred Ms Strath’s complaint directly to then-police commissioner John Avery. The commissioner was kept informed of the progress of inquiries.
“This is a bit of a sensitive complaint. It’s about the alleged disappearance of a woman some three years ago and allegation that the police may have failed to properly investigate,” Ms Thompson wrote in a file note.
Ms Strath noted in her complaint that she last spoke to Lyn on Friday, January 8, 1982, at the childcare centre where they both worked. Lyn and her husband had returned from marriage counselling that day, with Lyn expressing excitement that their marital difficulties would be resolved, she wrote. Lyn disappeared the next day, without another word being heard from her.
“The next day what happened????” Ms Strath wrote.
She noted Lyn’s inability to drive, her exceptional devotion to her two young daughters, then aged four and two, and her love of her Bayview home, which was worth more than $250,000 when she vanished.
Ms Strath also noted Lyn had no interest in religion and didn’t attend church — this was a response to her husband’s claims that she apparently went off with a religious group.
“I would like to know what the police have done in the matter? Why weren’t her workmates interviewed as to her last 24 hours?
“I’m concerned that I was one of the last to see her on the Friday but was never questioned by the police. Can a person just disappear and it be accepted?”
A senior officer, Inspector Geoff Shattles ( # 7398 ), noted in response that Lyn’s parents, Helena and Len Simms, had not “ever hinted” at concerns of foul play.
“Further to this, the brother of the missing person is a senior constable in the NSW police force and he at no time contacted police at this station in regard to any suspicions.”
A chief superintendent wrote that he was “satisfied all avenues of investigation were covered at the time”.
The file shows that as a result of Ms Strath’s complaint, she was visited in 1985 by a detective, who also contacted one of her colleagues at the childcare centre. Inspector Shattles also spoke to Lyn’s mother.
But there was still no questioning of the former schoolgirl lover or many other key witnesses. In the course of its preliminary investigation, the ombudsman’s office had Mr Dawson’s 1982 handwritten statement to police about his wife’s disappearance, in which he lied about going away “to be by myself” over Christmas 1981 when he had gone to Queensland with Ms Curtis.
Mr Dawson at the end of his statement made an unusual comment — that he was “being advised on procedure by Sergeant Brian Gardner( #8841 ), Manly Detectives”.
Mr Gardner was an influential senior figure of the Belrose Rugby League Club, where Mr Dawson and his twin brother Paul were joint captains and coaches. Known to colleagues as “Smacka”, Brian has since died.
Ms Strath believed Mr Dawson’s celebrity status as a former Newtown Jets rugby league star protected him from scrutiny.
Ultimately the ombudsman’s office concluded “no further action is necessary” after informing Ms Strath of the police position.
NSW Ombudsman Michael Barnes yesterday said the office had limited jurisdiction and resources in 1985 and its response was “satisfactory”.
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ? TBA
Buried at: ? TBA
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( December 2020 )
MARK is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Earlier in the week I learnt of the sad passing of a good mate and a former top cop – Mark Bonavia (Bananas.)
He will be remembered for his great sense of humour, and his excellent driving skills that he put to good use in his many years of serving the community as a police officer attached to the legendary former E- District Highway Patrol (Ku- Ring Gai.)
Mark was a very kind and caring person with a heart, who in his job was a great and fair cop who would always go after the reckless hoons and drunk drivers and would always be reluctant to book the “working family man”, but rather give them a good talking to.
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ? TBA
Buried at: ? TBA
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( December 2020 )
DALLAS is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Our deepest condolences to his son, Zac, daughter Taylor, and wife Betty.
Dallas’ fundraiser for Bowel Cancer Australia
Fundraiser for Bowel Cancer Australia by Dallas Stirton
Please support Dallas’ family by supporting this cause.
Dallas fought his cancer for 8 years undergoing chemo, radiation and surgeries.
He would be thrilled to help prevent this disease devastating other families as we have been.
I’ve included information about Bowel Cancer Australia below.
Bowel Cancer Australia is the leading community-funded charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and the best care for everyone affected by bowel cancer.
Facebook pays all the processing fees for you, so 100% of your donation goes directly to the nonprofit.
Clink on the below link – which will take you to the donation page.
Dallas STIRTON at Allianz Stadium watching the mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs.
LEADERS WALK RELAY FOR LIFE
02 Nov 2011
Our school leaders, together with Taylor Stirton recently participated in the Central Coast Relay for Life at Mingara.
These students combined to walk for approx 18 hours to help raise funds for cancer research. They secured sponsorship and took on this enormous endeavour under the Toukley Public School name.
Betty and Dallas Stirton, parents of school captain Zac supported the students all the way through this adventure, including walking with them throughout the night.
Mr Stirton provided a football boot signed by legend Andrew (Joey) Johns to raffle toward this wonderful cause.
All who participated were very tired after the event, however they found the whole experience very rewarding.
I would like to acknowledge the following amazing students who as a collective group participated in the Central Coast Relay For Life at Mingara on the weekend.
These students combined to walk for approx 18 hours to help raise money for cancer research.
They secured sponsorship and took on an enormous endeavour under the Toukley Public School name.
I need to also acknowledge the outstanding work of Betty and Dallas Stirton who assisted our students all the way through this adventure, even walking with them throughout the night. Congratulations to Jonty Wood, Mary Cornish, Zac Stirton, Emily McBride, Amanda Purcell and Taylor Stirton.
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ? TBA
Buried at: ? TBA
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( December 2020 )
JOHN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
This morning I found out of the passing of a great mate and mentor, retired Senior Sergeant John ‘JB’ Byers BM.
I first met JB when I was a teenager and he was in the Rescue Squad with my old man ( Edward ‘Ted’ Doherty ).
I later worked with him at 24 Division when I graduated from the Academy.
JB was a hard as nails ‘old school’ cop, a true legend. I could not count the hours I have stood with him a crime scenes in the middle of the night. It was a running joke, if we got called out to any crime scene during the night we would always call JB for lighting regardless of if we needed it or not. We had some fun times over the years and drank many beers together. I’ll have one for you today mate.
All of the Doherty family’s thoughts and prayers are with JB’s beautiful wife Cath, his children Mark, Elizabeth and Karina and all of his grandchildren.
RIP mate.
John had both knees replaced in early 2015 and also had a hip replacement after that.
Once he Retired from NSWPF, he moved to Narooma where he drove a taxi for many years.
He was a great bloke for a laugh, a great bloke to catch up with, a knowledgeable bastard who always had your back.
John – may you forever Rest In Peace mate.
Greg ‘Cal’ Callander
John is mentioned, in passing, in the book by Jason Byrnes – called:
Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal: An Extraordinary History
SYDNEY: The rescue of a 61-year-old bushwalker who had fractured her ankle while walking in the Morton National Park had turned into a large-scale operation which was hampered by bad weather and flooding.
Several attempts to reach the injured woman by air had failed due to cloud and heavy rain.
Swollen creeks had prevented an attempt to carry her out before she was airlifted to Nerriga with two of her rescuers at 2pm yesterday afternoon.
She was later taken to Shoalhaven Hospital.
Ulladulla police said yesterday that a further 30 rescuers had been sent to reach the rescue party with equipment to set up flying-foxes across the rivers and creeks.
The drama began on Tuesday, when the woman fell while walking with three companions on Mt Haughton in the Budawang Ranges.
A police spokesman said a South Coast Wilderness Society member had contacted Nowra police late that afternoon after he came across the party, and six rescuers walked in to meet them.
On Tuesday, Ulladulla police said the National Parks and Wildlife Service helicopter was unable to land in the area due to low cloud.
As a result, a further 13 rescuers joined the bushwalkers and the entire party attempted to walk out of the park late Wednesday.
Ulladulla police said the ground party managed to get about 1km because of swollen rivers and creeks.
They camped overnight and the 30 new rescuers tried to reach the party. The extra rescuers were to relieve some of the earlier crew and try to set up flying-foxes across the rivers.
A naval helicopter from Nowra airlifted 18 of the rescuers stranded by rising flood waters to Nerriga yesterday afternoon.
According to the rescue co-ordinator, Sergeant John Byers, the remaining rescuers would try to make their way out on foot.
On 30 March 1986 a number of police were called to apprehend a mentally disturbed man ( Horan ) who was driving a utility around Bathurst in a dangerous manner.
At the Perthville bridge there was a collision between a police truck and the utility and they became wedged on the approach.
The offender ( Horan ) got out holding a .303 rifle covered with material in his hands.
Senior Constable Byers crawled through the window and grappled with the offender.
He then fell to the ground and the offender broke free and fired at him.
The offender began to fire at the police, at which time Constable 1st Class Paul Mitchell Quinn was shot in the neck and killed instantly and Constable Ian Borland was seriously wounded.
Seeing him go to the back of his utility, Constable Byers fired back and got to his feet as the offender ran down the embankment and turned and fired again.
Constable Byers emptied his revolver, threw himself on the ground between the truck and the utility and reloaded.
The offender, Horan, was shot several times by police before being arrested and charged.
The offender threw his rifle aside and Constable Byers went to assist three other policemen as they arrested him.
By his actions, Senior Constable Byers displayed considerable bravery.
John Byers was not stationed in the area – but was rostered there for the Easter Mt Panorama Motor Cycle races and assisted other Police when this incident was happening.
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Wednesday 19 December 1973, page 9
Policeman wins bravery award
SYDNEY, Tuesday.
Constable 1st Class John Andrew Byers, of Wollongong Police, has been awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct.
The Governor of NSW, Sir Roden Cutler, announced today that the Queen had approved the award.
On February 28, this year, Constable Byers and Senior Constable E. J. ( Ted ) Beaver ( # 10097 ) went to Gladstone Avenue, Wollongong, to investigate a disturbance and the firing of rifle shots.
They saw a man seated in front of a house with a .22 calibre rifle which he pointed in their direction.
Before the weapon could be cocked, Constable Byers ran up to the man and wrested the rifle from his possession.
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ? TBA
Buried at: ? TBA
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( December 2020 )
KEV is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( January 2021 )
JOHN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Not all names come up in the 1968 ‘ Stud Book ‘ Inscription: Traffic cyclists L – R: Jack ” Happy Jack ” AGNEW ( NSWPF # ??? ), Col ” Smoothie ” COGLE, Joe Dainer, Max ” Slobber ” Robertson, Harry ” Bren ” BRENNAN ( NSWPF # 6424 ), John Ackroyd, Charlie Spicer ( NSWPF # 7263? ), Dino Tallon, Brian ‘ Boofa ” Skyes and Wally ” Sockeye ” Salmon. Names are from an article in an old Retired Police Journal by Harry BRENNAN, which featured the photo. I am guessing mid 60’s, leather caps have given way to black helmets and BMW’s instead of the earlier Triumphs. Looks like Centennial Park – possibly on delivery of the BMW’s??? https://www.flickr.com/photos/nswpoliceforce/5599527423/in/photostream/
Monaro Mercury, and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser (NSW : 1862 – 1931),
Monday 2 January 1922, page 2
FATALITY AT NUMERALLA.
VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH.
On Wednesday last an inquest was held by Mr John Gale, coroner ( Queanbeyan ), touching the death of Edward Patrick Agnew, son of Mr Adam John Agnew, grazier, of Numeralla.
The enquiry took place at Kuttamurra, Numeralla, the residence of Mr A. B. Agnew, brother of the deceased, when the following evidence was adduced : —
Adam Bede Agnew, farmer, and grazier, brother of deceased, deposed that about 4.30 p.m. on Monday, 26th. December, deceased was at his residence, Kuttamurra, Numeralla, and left to go to his father’s house where he lived.
Deceased was 15 years 9 months old ; he was riding a quiet horse, and was a good horseman.
About a quarter of an hour after he left witness’ residence, he being in the company of Gordon McDonald; witness noticed the latter galloping back.
McDonald said ” Neddy has got a fall. ”
Witness went along the road and saw McDonald and Stanley Norris carrying deceased in the direction of the residence of witness, who sent for Mr Godfrey, a teacher, of Numeralla, who held a first aid certificate.
The latter advised sending for a doctor ; deceased was unconscious, and witness noticed that blood was coming from his right ear.
Dr Utber came from Cooma, arriving about 6.30, and upon examination said it was practically a hopeless case.
Constable Foster arrived before the doctor came.
Deceased lingered until 12.40 p.m. on Tuesday, 27th December, when he died without recovering consciousness ; he had no property, and his life was not insured.
Gordon McDonald, labourer, deposed that he was riding along the road with deceased to his home on 26th December; they cantered along as far as the crossing, and steadied their horses to go into the creek.
Witness got out of the creek ahead of deceased, and cantered up to open a gate about 200 yards further. On reaching the gate he pulled his horse up and was going to dismount when he saw the deceased’s horse galloping up alongside his ( witness’ ) horse.
He then saw deceased lying in the middle of the road about 50 yards from the creek, and rode back and found him lying on his right side ; blood was issuing from his right ear, and he was unconscious.
Witness lifted him up and loosened his shirt, and at that time deceased’s sister came along in a buggy.
He left and went home for assistance, and Norris and a brother of deceased came back with witness to where deceased was, and brought him along, when the last witness rendered further assistance.
In reply to the police, witness said he noticed mud on the side of the horse and saddle when the horse came up to him, and the near stirrup was hanging over the side of the saddle. The off side and hip of the horse were scratched as if it had fallen.
Stanley Norris, labourer, residing at Dangelong Station, deposed that about 5 p.m. Gordon McDonald asked him to come for a ride, and informed him that deceased had got a fall.
They went to the place and found that deceased was unconscious and bleeding from the right ear.
John Joseph Agnew, a probationary constable, residing at the Central Police Barracks, Sydney, deposed that he was on furlough, staying with his father.
Deceased was his brother. Witness came to Numeralla at 11 o’clock on 27th December. He noticed on the road that an unshod horse had slipped on the hard road, and from the marks he knew that the horse had fallen on the off side. Replying to the police, witness said he did not notice any stones where the horse had fallen ; it was about 50 yards from the creek.
Constable T. J. Foster, of Cooma, deposed that on 26th December he was on duty at Numeralla, and at about 6 p.m. heard that a boy had fallen from his horse.
He went to his house and saw that blood was coming from the deceased’s right ear, and noticed a bruise and contused wound behind that ear.
Heavy rain set in about two o’clock that afternoon, and continued up to the time the accident happened, which made the roads in a very bad and slippery condition.
Witness held a First Aid certificate.
All that was possible was done for the deceased, and the doctor was sent for.
Deceased was a bright, intelligent, youth and a good horseman.
Dr F. L. Utber, of Cooma, deposed that he was called to see the deceased at about 6 p.m. on 26th December, and found him suffering from a fracture of the base of the skull; he was unconscious, and in a critical condition.
Deceased also had a cut on the leg ; he died next day.
Witness went out to Numeralla with the intention of bringing him into Cooma, but found him too bad to be removed.
The cause of death was fracture of the skull, which could have been produced by a fall and the head striking the ground.
The Coroner found that death was due to fracture of the skull accidentally caused by a fall from a horse.
The hearing was continued at the Wagga Circuit Court yesterday before Mr. Justice Campbell, of the charge against Edwin Stanley Palmer and Ernest Victor Smith of feloniously wounding Alexander Skinner at Mirrool , on July 19, with intent to murder him.
Accused were represented by Mr. L. C. Badham, of Sydney ( instructed by Mr. Taylor, of Cootamundra ), and Mr. Norman McGhie presented for the Crown.
Corroborative evidence of the police investigation was given by Constable Bottrell, of Ariah Park, who stated also that on the day of the shoot, he saw the accused in their car at Ariah Park, and they asked him if the paymaster would be along that day. He replied that he did not think so. When he was making his investigations, later, he saw a car, in which was Mr. Harbey, and about three others. One of the party the party had a gun with him. There were also four distinct car tracks around the tree. When he was speaking to the accused at Ariah Park he did not notice what they were wearing.
Constable J. J. Agnew, stationed at Ardlethan, related a conversation that he had with Palmer, while travelling from Goulburn by train. He said that Palmer told him he had been committed for trial in connection with the Mirrool “hold-up,” and that Smith (the other accused) had forced him to make a statement, but that he wanted to alter the part in which he said that Smith did not get out of the car.
In answer to Mr. Badham the Constable denied that he started the conversation, and that be said to Palmer ” Didn’t Smith get out of the car and run? ”
Jessie McEvoy who provided accused with their meals at her home, related a conversation she had with Palmer, in which he asked her who came out in the pay car. She answered that the pay clerk usually brought the money, and she wondered why he had no police escort. She had known both accused for several years, and she had found both very decent.
A salesman in a store at Ariah Park, James A. Nicholson, stated that on the day of the shooting Smith entered the store, and asked for smokeless cartridges, but, as there where none in stock, he left the shop without making any purchase.
Under cross-examination by Mr. Badham, witness said that he had no particular reason for remembering the day, or Smith and his request, excepting that the shot he asked for was unusually large.
Henry Pringleberry, a laborer, of Ariah Park said that on July 19, he saw the accused drive along the street. Smith left the car and walked along the street. Witness and Palmer spoke together for a few minutes, and Palmer asked him if that day was pay day, to which he replied “Yes.” Later saw the accused in a billiard saloon.
Sergeant Stewart, recalled, said in connection with the finding of a muddy pair of boots in the accuseds’ tent admitted that another pair of boots was also found in the camp and were subsequently claimed by Smith, but when found, they were perfectly dry, and bore no signs mud.
THE DEFENCE
A. Player, a hairdresser at Ardlethan, told how he had taken part in the ” line up ” for identification at the local police station, and how Skinner had made the mistake of identifying him as the man that had been seen climbing through the fence after the shooting.
Both of the accused elected to give evidence.
Palmer said he was a motor mechanic and let his car for hire. On July 18, Smith paid him £1 to drive him to Mr Pearson‘s residence, 16 miles north of Mirrool, where they stopped for the night. The following morning they get out on the return trip, but ran out of benzine, so they borrowed a tin from a man named Prentice, who lives along the road, and on their arrival at Ariah Park he purchased two tins of petrol, one of which he sent back to Prentice, and the other he placed in the tonneau of his car, and at 20 minutes to 1 o’clock he left Ariah Park and drove straight to Mirrool, arriving there about 40 minutes later. He drove to Mr Moon’s office, where Smith left him. He went and saw Mr Moon, and left the car standing in the street. At about half-past 3 o’clock he drove the car to his tent, and shortly afterwards Constable Smede arrived. In the meantime, he had been told of the shooting. There was no gun in the car, although there were a number of cartridges in the back seat that he used for fox shooting. The gun had been wrapped tip in a cloth under the bed for about a week, and prior to that it has been at Mrs McEvoy’s. With reference to Constable Agnew’s account of the conversation in the train, Palmer stated that the constable began the conversation and said ” You were a d*** fool not to give Smith away, and clear yourself, by saying that Smith got out of the car. ” To this he replied, ” I’ve made a statement and I don’t want to make another. ”
Smiths statement from the witness box corroborated what Palmer, had said of their movements on the day of the shooting and a searching cross – examination from the Crown Prosecutor failed to elict any new facts.
Counsel having addressed the jury, and, the Judge, retired summed up the evidence, the jury retired shortly after 6 o’clock.
Two hours later the jury returned, and had their minds refreshed on several points of the evidence, but at 10 o’clock they had not come to any agreement, and were locked up for the night.
The Court will sit again at 10 o’clock this morning.
PAYMASTER PEPPERED WITH PELLETS ACCUSED WRAPPED IN A DAMNING LEGAL WEB, AND CONVICTED
They were as mild-mannered and nerveless a brace of bandits as ever faced any minimal tribunal when they faced his Honor Mr. Justice Ralston and a jury at the Central Criminal Court at Darlinghurst last Monday — Edwin Stanley Palmer and Ernest Victor Smith. Both were young men on the threshold of their prime. Palmer is a motor mechanic, aged 26, and Smith, a labourer, a year younger. They were charged that at Mirroul, on July 1922, they did maliciously wound Charles Alexander Skinner, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
The Senior Crown Prosecutor ( Mr. W. T. Coyle, K.C. ) instructed by Mr. John Gonsalves, of the Crown Law Department, conducted the Crown case. The accused were defended by Mr. Moller ( instructed by Messrs. Clayton and Utz ), counsel for the defence having been assigned by the Crown. Both the accused pleaded not guilty. Before a jury was empanelled 10 jurors had been challenged by one or other of the accused.
The accused had been tried before Mr. Justice Campbell at the Wagga sittings of the Supreme Court on October 13, but on that occasion the jury had been unable to agree upon a verdict. Hence the second trial with a change of venue.
Dr. Cecil Findlay, Government Officer at Temora deposed to having examined Charles Alexander Skinner at Temora on July 19. He found sundry gun shot near the left eye, where the shot was still imbedded. In fact none of the pellets had been extracted. Skinner’s injuries could have been caused by the pellets from the cartridge he was now shown. Skinner’s wounds were both immediately and remotely dangerous, but the vision of the eye had not been impaired.
Charles Alexander Skinner, a tall and swarthy young man, said he was Inspector of Construction Works of Government Silos. He lived at Temora, and in that district Government silos were in course of erection. He left Temora on the forenoon on July 19, with a Mr. Leifermann. They went to Ariah Park and had in the car a bag containing some £3000 in notes.
They travelled in a single-seater Ford car and the roads were in a terrible state, so that he had chains on the back wheels. At Ariah Park, Leifermann paid one man in witness’s presence. Then Leifermann and the man went to an hotel — to get the receipt signed. ( Laughter. ) The paying of this man took some five minutes. Witness stood guard by the car. When Leifermann rejoined the car they proceeded. During the wait, witness noticed a car standing near by. He noticed the number of this car — ‘ H-91 ‘ — and his attention was further attracted by the fact that the car carried no chains. Witness did not notice anyone in this car. Witness and his friend left immediately after this car and there was no other car in front of them. Considering the state of the roads, the car ahead was making fast progress. From Ariah Park to Mirrool by road was about 11 miles. Witness from time to time noticed this car ahead. On one occasion witness stopped to clean the screen. This was at a bend in the road. From the top of a slight rise witness saw this same car, stationary, about a quarter of a mile, ahead. Witness in his car proceeded down the intervening dip. Suddenly a shot was fired, apparently from behind a tree some 40 feet ahead. The windscreen of witness’s car was shattered to fragments and witness felt a terrific blow in the face. His face was freely punctured with pellets, the wounds bleeding freely. Witness’s hat and his collar were also plenteously peppered with pellets.
The hat was produced in court and its condition abundantly verified the story just told by the witness. So did the witness’s coat and macintosh which also were produced. These articles were closely and critically examined by the jury. The macintosh showed punctures through the collar.
The witness said that he felt the blow on the right side of the face. The tree stood on the left side of the main road to Mirrool. The main traffic divided at the tree, part going to the left and part to the right, the roads joining up again later on. Leifermann had a revolver and jumped out of the car, from behind the cover of the car covering the tree from which the shot had been fired. Witness also sheltered behind the car and saw a man running from behind the tree. That man was carrying a shot gun and was dressed in a military tunic, khaki trousers and a cap. The trousers and tunic those worn by this fugitive man. The man clambered on to a fence, giving witness a good view of him. As he mounted the fence the fugitive looked back, giving witness a full view of his profile. Witness had no doubt that that man was the accused Smith, now seated in the dock. The wind-screen of hie car, though it was of substantial plate-glass, was shattered to Fragments.
Witness saw Smith on the fence, but did not see him get over the fence. Witness returned to the car while Leifermann covered the tree with his revolver. Having recovered the bag of money, witness and Leifermann went across country till they struck the railway line, abandoning the car where it was. On the railway line a train picked them up and they returned to Ariah Park where witness made a complaint to Constable Smede. Witness had previously seen the accused Palmer about the works and might have seen the other accused also. On two previous witness had taken the pay out to the works. On the following Wednesday witness was called to pick the accused Smith out of a line of men. At first he made a mistake, indicating the wrong man. But the mistake was promptly rectified.
Augustus Frederick Leifermann, a young man, wearing a returned soldier’s badge, and who had been in the company of the preceding witness during that eventful motor car drive, in the main corroborated the evidence given by Skinner. He added that after the shot had been fired, and be and Skinner had left the car, he heard the distinct click of a gun hammer. He did not see any man running from behind the tree. In Quest of cartridges.
James Nicholson, grocer, at Ariah Park, said that on July 19 the accused Smith called at the general store at which witness was employed and asked for No. 1 Remington cartridges. There were none in stock. When Eley’s black powder cartridges were suggested, smith said that these were no good for duck shooting.
Jessie McEvoy, living with her husband at Mirrool, said the two accused had their meals at her place, but slept at their own camp. She remembered these men being arrested. On the morning before they both came to her place. After breakfast they told her they were going out to Mr. Pearson’s place, some distance out of Mirrool. Smith borrowed her husband’s overcoat and then took a box out of a bag that was hanging in the kitchen. It was a small cardboard box about the size of one she was now shown. The gun she was now shown had been at her place for some time. She had thought it was Stan Palmer’s gun. About a week before their arrest Smith took the gun away from her place.
Smede Finds Tracks.
Constable. G. T. Smede. stationed at Ariah Park, deposed that he had followed boot tracks from the scene of the alleged shooting. The footprints were in his opinion those of a man running.
Alleged Damning Admission.
Constable John Joseph Agnew. of Ardlethan, said that on August 10 he was on escort duty to Goulburn. He saw the accused Palmer on the railway platform there, who told him that he was under committal for trial for what he called ” the Mirrool Hold-up “. Palmer said that when he said in his statement to the police that Smith had not left the car that day, he had said what was incorrect. Smith had left the car and picked it up about a quarter of a mile further on. Witness had not known Palmer before this conversation.
The Defence — A General Denial.
Giving evidence on oath the accused, Palmer, gave a general denial of the allegations against him. There was no gun with them in the car at any time during that drive, and Smith never at any time during the journey left the car. He had not known Skinner prior to those charges. It was true that the car was driven to Moon’s office on their return and then to their camp. It was then that a man named Williams informed them of the sticking-up of Skinner along the Ariah Park-road. Witness remarked, ” I saw no one along the road, and I’ve just come back ‘. Then someone remarked, ” I suppose some of the police will be here soon, asking questions “. He could not say who said that. Just then Constable Smede arrived and inquired for the gun. Witness had obtained the gun from Mrs. McEvoy on the preceding Saturday and had cleaned it and put it away. The gun was got out of the car and handed to Smede. When he left Ariah Park he was under the impression that there would be no pay that day. Neither the boots he was now shown nor the khaki trousers were his. He had not known Leifermann till a few days before the police court hearing. After the police court proceedings witness was taken to Goulburn Gaol where he was for 22 days. The Governor of the Gaol refused him facilities for writing. That was why he was so long in getting bail. Witness denied the conversation in the train as detailed by Constable Agnew. It was Agnew who suggested that witness should amend his statement, saying that Smith had got out of the car. Witness refused to either amend his previous statement or to make another one. He had never been in trouble before and held himself forward as a man of good character. He had been married in June last.
The accused Smith also gave evidence on oath. His story, in the main, coincided with that told by Palmer.
” Guilty “
In his address to the jury, Mr. Moller asked them to find that the direct evidence brought forward by the Crown was not sufficient to justify them in convicting the two accused. Skinner was the only witness who proffered any direct evidence, and, under the circumstances, it was very probable that he was mistaken.
The conclusion of the trial was not reached till late on Tuesday. It was not till 8pm that the jury returned with a verdict. They found the accused both guilty, but strongly recommended them to mercy because of their youth.
On Thursday Mr. Justice Ralston intimated that he would hot pass sentence until tomorrow ( Monday, the 11th inst.).
A collision in Sloane-street, Goulburn, involving a motor car driven by Bert Stinson, of Roslyn, and a Sulky, in which was William Taylor, an aged man, also of Roslyn, had a sequel in the Goulburn District Court on Wednesday morning, when Judge Bevan heard a claim by Taylor for £150 damages His Honor awarded £125.
Mr. P. J. Meyer appeared for plaintiff. Stinson did not appear.
Plaintiff said he assisted his son in a dairy business at Gundary, and at 3.30 on the morning of June 26 he was proceeding to Gundary in a sulky via Sloane-street. Witness was driving in a southerly direction, and when about 20 yards from the intersection of Sloane-street and Market-street a motor car came towards the sulky from the latter street.
The car made a bee-line for the sulky, and although witness shouted a warning four times the car came towards him, gaining impetus at every yard. Despite the fact that witness drew his sulky on to the footpath to avoid the car, a collision occurred.
The car hit the sulky with considerable force, overturning it, and also the horse. Witness was pinned beneath the seat of the sulky.
Without alighting, the car driver placed his machine in reverse gear and drove out backwards, dragging with him the horse and wreckage of the sulky.
On becoming freed from the wreckage the car driver kept in reverse until Clifford-street was reached and then turned and made off.
Witness was in the act of crawling from the wreckage when Constable Agnew arrived on the scene and lent his assistance.
Plaintiff said he had been receiving medical attention since the accident, and had not been able to follow his usual employment owing to his injuries. The horse had been stone blind for two weeks following the collision and was still blind in one eye.
The damage done to the sulky and harness amounted to £23. He added that through the efforts of the police he ascertained that the driver of the car was Bert Stinson. He had seen Stinson before issuing the writ for damages and had been prepared to negotiate on reasonable terms. Stinson, however, had offered to defray the costs of the damage to the sulky only.
Constable J. J. Agnew said he was drawn to Sloan Street by the noise of a collision and on arriving on the scene saw Stinson’s car in Sloane street in reverse gear.
On that night Stinson approached witness in the street and admitted he had been involved in the collision.
WOULD SQUARE IT.
Stinson said: “If you let your part of it drop I’lI squaare it up with Taylor. ” Witness, however, reported the matter and proceedings were taken.
Dr. A. P. Gillespie gave evidence of Taylor’s injuries. He said Taylor was 62 years of age and would never be in the same state of health as he had been prior to the collision.
Counsel for plaintiff, in addressing his Honor, said the amount claimed was in no way commensurate with the injuries Taylor had sustained.
In returning a verdict for £125, Judge Bevan declared that no sum would recompense Taylor for the injury to his health.
” I would not undergo an accident like that for £1000,” his Honor added.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001),
Friday 1 October 1926
(No.129), page 4068
The undermentioned members of the Police Force to exercise, within the Licensing Districts preceding their names, the authority conferred by section 63, subsection 1 of the Liquor Act, 1912, from the dates specified,
viz.:—
Gulgong— Constable John Charles Logan, stationed at Leadville,— from 21st August, 1926.
Bombala — Constable John Joseph Agnew, stationed at Bombala,— from 26th August, 1926.
Picton— Constable John Stewart, stationed at Picton,- from 1st September, 1926.
Wyalong —Constable Allen George McCauley Prangley, stationed at Barmedman, — from 1st October, 1926.
Queanbeyan — Constable Robert Shaw, stationed at Queanbeyan, — from 23rd August 1926.
Picton — Constable John Hamilton, stationed at The Oaks, — from 13th August, 1926.
Bathurst — Constable Ernest Randall, stationed at O’Connell, — from 17th August, 1926.
Monaro Mercury, and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser (NSW : 1862 – 1931),
Monday 8 April 1929, page 2
The Bombala Car Fatality
CONCLUSION OF INQUEST.
An Inquest touching the death of Boris Auastanoff, a Greek, 23 years of age, which followed injuries received while riding on a motor car which came into collision with an electric wire police at Bombala on 28th March, was opened by the Coroner of the Cooma District, Mr. H. H. Solomon, at the Bombala Hospital on 29th ult., and adjourned till Saturday last for the production of evidence. The enquiry was held at the Bombala Court House, and was attended by numbers of residents of that centre. The driver of the car, Edward Patrick Elliott, was represented by Mr. F. C. Boys, solicitor of Bombala, and lengthy evidence was given. The decease was one of a party of men engaged on work on the Mt. Darragh road, and who were being conveyed to the Bombala railway station at the time of the accident.
Chris Doney deposed that decease was a native of Kobomnsky, Greece, and was married, his wife and one child living in that county. Witness believed that deceased had some cousins living at Cowra, one being name Bire Peters, a farm labourer.
Mr. Nicholas Condoleon acted as interpretor during the evidence of the first witness, as above, given at the hospital, Saturday’s evidence included the following:
Constable John J. Agnew deposed that about 1.50 p.m.’ on 28th ult. he visited the spot which the collision occurred and saw an electric light pole lying across the bonnet of the car. Deceased’s left leg was almost severed at the knee, the right leg being broken, in two or three places ; there were wounds on the right cheek and left eye. Elliott the driver had a wound on the cheek and jaw. The pole, which was 9 inches in diameter, was broken off. Tracks of the car indicated that it was travelling on the wrong side of the road. The driver was, very much shaken,, his breath smelt strongly of alcohol, he was not under the influence of liquor. Of two other men in the car he noticed one really, drunk and the other stupid. The driver said the tyre blew out and deceased was riding on the foot board and grasped his right arm and pulled the wheel towards the post. The tracks indicated that the car skidded out and did not indicate any sudden turning to the right. The pole was practically new and sound and was broken off about 2 feet from the ground.
Clarence Harold Dunn, labourer, deposed that he, W. Dick, C. Purves, H. and C. Gerathy were on the car. Witness heard an explosion like a blow-out and the car skidded. It was bout 25 miles from Mt. Durragh to Bombala. He did not know deceased was on the foot board. The only thing witness remembered was the tyre blowing out. The car was going about 15 miles an hours ; witness was thrown out and cut on the face.
William Dick, labourer, stated that the driver seemed to be struggling to right the car and the crash came. There was no one in the car the worse for liquor. He did not see deceased till the accident occurred. The car was going at a medium speed, about 20 miles an hour. The driver Elliott was sober.
Leonard E. Elton, farmer, of Bombala, deposed that he was riding along the street and heard a crash and saw the pole falling, and went across and saw a man lying down at the butt of the pole. He went for assistance ; the car did not seem to be travelling very fast. One of the men was under the influence of drink ; Elliott appeared to be sober.
Dr. Jefferies deposed to being called to the scene of the accident. Be saw deceased lying on the floor of the car, he was conscious and was bleeding from a cut on the right side of the mouth ; his left leg was horribly mangled, the knee was laid right open and three inches of the lower end or the hip bone was hanging. The lower leg was badly mutilated and the bone laid bare and projecting through the skin about 6 inches. The right leg was broken above and below the knee. The left leg was amputated as soon as possible. The lower jaw was broken in two places. The man died about 6 o’clock that evening. His idea was that the car must have been driven more than 15 miles an hour. What the deceased said was ” He breaka da legs. ” Witness attended to the injuries of the other men ; only one showed signs of drink. Elliott, the driver, in his opinion, was not under the influence of drink at all. Elliott told witness the deceased jumped on the running beard of the car and said ” I will hang on here Ted, ” and he tried to make the man get off as it was risky. Elliott said he was turning the corner round past the freezing works and one of the front tyres blew out and at the same time deceased grabbed his arm and prevented him from straightening up from the skid following the blow out. That conversation took place at the hospital, the details were given in quite a rational way.
Charles Edward Bruce, farmer, of Bombala, said he was in Maybe Street and saw a car going towards the Council Chambers. Just then another man was coming behind the car and called out and wanted to get in the car. The driver did not hear him and kept on travelling. Witness knew nothing further about the matter.
William Dorl, farmer of Ando, deposed that he saw the car pick up two passengers L. and C. Gerathy, and saw a man sitting on the luggage on the foot board. The car went round Vider’s corner at an ordinary pace. The occupants did not seem in any way drunk in his opinion.
Charles E. Gerathy, labourer, said he was not sober when he got in the car after getting out to go to the railway station. He remembered starting for the train. He just remembered a smash and that was all. He was not drunk at the time of the smash ; he was merry, that was all ; he was about ” half shot. ”
Patrick Edward ELLIOTT, the driver, said deceased was coming from the Imperial Hotel and asked him if he could take him to the train, and he replied ” No. “. Deceased came round and stood on the driving side of the car. When be came to the turn the car swerved to the right and deceased caught hold of witness’s right arm, which interfered with his steering. That was all he could remember till he was being taken to the Hospital. He told Constable Agnew he had a blow out. He had had two lagers, two English stouts and a Sarto that day. He was on the right hand side of the road ; the ruts were a bit bad on the left side. He had 5 passengers and deceased on the outside board ; he was not under the influence of liquor. He was driving 25 miles an hour along the street, and round the bend he eased off to 20 miles, he did not let the wheel go.
Two other witnesses, Aaron Williams, and William Henry Harrison also gave evidence. The former said Elliott was sober, and the latter that the car was not travelling at more than the ordinary pace.
The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died from injuries through violently striking an electric wire-line post while riding on the board of a motor car.
A fire broke out soon after 8 o’clock last night at the residence of Mr. David Payne, when a large weatherboard dining-room, kitchen, laundry, and bathroom were destroyed.
The police, under Constable J. Agnew, contributed in a great measure to saving the greater
portion of the premises. The origin of the fire is unknown, as all the occupiers were at church. The premises were insured for only a small sum.
First-class Constable J. J. Agnew, who has been stationed at Bombala for more than seven years, has received notice of his transfer and promotion to Sydney.
He is succeeded by First-Class Constable Sturgess, of Harden.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001),
Thursday 6 April 1939
(No.55), page 2025
THE undermentioned members of the Police Force to exercise, within the Licensing Districts preceding their names, the authority conferred by section 63, subsection 1, of the Liquor Act, 1912, from the 1st April, 1939,
Metropolitan — Constable Arthur Edward Ward, stationed at No. 1 Police Station.
Metropolitan — Constable John Joseph Agnew, stationed at No. 1 Police Station.
Metropolitan — Constable Charles Oscar Robinson, stationed at No. 1 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Victor Raymond Woodland, stationed at No. 1 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Rex William Hamilton, stationed at No. 1 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Harold Leslie Clugston, stationed at No. 3 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Henry Percy Lewis, stationed at No. 3 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Ernest Walter Williamson, stationed at No. 3 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable William Linden Roberts, stationed- at No. 4 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Eric Richard King, stationed at No. 4 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Thomas Earl Matthew Carney, stationed at No. 4 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Joseph Andrew Reed, stationed at No. 4 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable William Charles Davies, stationed at No. 5 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable George Henry Schmidt, stationed at No. 5 Police Station.
Metropolitan-—Constable John Herbert Lanaghan, stationed at No. 5 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Thomas John Fitzgerald, stationed at No, 6 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Daniel Lynch, stationed at No. 6 Police Station.
Metropolitan—Constable Reginald James Hill, stationed at No. 6 Police Station,.
South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW : 1900 – 1954), Thursday 6 March 1952, page 30
BOOKMAKER AND BUS DRIVER
” I said, What are you going to do about the accident? and he replied, What are you going to do?. So I reported it to the police. ”
The speaker was registered bookmaker Selwyn Allan McFAWN, of 72 Market St, Wollongong, and he was telling the Wollongong Court on Tuesday the story of a collision between his car and a bus in Church Street on 5th October.
Allan Claude McDONAGH, of 39 Wallace Road, Fern Hill, had been charged with negligent driving, but he did not come to court.
McFawn said he was driving his car up Church Street when a double-decker bus approached in the opposite direction. It came from behind a car and across the road at him. Witness’ car was struck on the mudguard, the impact being about five feet from the centre line on the bus’ incorrect side of the road.
He approached the driver of the bus and the above related dialogue ensued.
Constable J. Agnew said that McDonagh told him he had swung a bit wide to avoid two parked cars, and he thought one was about to pull out from the kerb. He saw McFawn‘s car swing to the left, but he ( McDonagh ) struck it before he had a chance.
Mr. Acting Justice Myers, in the Supreme Court yesterday, granted bail in £1,000 to Arthur Thomas, who was arrested on Saturday and charged with murdering Thomas Alfred Barber, a former champion boxer, and maliciously wounding Harry Thomas at Kimberley Avenue, Lane Cove.
Mr. J. E. Cassidy, Q.C., for the accused, said that Thomas had been refused bail at Central Court of Petty Sessions and remanded to August 5.
The accused, he said, was 68 and was not in good health. He was prepared to undertake not to return to his home if granted bail. His brother, Harry Thomas, of Harbord, a man of good character and substance, was prepared to give him accommodation pending the coroner’s inquiry, and would keep him under supervision.
Barber was killed, Mr. Cassidy said, during an altercation between the two sons of the accused when the accused intervened.
Mr. Cassidy said that there had been a dispute over a partnership and a lorry.
POLICE AFFIDAVIT
Sergeant John Joseph Agnew, in an affidavit, said he knew the accused and arrested him on July 11. Harry Thomas also lived in Kimberley Avenue, Lane Cove.
Thomas was known to him as a man of violent temper which was particularly directed against his son, Harry Thomas.
When he told Thomas that Barber was dead, the accused said, “I hope the other big cur dies too.”
Sergeant Agnew said that he feared that if Thomas was allowed bail he would attempt to interfere with Crown witnesses.
Mr. Acting Justice Myers allowed bail on the murder charge and released Thomas in his own recognisance on the charge of malicious wounding.
He also ordered Thomas to report twice daily to Manly police.
Mr. J. E. Cassidy, Q.C. ( by Mr. F. R. Anderson ) for applicant; Mr. D. J. Vine Hall for the Crown.
The Premier (Mr. Cahill ) announced yesterday that the Governor-in-Council had approved of four police promotions.
Inspectors Third Class James MacKay and William Leslie Jefferson would be promoted to Inspectors Second Class, he said. Sergeants First – Class Joseph Wardley and John Joseph Agnew would be Inspectors Third Class.
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( January 2021 )
Police identified the 39-year-old woman as serving NSW Police officer, Senior Constable Kelly Foster. Credit: NSW Police
KELLY is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
KELLY SHOULD BE mentioned on the Sydney Police Centre Memorial Wall, Surry Hills
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
From all of us at Chifley Police District, we would like to thank the community for their love and support in relation to the untimely death of Senior Constable Kelly Foster.
As you can appreciate, we are expecting a significant gathering to bid her farewell, and with the current COVID restrictions, not everyone who would like to pay their respects in person will be able to do so.
We are urging members of the public not to attend the church; instead, please demonstrate your community spirit by forming a socially distanced line along either side of Bridge Street (between Mort and Short streets) from 1:30pm tomorrow (Thursday) to view the procession as it leaves the church.
On behalf of Kelly’s family and the broader NSW Police Force family, thank you for your ongoing support.
ROAD CLOSURES FOR FUNERAL OF SENIOR CONSTABLE KELLY FOSTER-
THURSDAY 14/1/2021.
CHIFLEY PD
Police advise of a soft road closure of Bridge Street Lithgow at the intersection of Mort Street- the road will be closed all the way to the intersection of Short Street and includes closure of the Church St intersection with Bridge St. Residents will be able to enter and exit by advising Police at the traffic points. Road closed from 6 am until abut 4 pm. The funeral commences at 12.30 pm
Senior Constable Kelly Foster, aged 39, died following a canyoning incident at Mount Wilson yesterday (Saturday 2 January 2021).
Snr Cst Foster attested on 27 August 2010, after which she commenced duties as a probationary constable at Newtown Local Area Command.
She was confirmed as a constable in May 2012.
In May 2014, Snr Cst Foster joined the State Crime Command working as an intel analyst until May 2020.
She was most recently working at Chifley Police District, stationed at Lithgow Police Station.
NSW Police Acting Commissioner Mal Lanyon has extended his condolences to the Foster family on behalf of the NSW Police Force.
“It’s a very sad time for the NSW Police Force and Kelly’s death is a loss to the whole community,” Acting Commissioner Lanyon said.
“To hear reports that Kelly was trying to help another woman when she died demonstrates her commitment to the community she served and the ability to put the needs of others before her own.
“Kelly was a highly regarded and dedicated officer who will be sorely missed by colleagues across the force.
“Her policing career was put on hold when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, however, her strength to survive this and return to work is another testament to her strength and resilience.
“Above all, Kelly was a kind and loving daughter, sister and partner.”
Snr Cst Foster’s family have requested privacy at this time.
Kelly FOSTER – On top of Australia at Mt Kosciusko
An international student, 24, was among a group swimming on inflatable lilos at the popular Wollangambe Canyon (pictured) when she was sucked into the whirlpool. Her body was recovered on Sunday, along with Senior Constable Foster’s
The couple bonded over their mutual love of adventuring and regularly went camping, hiking and on mountain bike rides throughout Australia
Senior Constable Kelly Foster (left) drowned while trying to save an international student who became stuck in raging waters in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, on Saturday. Senior Constable Foster had trekked to the picturesque spot with her boyfriend Gavin Morom (right)
Mr Morom (right) had posted about his trek with Senior Constable Foster (left) on adventurers social media app Strava on Saturday. The policewoman only recently returned to the job after overcoming breast cancer
Gavin & Kelly – Cedar Creek
Emergency services rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised about 2.30pm on Saturday, but poor weather conditions meant a search had to be called off about 6pm. When it resumed on Sunday the bodies of the two women were located by NSW Police divers
Eight other members of the group who the international student was with were uninjured
It’s believed both women were canyoning in water only that can only be reached after hours of hiking through rough terrain
Missing canyoners found after sucked into whirlpool in Blue Mountains including NSW police officer
There has been a sad end in the search for two missing canyoners after they were sucked into a whirlpool in regional NSW.
The women had not been seen since disappearing beneath the water’s surface on Saturday in Wollangambe Canyon at Mount Wilson, north of the Blue Mountains.
But on Sunday, police divers joined the search and located two bodies around midday.
Police identified the 39-year-old woman as serving NSW Police officer, Senior Constable Kelly Foster, who has most recently been stationed at Lithgow Police Station.
The other woman is believed to be an international student, aged 24, from Chiswick.
She is yet to be formally identified and police are waiting for confirmation that family members are notified.
Witnesses told police the younger woman fell off her inflatable lilo and it was swept into the whirlpool.
Snr Cst Foster was also swept out when she tried to rescue her.
Port Hacking High School pays tribute to Senior Constable Kelly Foster
The Port Hacking High School community is saddened by the tragic news that former student, NSW Police Senior Constable Kelly Foster, who lost her life in a tragic canyoning accident over the weekend.
Senior Constable Foster, 39, died following a canyoning incident at Mount Wilson on Saturday.
“Kelly graduated in 1999 and according to her peers was very smart, kind, had an easy going nature and always put others before herself,” a statement on the Port Hacking High School Facebook site said today.
“We send our deepest condolences to Kelly’s family and friends at this time.”
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: Guardian Funerals
Buried at: ? TBA
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( January 2021 )
LISA is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Condolences to her partner, Grant Gibson & his two children, family and friends.
Lisa was the eldest child of parents, Ian Roderick Parrish and Marilyn Ann Gibson and Stepmom Judith Parrish.
Sister to Jody and Amanda and Aunty to their children.
Mother of Dayna, Hunter, Kade and Tamsyn.
This was published 13 years ago
Officer who found Byrne’s body grilled
The policeman who found Caroline Byrne dead at The Gap has told a Sydney court that in almost 20 years of rescue work, he had not seen any other bodies so far out from the cliff face.
Senior Sergeant Mark Powderly ( # 14425 ) gave evidence at the committal hearing for Gordon Wood, who is defending the charge that he murdered his former girlfriend.
The body of the 24-year-old model was found wedged head-first in rocks at the bottom of The Gap at Watsons Bay, in Sydney’s east, on June 8, 1995.
Wood, who was stockbroker Rene Rivkin‘s chauffeur at the time, is accused of throwing her from the 29-metre high cliff.
Exactly where Ms Byrne landed is central to the case, but her death was initially treated as suicide and no photographs were taken of her body at the scene.
Sgt Powderley told Burwood Local Court he and Constable Lisa Camwell retrieved Ms Byrne‘s body from a crevice next to a pyramid-shaped rock.
The officer, who spent 19 years in the Police Rescue Squad, said he had recovered up to 20 bodies from The Gap but had never found anyone that far out from the cliff.
Research by physics expert Rodney Cross allegedly shows that Ms Byrne could only have landed at this point, 11.8 metres from the cliff face, if she was hurled using a spear throw.
But a different place was nominated as the point of impact in a 1996 police video, which was played to the court.
In the video, Sgt Powderley narrates from the cliff top as Constable Camwell indicates a place several metres from the pyramid rock.
Sgt Powderley said he “wasn’t really concentrating” when the video – intended to publicise the Byrne case – was recorded.
He had only realised in 2004 that it showed the wrong place.
“If we were there to do a Forensic Services assessment of the scene and pinpoint the exact location … things would have been done differently,” he said.
Sgt Powderley said he saw the video for the first time at the 1997 inquest into Ms Byrne‘s death, but did not notice the position was wrong because he “just wasn’t paying the attention to it that I should have”.
Police initially gave Prof Cross the wrong information about where Ms Byrne landed and he concluded she probably jumped, the court has been told.
Defence barrister Winston Terracini SC suggested measurements of the location had been “wrong for ages”, but were changed when police received a report “that doesn’t suit their purposes”.
Sgt Powderley denied having been asked by the detective heading the investigation, Paul Jacob ( # 18752 ), to reconsider the body’s location.
Earlier, Prof Cross told the court he had not considered information from 1994 about Ms Byrne‘s sporting ability when concluding she could not have jumped so far from the cliff.
Instead, he used reports from Ms Byrne‘s high school teachers that she had no athletic ability.
Mr Terracini asked why he had not taken into account the more recent information which, he said, showed Ms Byrne “excelled at a whole range of different sports” including basketball, swimming and aerobics.
“I presumed that that material was provided by Caroline Byrne herself,” Prof Cross said.
On 9 September 2008 the Daily Telegraph / AAP reported “Exact spot of model’s body ‘forgotten’”
It said a police officer who recovered the body of model Caroline Byrne has told a Sydney court she will never remember the exact location of the body. Senior Constable Lisa Camwell told the New South Wales Supreme Court a controversial 1996 video re-enactment was her best memory of the recovery operation.
Ms Byrne, 24, was found wedged head first in rocks at the base of cliffs at The Gap, in Sydney’s east on June 8, 1995. Her live-in boyfriend Gordon Wood is on trial for her murder. Sen Const Camwell was one of two police involved in retrieving Ms Byrne’s body. She was tasked with carrying a body bag and stretcher across to the recovery site.
The officer today told the jury her recollection of the morning was based solely on her own actions “which was carrying equipment and looking at the ground”. When she took part in a video re-enactment about a year after Ms Byrne‘s death, Sen Const Camwell said she determined the place she believed the body found was based upon an estimate of how long it had taken her to reach it that night. “Most of those large rocks found down the bottom there are mostly just large rocks to me,” she said. “I wouldn’t ever say I know exactly where her body was.”
Sen Const Camwell said she had no further involvement in the case until she was contacted about the video in 2004. She told the court the officer then in charge of the murder investigation said the position of Ms Byrne‘s body had become a ” significant issue ”, and where she had indicated on the video appeared to be incorrect. She agreed with Wood’s barrister Winston Terracini SC that her best memory of events was as recorded on the video.
The location of the body is essential to the Crown case that Ms Byrne was not pushed nor jumped, but was forcefully thrown to her death. Sen Const Camwell‘s partner Mark Powderly has told the jury the body was recovered from a different location which is consistent with the theory that Ms Byrne was murdered. The location indicated by Sen Const Camwell supports the hypothesis that Ms Byrne took her own life. The trial continues.
MICK BRUNETTA had heard a lot of screams during his 17 years of fishing at The Gap, but he had never heard anything like the one he heard on the night of June 7, 1995, he told a murder trial yesterday.
Mr Brunetta and his brother-in-law Norm Wano were not having much luck as they cast their lines into the darkness from the clifftop. About 11pm they heard what they variously described as a woman’s “freakish scream” and that she sounded “like someone who was panicked or scared”.
Mr Wano turned and said, “F— man, what was that?” and the pair continued fishing.
Gordon Wood, 45, has pleaded not guilty to throwing his girlfriend, Caroline Byrne, a 24-year-old model, from the cliffs at the notorious suicide spot in Sydney’s east.
Mr Wano said that he contacted the police 11 months later after seeing a re-enactment on television where police asked the two fishermen, who were potential witnesses, to come forward.
Wearing an olive-green bandanna over his dreadlocks and his sunglasses perched on top of his head, Mr Wano said that although he was not a keen fisherman, he often accompanied his brother-in-law.
He said he had heard the scream about 11pm and, “It wasn’t a scream of happiness. It was like a scared scream.”
He said that later three men had come by calling out the name “Caroline”. Upon being told of the scream, Mr Wano said, one of the men had said, “On no, she’s done it, she’s done it.”
Mr Brunetta, who gave evidence with the assistance of an Italian interpreter, said that he recalled seeing a lone man calling out “Caroline” and that later that night that same man, who had blond hair, had come back with two other men. After telling the group of the scream, they asked to borrow his torch.
Mr Brunetta said his torch was not very good because the battery “was a bit flat”.
He agreed that in his 2004 statement he had said that when he saw the men trying to shine the torch to illuminate the bottom of the cliff, he had said, “There’s no way that man will be able to see anything because the torch is not strong enough.”
The two fishermen stayed on until dawn watching the police recover Ms Byrne’s body. Mr Brunetta said no one had ever taken him back to The Gap to try to pinpoint the exact location of where Ms Byrne had landed.
Also yesterday, a police witness contradicted another on critical evidence against Wood.
One officer told the jury that she would never be able to pinpoint the exact location of the body, which is vital to proving that Ms Byrne’s death was murder.
The jury has heard conflicting evidence about where the body was found, with senior retrieval officer Mark Powderly testifying Ms Byrne was some 10 metres from the cliff face.
But his partner, Senior Constable Lisa Camwell, yesterday told the court she believed Ms Byrne was in a crevice closer to the shore.
No measurements or photographs were taken on the night of her death.
A 1996 video re-enactment of the rescue operation shows Senior Constable Camwell pointing to a spot, which is referred to as the “exact location” of Ms Byrne’s body.
The officer yesterday said she had estimated the site based upon how long it took her to reach the body on the night of the retrieval, and the video showed her best recollection of events.
“Most of those large rocks found down the bottom there are mostly just large rocks to me,” she said.
“I wouldn’t ever say I know exactly where her body was.”
During the trial, the Court was told of some uncertainty regarding the actuallocation where the body was found. Senior Constable Lisa Camwell, one of theofficers who retrieved Byrne’s body in 1995 gave evidence that she had in 1996participated in a video re-enactment in which she indicated the body’s location.She gave evidence that in 2004 she was contacted by an officer in charge of themurder investigation (Sergeant Powderly) and told that the position of MsByrne’s body had become a significant issue. She was told that the body positionshe had indicated on the video now appeared to be incorrect. Media reportsduring the second trial suggested the location of the body was an essentialcomponent to the Crown case that Ms Byrne was not pushed nor jumped, butwas forcefully thrown to her death [The12]
2.4.3.3
Deliberation and verdictAfter five full days of deliberation on 21 November 2008 they found Wood guilty.On 3 December 2008 Wood was sentenced to a custodial sentence of 17 years,with a minimum time in prison of 13 years. Wood lodged an appeal to theconviction.2.4.4Inquests, Investigations and TrialsTwo inquests were held into Byrne’s death by New South Wales State coronerJohn Abernethy, with Wood claiming it was suicide. The second inquest in 1998delivered an open finding. That same year, Wood left Australia.Police investigations continued from 2000 onwards as “Strikeforce Irondale“with hundreds of witnesses interviewed and resulting in a brief of evidencerunning to more than 350 pages. Caroline’s father Tony Byrne continued to pressfor action from the investigation eventually enrolling the assistance of New SouthWales politician Fred Nile who raised questions about the investigation in StateParliament up till 2004.In 2004 scientific reports relating to the physics of a body falling/jumping/beingprojected from the cliff produced by Professor Rod Cross were the principalelements of new evidence which encouraged the Crown to push for a trial ofGordon Wood. In March 2006 the New South Wales Director of PublicProsecutions Nicholas Cowdery QC agreed with police that there was enoughevidence to charge Wood with Byrne’s murder. Wood was detained in London inApril 2006, extradited to Australia and released on bail by a Sydney court on 4May. On 6 July 2007, Wood was committed to stand trial for the murder of Byrne.The first trial started on 21 July 2008 with Mark Tedeschi QC appearing for theCrown and Winston Terracini QC defending Wood. On 6 August 2008, JusticeGraham Barr declared a mistrial because of the alleged contact that a member ofthe jury had with 2GB radio host Jason Morrison. The juror, who remainedanonymous, claimed that some of the jurors were planning a secret night visit tothe crime scene (the Gap) being organised by a particular juror who was a “bully”and who had “already decided that Wood was guilty.” Justice Barr ruled “I had todischarge the jury … because some jurors disobeyed my instructions andmisconducted themselves.”The second trial commenced on 25 August 2008 and for the first time in NewSouth Wales court history a panel of 15 jurors was sworn in instead of the usual12 to provide some contingency.
Caroline Byrne (8 October 1970 – 7 June 1995), an Australian model, was found at the bottom of a cliff at The Gap in Sydney in the early hours of 8 June 1995. Her then boyfriend Gordon Eric Wood (b. 1962), who at the time of her death was chauffeur and personal assistant to businessman Rene Rivkin, was convicted of her murder on 21 November 2008 and spent three years in Goulburn jail. He was acquitted of the conviction in February 2012.[1][2]
Events of 7 June 1995
The Gap at Watsons Bay, location of Byrne’s death.
Born on 8 October 1970,[3] Byrne had been in a relationship with Wood since 1992. She was a model but principally worked as a modelling instructor for Sydney deportment and etiquette educator June Dally-Watkins. On 7 June 1995, she failed to turn up for work and for an appointment with a psychiatrist. There were three claimed sightings of her near The Gap at Watsons Bay that afternoon and evening, in the company of two men, one of whom matched Wood’s description. Two of the sightings – at 1 pm and 3 pm – were by local cafe owners, Craig Martin and Lance Melbourne. In 1998 John Doherty, an Irish artist who had been out of the country in the intervening years, came forward to say that around 8.30pm that evening he too had seen Byrne outside his studio window arguing with one man while another man stood nearby.[4]
Wood denied being present at Watsons Bay that afternoon. Evidence was sworn at both inquests by Wood’s friends Brett Cochrane and Nic Samartis that they lunched with him briefly around 1:15 pm in Potts Point before he was called away after a call from Rivkin.[5]:206 Wood claimed that he was asked by Rivkin to chauffeur prominent lobbyist and ex-federal minister Graham Richardson to an appointment and then spent the afternoon doing regular chores for Rivkin before going home around 7 pm. The Richardson alibi was compromised by Richardson when he was interviewed by police in 2001, when he advised that he had lunched that day with rugby league administrator Peter Moore.[4]
Wood’s movements in the afternoon have never been reported prior to the late evening, when Wood said he awoke on his couch having fallen asleep in front of the television and was immediately alarmed that Byrne was still not home. Wood has said he did not know Byrne’s whereabouts but was led by what he termed “telepathic communication” to The Gap. He had first driven to the beachfront car-park at Bondi Beach where he and Byrne had spent much time and then to a favourite park at Camp Cove where they had often picnicked. Heading back from Camp Cove he spotted Byrne’s white Suzuki Vitara parked in a lane at The Gap. It was when running about the cliff-top and shouting her name that Wood encountered two rock fishermen who verified his appearance around midnight.
Wood then rang Tony Byrne and Caroline’s brother Peter. He drove back into Sydney city and collected them and all three then went to the Gap and scoured the cliff-top. Peter Byrne later gave evidence that at about 1am Wood claimed to have spotted her body at the base of the cliff using torchlight. Byrne himself said he could see nothing and nor could the police who arrived soon after with police torches. The night was dark and the cliff misty. Peter Byrne claimed it was difficult to see the rocks below the cliff, let alone a body. The contention whether Wood had claimed he could see something in the darkness figured in much media speculation over the years and formed a key part of Crown evidence in the 2008 trial. In 2011 the Appeal Court felt that the Crown had presented speculation in this area posing as evidence. This was one of the grounds resulting in Wood’s 2011 appeal being upheld.
The identity of the second man supposedly sighted by Melbourne and Martin with Wood in Watsons Bay earlier in the day has remained unclear. With evidence contradicting the likelihood that the man was either of those whom the police considered in investigation (Byrne’s modelling agent Adam Leigh or Rivkin associate Gary Redding) the Crown chose to pose speculation without evidence on either during the trial and drew criticism from the trial judge and later the appellant judges.
Media interest
Byrne’s death was accepted as a suicide by local Rose Bay Police and others. No photographs were taken of the location of her body’s landing point.
In 1996, Byrne’s father begin to agitate against the notion of suicide such that from 1997 onwards the case and circumstances of Byrne’s death were regularly examined in Australia’s national newspapers and reported as “one of Sydney’s unsolved crimes”. The death of a beautiful model at one of Sydney’s notorious suicide spots, the connection to the flamboyant and newsworthy Rivkin, and a net of witnesses and commentators which included some prominent Sydney identities all added to the intrigue of the case.
Offset Alpine speculation
Attention was particularly heightened by the still unproven speculation of a connection with Rene Rivkin’s financial activities. The day before Byrne’s death, Wood and Rivkin were interviewed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission about the Offset Alpine fire of 1993 and the true ownership of share parcels traded in Offset Alpine owned by nominees related to Swiss bank accounts.[5]:203 Tony Byrne claimed that Wood had indicated to his daughter that the fire was a set-up for insurance purposes.
Ultimately in 2001 Rivkin was charged with insider trading (of Qantas shares) and his eventual conviction in 2003 had a devastating effect on his mental stability, culminating in his 2005 suicide.[6] However the ASIC investigation into share trading in Offset Alpine and the true beneficiaries proved an epic that outlived Rivkin, commencing in 1995 and continuing from 2005 with a focus shifted to Graham Richardson and Trevor Kennedy until eventually closed without outcome by ASIC in 2010.[7]
Peripheral celebrities
Adding to this intrigue was a list of celebrities with a peripheral involvement in the case. Byrne’s medical doctor who had referred her to the psychiatric appointment she did not keep on 7 June was television celebrity physician, Dr Cindy Pan.[5]:205Graham Richardson‘s diarised luncheon appointment that day (which caused him to question whether he may have been chauffeured anywhere by Wood) was with rugby league identity Peter Bullfrog Moore at Sydney’s Hilton Hotel and was set up to broker a peace deal in the Super League war which deeply divided Australian rugby league at that time. Wood always claimed that he had driven Moore from a noon meeting with Rivkin to what may well have been a lunch, though the press and (later) the Crown ignored this possibility. Moore died in July 2000 a year prior to the Strikeforce Irondale interview with Richardson, thus preventing corroboration of the luncheon timings and Rivkin too was dead before the trial.[8]
Byrne’s close friends included entertainer Tania Zaetta and actress Kylie Watson, a Home and Away cast member. It was the amateur sleuthing around Watsons Bay armed with photographs of Byrne in the weeks after her death which had Dally-Watkins and Watson uncover the Martin/Melbourne sighting lead.[5]:206 Other celebrity witnesses who figured in the case at some point included businessman John Singleton, journalist Paul Barry and paparazzo Jamie Fawcett.
Inquests, investigation and trials
Two inquests were held into Byrne’s death by New South Wales State coroner John Abernethy, with Wood claiming it was suicide. The second inquest in 1998 delivered an open finding. That same year, Wood left Australia.
Police investigations continued from 2000 onwards as “Strikeforce Irondale” with hundreds of witnesses interviewed and resulting in a brief of evidence running to more than 350 pages. Caroline’s father Tony Byrne continued to press for action from the investigation eventually enrolling the assistance of New South Wales politician Fred Nile who raised questions about the investigation in State Parliament up till 2004.[9]
In 2004 scientific reports relating to the physics of a body falling/jumping/being projected from the cliff produced by Professor Rod Cross were the principal elements of new evidence which encouraged the Crown to push for a trial of Gordon Wood.[10] In March 2006 the New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas CowderyQC agreed with police that there was enough evidence to charge Wood with Byrne’s murder.[11] Wood was detained in London in April 2006, extradited to Australia and released on bail by a Sydney court on 4 May. On 6 July 2007, Wood was committed to stand trial for the murder of Byrne.
The first trial started on 21 July 2008 with Mark Tedeschi QC appearing for the Crown and Winston Terracini QC defending Wood. On 6 August 2008, Justice Graham Barr declared a mistrial because of the alleged contact that a member of the jury had with 2GB radio host Jason Morrison. The juror, who remained anonymous, claimed that some of the jurors were planning a secret night visit to the crime scene (the Gap) being organised by a particular juror who was a “bully” and who had “already decided that Wood was guilty.” Justice Barr ruled “I had to discharge the jury … because some jurors disobeyed my instructions and misconducted themselves.”[12]
The second trial commenced on 25 August 2008 and for the first time in New South Wales court history a panel of 15 jurors was sworn in instead of the usual 12 to provide some contingency. [12]
Trial evidence
Presentation of the Crown case
Following the aborted first trial Tedeschi, as Crown Prosecutor, presented the Crown case over a nine-week period from 26 August until 24 October 2008. Over 70 witnesses were called and the jury heard hours of audio and video evidence including taped interviews with Rivkin and Wood.[13]
Witnesses called by the prosecution included Pan, Richardson, Watson, Zaetta, Singleton, Fawcett, Bob Hagan and sports journalist Phil Rothfield. Tony Byrne, Peter Byrne, Dally-Watkins and her daughter Carol Clifford appeared. Doherty and Cochrane gave evidence via video link up from overseas. Police witnesses included Tracey Smit ( ProCst # 61020 ) and Paul Griffiths ( # 23770 ? ) (officers on scene), Sgt Mark Powderly ( # 14425 ), Sgt Neville Greatorex ( # 16136 )(who gave evidence on police procedures), Snr Const Lisa Camwell( # ????? )(who retrieved the body) and the first investigating officer of the case Sgt Craig Woods ( #22599 ? ) of Rose Bay who had first dismissed the death as suicide and who gave evidence that in the first weeks Tony Byrne too accepted the suicide verdict and was explicitly against the idea of an inquest. Another ex-policeman to appear was Byrne’s former boyfriend Andrew Blanchette ( # ????? ). At one stage Justice Barr counselled Blanchette that he ought consider taking legal advice before answering a particular question. Sensationally on his second day in the witness box, Blanchette admitted that early that morning he had phoned another witness – Melinda Medich, his girlfriend and a minor at the time of Byrne’s death – before she was due to give evidence later that day. Blanchette was reported to police by Medich who had not heard from him for a number of years. Blanchette denied that he had been attempting to influence her evidence.
Location of the body
Retired University of Sydney physicist Associate Professor Rod Cross spent two days in the witness box. Over a six-year period Cross had produced six reports on the case – with his initial findings being quite different to the later findings presented in the trial.[10] Although formally qualified in the field of plasma physics, Cross had experience working with biomechanists regarding sports research and had published and refereed many papers on biomechanics;[14] he was therefore proposed by police investigators as a forensic expert in fall dynamics. Between 1998 and 2004 Cross’ reports all concluded that Byrne could have jumped to her death, as he was told that Byrne’s body had been found at a distance of 9 metres (30 ft) from the cliff.[15] In 2005, when he was recontacted by the police that the position of the body was in fact farther away (11.8 metres (39 ft)), he conducted experiments which informed his speculation that Byrne could not have jumped that far and must have been thrown.[5]:210[16] The required launch speed, from the top of the 29 metres (95 ft) high cliff, was 4.5 m/s (see range of a projectile[17][18]), and the available runup distance was only 4 metres (13 ft) – although appeal submissions in 2011 called this into question. Cross tested eleven females from the New South Wales Police Academy and found that they could dive and land head first (in a swimming pool) at about 3.5 m/s after a 4 metres (13 ft) runup. A strong male could throw a 61 kilograms (134 lb) female at 4.8 m/s after a runup of only 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) or 3 metres (9.8 ft).
During the trial the Court was told of some uncertainty regarding the actual location where the body was found. Senior Constable Lisa Camwell, one of the officers who retrieved Byrne’s body in 1995 gave evidence that she had in 1996 participated in a video re-enactment in which she indicated the body’s location. She gave evidence that in 2004 she was contacted by an officer in charge of the murder investigation (Sergeant Powderly) and told that the position of Ms Byrne’s body had become a significant issue. She was told that the body position she had indicated on the video now appeared to be incorrect. Media reports during the second trial suggested the location of the body was an essential component to the Crown case that Ms Byrne was not pushed nor jumped, but was forcefully thrown to her death.[19]
Suicide history
The court heard that Caroline’s mother Andrea Byrne had committed suicide in March 1991 after she became depressed following a breast enlargement operation that went wrong.[20] Terracini also read to the court a letter Tony Byrne had previously provided to police in which he claimed that Caroline had made an attempt on her own life via overdose in 1992. In court Tony Byrne denied that Caroline had on that occasion intended to kill herself and instead was making “a cry for help”. At another stage of the cross examination, he claimed to suppose that had Caroline wanted to kill herself she would have copied her mother’s method rather than jumping from a cliff.[21]
Byrne’s doctor, author and television personality Cindy Pan, gave evidence that she had seen Byrne for two years before her death and had specifically discussed Byrne’s depression with her in the weeks leading up to her death. Dr. Pan told the court Byrne said she had felt depressed for about a month and the condition had worsened in the week leading up to their appointment on 5 June 1995. Pan said the model told her she could not put a finger on what she was unhappy about.
“I was trying to explore with her what she might be depressed about, but she was not really able to identify any one specific thing,” Pan told the court. She said Byrne told her she “had the same thing three years ago” and had been put on medication, which had helped. Pan said Byrne denied having thoughts of self-harm and she referred her to a psychiatrist, obtaining an appointment for 4 pm on 7 June.[22]
Presentation of the defence
One defence witness, Prof John Hilton, a forensic pathologist, was called during the Prosecution case, due to his later unavailability. Otherwise Terracini commenced the defence case on 27 October 2008 calling another physics expert Prof Marcus Pandy, a electromechanical engineer who conducted experiments on running and jumping speeds of two females. Only a handful of defence witnesses were called – two forensic pathologists, one psychiatrist, Prof Pandy, a stunt diver, and Wood’s sister Jacqueline Schmidt – and the defence case concluded within a week.
With the trial drawing to a close, the jury made a number of requests of Justice Barr that included a visit the Gap for a third time; for a transcript of Doherty’s evidence; and for video footage of Pandy’s running experiments.[23]
Deliberation and verdict
For the first time in New South Wales court history, a ballot was used to select the three jurors who would stand down so that twelve of the sitting fifteen would deliberate to a verdict. After five full days of deliberation on 21 November 2008 they found Wood guilty.[24][25] On 3 December 2008 Wood was sentenced to a custodial sentence of 17 years, with a minimum time in prison of 13 years. Wood lodged an appeal to the conviction.[26]
Appeal
Wood’s appeal hearing commenced on 22 August 2011 in the Criminal Court of Appeal before Chief Judge at Common Law Peter McClellan, Justice Megan Latham, and Justice Stephen Rothman. Wood’s barrister Tim Game SC submitted that the jury’s verdict was unreasonable and not supported by the evidence. His submission spoke of nine grounds for appeal. One was that the trial miscarried by reason of the prejudice occasioned by the Tedeschi’s closing address. Others related to criticisms of Barr’s directions to the jury.
Early media reporting of the appeal focused on Game’s submission that the scientific evidence used to convict Wood and presented by Associate Professor Cross was flawed. A photograph was presented in the trial and purported to be taken in 1996 showing that scrub near the fence line had limited Byrne’s possible run-up to the jump, supporting an argument that she would have needed to have been thrown to achieve the horizontal distance from the cliff wall that her body travelled. The appeal judges heard and the Crown acknowledged that the photo was in fact taken in 2003 and that photo’s quality meant that a shadow might have appeared to be scrub. The appeal judges heard that a 1996 colour photo which showed that there was no scrub limiting the run-up was available to the Crown during the trial but that the Crown had chosen to introduce the blurrier, non-contemporaneous, more ambiguous image.[27]
Game’s submission, consistent with so much of the trial evidence, concerned matters relating to the exact positioning of Byrne’s body at the base of the rocks and the orientation of her legs and torso and leading to questions regarding the contended launch point and the assumptions and assertions made by Cross in his pre-trial studies and reports and his trial evidence. Day two of Game’s submission focused on the police’s changed view between 1996 and 2005 as to Byrne’s landing spot and specifically trial evidence given by Sergeant Mark Powderly used to justify the reconstruction.[28]
The Criminal Court of Appeal delivered their opinion on 24 February 2012 acquitting Wood of Byrne’s murder and ordering his release from jail.[1] The appellate judges delivered a unanimous decision that there was insufficient evidence beyond reasonable doubt that Wood murdered Byrne and that the jury’s verdict was not supported. They dismissed the Crown evidence as being critically flawed and ruled that the possibility of her suicide ought not have been excluded.[1][2]
Justice McClennan described Cross’ experiments as “unsophisticated” and in the summation of his decision said that he was not satisfied by either of the two motives presented by the Crown.[1] Regarding the motive submitted by Tedeschi that Byrne had information about Rivkin’s business dealings that Wood was trying to hide, McClennan said “The exploitation of public rumour and the use of mere innuendo to compensate for inadequate evidence of motive is not consistent with the obligations of a prosecutor to press the Crown case “to its legitimate strength” by reliance upon credible evidence”.[2]:para 305 McLennan was also troubled that the notion Byrne may have been unconscious when she left the cliff top was introduced by the Crown late in the case.[2]:para 277 He described Tedeschi’s suggestion, first made in his closing address and mentioned at no other time in evidence, that a “shot-put” action was used to despatch Byrne as “an invention of the prosecutor…for which there was absolutely no support in evidence”.[29] McClennan also expressed some doubt as the reliability of evidence concerning the claimed sightings of Wood and Byrne at Watson’s Bay on 7 June 1995 noting that some of these witnesses had come forward years after the event and the initial investigations; he raised concerns that the Melbourne/Martin first identification of Wood and Byrne was based on a specific photos shown to them by Dally-Watkins rather than from being picked from a selection. Tedeschi was criticised by McClellan for presenting reasoning that was “dangerous” and “entirely without foundation”. Tedeschi contributed to the alleged miscarriage with his “50 killer questions” which took an “impermissible course” in asking the jury to consider rhetorical questions dealing with matters that had not been presented with in evidence.[29] McClennan ruled that he was not persuaded that Sgt Powderly’s evidence regarding the changed landing position of the body was entirely reliable.[2]:para 317
Wood was freed from prison on 24 February 2012; having served three years two months in Goulburn Correctional Centre, following an initial month in Parklea prison. Three weeks later the new New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions, Lloyd Babb SC, issued a press release simply announcing that “the OPDD will not appeal the Court of Criminal Appeal’s judgement in the matter of R v Gordon Wood . No further comment will be issued”.[30] This was 24 hours after meeting Tony Byrne and attending the Gap with him – a meeting which Byrne described as ‘fruitful’.[31]
Post-appeal
Wood left Australia after his release from prison and spent time in the United States and Britain. In 2014 he brought defamation actions against the Sydney radio stations 2GB and 2UE, Channel Seven Sydney, and The Daily Telegraph[32] which were all settled out of court in his favour for undisclosed sums.[33]
In 2016 Wood sued the state of New South Wales for millions of dollars plus costs for malicious prosecution and wrongful imprisonment, based on a number of grounds including a “hopelessly corrupted” and “ridiculous” police case against him.[34] In a witness statement filed as part of his lawsuit against the state, Mr Wood said that during his three years in Goulburn Jail he lived in constant fear of guards who dished out “therapy” and was king-hit (a term widely used in Australia, meaning a very hard punch, usually delivered to the head, that is completely unexpected) and knocked unconscious in the prison yard by an infamous rapist and killer.[35] The suit was dismissed on 10 August 2018, with Wood receiving no compensation.[36]
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: Murphy family funerals, 85 Plunkett St, Nowra, NSW
02 44230722
Buried at: ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( January 2021 )
PAUL is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Deepest sympathy to your family mate. Worked with you at Wellington late 80’s when you were the lock-up keeper. Many a good time had over a cold beer. R.I.P
Ingrid Schreiber Posted Jan 9, 2021 at 8:02 PM
Thanks so much for your message. The 80s seems like such a long time ago! Glad you have fond memories of our Dad, and thanks for sharing.
Schreib’s, so sad to hear of your passing. Enjoyed our time working together in Narrandera. Without doubt you were one of the best street Policemen I have had the honour to work with. A true genuine person and proud to regard you as one of my mates. Rest In Peace.
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: ?
Buried at: ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( January 2021 )
BRIAN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance *NEED MORE INFO
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001),
Friday 11 July 1980 (No.93), page 3627
COURTS OF PETTY SESSIONS (CIVIL CLAIMS) ACT,
1970 (SECTION 9) Rule 4 (1)
Instrument of Appointment of Bailiff
IN accordance with the provisions of the Courts of Petty Sessions (Civil Claims) Rules, Constable 1st Class Brian Harold Gill has this day been appointed to be a Bailiff of Courts of Petty Sessions and may exercise and perform all the powers, authorities, duties and functions of a Bailiff of such Courts within that part of the State, known as the Tottenham Petty Sessions District, effective from 18th March, 1980.
Dated the 5th day of June, 1980, at Sydney, in the State of New South Wales.
C. R. BRIESE,
(2578) Chairman of the Bench of Stipendiary Magistrates.
Brian told me once how he got the nickname Lizard.
He apparently used to work for the PMG, then later Telecom and now Telstra.
He was a linesman or similar, and he had a habit of falling asleep anywhere, any time, on a log, or whatever sunning himself, hence Lizard.
Well that was the version he told me.
He also told me another storey, which I will clean up here for public consumption.
Lizard liked a beer or three or more, well most of us have done this at one stage or another in our lives/service. He said he was so drunk one night that a took what he believed was a beautiful lady that he referred to as a “Tahitian Princess” to a hotel room for the night.
He could not remember much of the night of passion apparently.
Well the next day he woke up with (this is where I clean up the story) a very unattractive ugly female in bed. She laid across his arm asleep. He obviously woke up first, feeling the worst for wear. He did not want to wake her as she was apparently quite ugly. He figured he had two choices. Chew his arm off so as not to wake her, or just jump out of bed and run.
He apparently chose the latter choice. Now that is the clean version. Apparently a true story.
Oh The life of Brian.
Nothing further, other than what is recorded above, is known at the time of publication.
For the purposes of this website ‘P’ = represents those Police joining Pre 1 March 1862 when NSWPF “Officially” commenced.
Rank: Probationary Constable- appointed 26 July 1855
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Detective – appointed ? ? ?
Senior Constable – appointed 1 March 1862
Sergeant – appointed ? ? ? Is named as a Sgt in 1860
Final Rank = Sergeant / Senior Constable ?
Retirement / Leaving age: = ?
Stations: ?, ‘ D ‘ District ( Sydney Metro )( SenCon )( 1862 ), Sydney Police Force ( 1860 )( Sgt ), Eastern District – ‘ E ‘ Division – Liverpool ( Oct 1862 )( SenCon ), Ryde – ( 28 March 1883 )(SenCon ), Lock-Up-Keeper – Eastern District – ‘ E ‘ Division- Church St – Parramatta ( 1886 )
In articles of 1860, he is referred to a number of times as a Sgt.
27/7/1855. Samuel arrived in Sydney on the vessel “Exodus” as an assisted immigrant and his occupation given as Policeman.
Also aboard the same vessel were 96 other Policemen from England and Ireland from a Superintendent down, many with their families.
1857.
Married Agnes Caldwell at Sydney. Agnes was born c1834 County Antrim, Ireland. She arrived in Sydney in 1853 by herself as an assisted immigrant aged 20.
1862. Promoted to Senior Constable at “D” division. .
1864-1872. 5 of his children were born and registered in the District of Liverpool (NSWBDM)
1886. Lock up keeper at Church St, Parramatta. His residence was given Church St, Parramatta living with wife and children.
16/8/1886. Died at his residence, Police Station, Church St, Parramatta, leaving behind a wife ( Agnes ) and nine children ( Thomas, William, Samuel, John, Agnes, Jane, George? ).
Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 – 1875),
Friday 10 August 1855, page 1
MISCELLANEOUS.
NOTICE.- We, the undersigned, having been induced to leave our native country by the representations and promises made to us to serve as a police force at Sydney, New South Wales, we now find we cannot have those promises realized, and without which our position would be much worse here than in England.
And we feel we have been treated by the police authorities with such harshness and severity, and harassed by ( we were going to say ) legal proceedings – but which will be found to be illegal proceedings – that we have determined on taking such employment as we can procure.
We are further noticed that, on Saturday next, we are to be put on shore to seek lodgings where we can.
We have, therefore, determined to appeal to the public for prompt employment in our respective callings, and we are willing to accept service at moderate wages in Sydney, or in the country, as may be required.
We are assured by our legal adviser, Mr. Ryan Brenan, of the firm of Brenan and Russell, that parties employing us do not run the slightest risk, and we are willing to allow our wages to accumulate, for a reasonable time, to protect our employers, should they entertain any doubt on the subject.
We shall attend at the office of Mrs. PAWSEY, Registry Office, No. 60, Castlereagh-street, on SATURDAY and succeeding days, to meet applicants, and to produce our testimonials of character, &c.
Names, – Trade or Calling.
George Browne. Gardener
Richard Eades . Experienced Butcher
Robert Roe. Farm Servant
Donald Finlayson . Road Maker or Agricultural Labourer
John Gibson . Agricultural Labourer
William Craik . Kitchen Gardener
Edward Quinn . General Servant
Charles Harris. Shepherd
James Clifford . Machine Sawyer
Michael Prendergast . Groom and Horsebreaker
Joseph Peake. Groom and Coachman
Neil Buchanan. Farm Servant
James Hurley . Gardener, House, or Farm Servant
John Smith. Farm Servant
David Stuart . General Labourer
Allen McDurard, . Agricultural Labourer
Henry Hogg .Herdsman
Michael Higgins . Quarrymann
James Whitehall . Groom and Horsebreaker, or Coachman
Thomas McGregor . Shepherd
James Fairley . Agricultural Labourer
Patrick Maher . General Servant
James Levick. Woollen Weaver
William Elder . Farm Servant
Thomas Hand . Shepherd or Ploughman
Henry Kerr . Agricultural Labourer
Thomas Harris . General Labourer
Patrick Bryan . General Labourer
William McNish . General Labourer
Donald McMullen . Stoker
Patrick Levy . Farm Steward
Noble Handcock . Agricultural Labourer
Charles Woodhouse . Agricultural Labourer
Thomas Hegarty . General Servant or Coachman
William Roarke . General Servant or Coachman
Donald Sutherland . Herdsman
James Kennedy . Ploughman
Alexander Cohoon . Agricultural Labourer
John Blagbourn . Gardener and Sheepshearer
James Nichols . Gardener and Sheepshearer
John Holroyd . Woolsorter
Mathew Warburton . Agricultural Labourer
William Gough. Farm Servant
James Keenan . Farm Servant
Francis Keenan . Groom
Henry McLaren . Hotel Porter
Patrick Loughnan . Ploughman
Hugh Campbell . Agricultural Labourer
William Frederick Hitches . Gardener
William Clarke . Shepherd
Charles Robertson . Farm Servant
David Renne . Farm Servant
William Cooke . Farm Servant
Robert Fullerton . Farm Servant
Samuel Redshaw . Brickmaker
John McGregor . Farm Servant
John Grey . Farm Servant
Alexander McDonnell . Ploughman
Robert Swanson . Shoemaker
George Kennedy . Farm Servant
Patrick Lyons . Painter, Glazier, and Sign Write, or Clerk and Accountant in a Merchant’s Warehouse.
NOTICE. – The men named below, who arrived in this port by the ship Exodus, were engaged for, and are under agreements to serve in the police. They have refused to enter on their duties under their agreements, and the public are hereby cautioned against employing any of them, and thus subjecting themselves to the legal consequences of so doing.
W. C. MAYNE, Inspector – General of Police 10th August, 1855.
Patrick Lyons, Peter Murray, John Spooner, James Hurley, William Hitches, Robert Fullerton John Blackburne, James Levick, James Nichols, William Cook, Peter Barnes, Neil Bucchannan, Patrick Logan, John Smith, Edward Quinn, Robert Mayne, Thomas James, William Craik, Charles Sheasly, Henry Hogg, Richard Eades, John Gibson, Frederick Stukely, William McNish, Samuel Condick, Thomas McGregor, George Brown, William Clark, Joseph Howard, Charles Robertson, Thomas Hegarty, Francis Keenan, Jeremiah Phelan, James Keenan, Henry Kerr, David Rennie, Robert Rea, Robert Swanson, Michael Higgins, Patrick Meagher, Charles Woodhouse, James Fairley, Michael Prendergast, Hugh Campbell, James Whitehall, Thomas Hand, Joseph Peaker, Alexander Colquhoun, Matthew Warburton, Alexander McDonald, Samuel Redshaw, Hugh McLaren, William Gough, John McGregor, John Holroyd, James Gray, Thomas Harris, David Stewart, George Kennedy, Donald Finlayson, Patrick Bryan, John Clifford, Richard Fawcett, James M. Kennedy, Walter Murray, William Elder, Charles Harris, John Lawton, William Sutton, William H. Gill.
The boy Downs having died in the Infirmary on Wednesday morning from injuries received on Monday afternoon, by the falling of one of the upright poles erected in the Domain for the purpose of sustaining the balloon of M. Pierre Maigre during the process of inflation, an inquest was held on his body, shortly after mid-day, at the Three Tuns, King-street, before Mr. J. S. Parker and a jury of thirteen. John Kelly, Edward Atkinson, and Joseph Prior, three seamen of H.M.S. Juno, who were brought up at the Central Police Court on Tuesday, for riotous conduct in the Domain on the previous evening, and had been remanded till Friday, were brought before the Coroner in custody, it having been alleged that they took an active part in knocking down the pole which inflicted the deadly wound on the deceased boy.
The first witness examined was Emanuel Benjamin, residing in Clyde-street, Miller’s Point, who deposed that deceased, Thomas Downs, was his stepson, and that he was about eleven years old. Deceased obtained permission from his mother on Monday to go to the Domain to see the balloon ascent ; he was to return in an hour, but did not ; went to the Domain at 10 o’clock at night to seek for him ; then heard that two boys had been hurt, and taken to the Infirmary ; on enquiry there, found that his step-son was one of them ; identified, the body lying dead at the Infirmary as that of his wife’s son.
Donald McIntosh McEwen, a duly qualified medical practitioner, stated that, on Tuesday morning, between 9 and 10 o’clock, he made his usual visit to the Infirmary, and then saw the deceased, who had been attended immediately after the accident on the previous evening, by Drs. Nelson and McFarlane, in conjunction with the house surgeon ; examined deceased, and found him in a state of insensibility, with a very serious fracture on the left side of the head, extending from the forehead to the vertex ; about the vertex there had been several pieces of bone removed ; from the substance of the skull saw the place they had been taken from ; produced the pieces ; the injury he described would be quite sufficient to cause death, and such an injury would be inflicted by one blow from a heavy substance ; there was a clean cut extending from about the middle of the frontal bone to the vertex ; there was no coagulated blood on the surface of the skull ; the wound must have bled freely; a stick in the hand of a powerful man would make such a wound and fracture on a child of such tender years. On being recalled, the same witness stated that there were no other marks of violence on the body but the one he had described ; the evidence he gave was from what he bad seen, not from anything he had heard.
William Mortimer, inspector of the police force, and in charge of the C division, was next examined, and detailed at some length the riotous proceedings he had witnessed ; his attention was particularly called to some sailors belonging to H.M.S. Juno, forcing themselves over some iron fencing round the balloon ; he remonstrated with them, and got them to go back again ; about 7, when the balloon become inflated and rose two or three yards in the air, a rope fastened to the top of it became entangled ; some one cried out ” Cut the rope ;” M. Maigre was at that time in the car attached to the balloon ; it began swaying about, and the gas was escaping ; saw some sailors and soldiers, with other parties, pulling the balloon down ; his attention was called to a great number of persons rushing towards a tent in which the Governor and his suite had been sitting; followed and saw M. Maigre running, with a body of police around and protecting him, to get away to a place of safety ; on returning to the spot where the balloon was, having been away about four or five minutes, found the enclosure full of people, and among the most prominent saw some sailors of H .M. S. Juno, and some soldiers, who had surrounded and got hold of Captain McLerie, the Inspector-General of Police ; noticed the prisoner John Kelly; he, with other sailors, was pulling the balloon towards the fire, and they eventually burnt it ; saw the same prisoner most active in pulling down a tent in which the spirits of wine had been kept ; it was also destroyed ; about an hour after his attention was called to the same prisoner, who was engaged with other sailors destroying the fencing, chairs, and seats, throwing them into an immense fire ; Captain McLerie and he did all they could to prevent mischief ; he had been roughly handled, and threatened to be thrown into the fire by Kelly and others ; saw one of the poles pulled down with a great crash ; didn’t know by whom it was done ; also saw the second pole come down, a few moments after ; the sailors appeared to be a little groggy ; there might have been eight or nine of them ; had no doubt as to the identity of Kelly ; he was taken into custody and removed to St. James’ watch-house, where witness identified him as the leader of the mischief ; from the density of the crowd was surprised that so few people were injured by the falling of the poles.
William Hamilton Galbraith, a medical practitioner, had been in the Domain on Monday afternoon ; saw a machine miscalled a balloon, suspended from two pair of spliced poles ; saw it burned, together with a tent and its contents ; saw a soldier of the 11th upset an iron furnace in which was some ignited straw ; some sailors and others drew the balloon across the fire and set it in a blaze ; the tallest prisoner was the most conspicuous amongst them ; saw the poles pulled down by several persons whom he did not know ; there were boys and a woman among them assisting in pulling, and crying out cut the ropes ; took particular notice of the prisoner ; be ran bodily against the pole as soon as the ropes were cut, and by his main force shoved the pole down ; when the pole fell, heard a scream, and cries of Oh ! Oh ! ran to see what had happened ; found two boys lying, one with a severe cut in the head and quite insensible ; examined the wound and found there was a fracture of the skull, about four or five inches long : it was bleeding very much ; he breathed heavily ; heard afterwards that he was taken to the Infirmary ; did not see the prisoner cut any rope ; the poles would not have fallen had the ropes not been cut ; saw sailors, or men dressed like sailors, drawing out sheath knives about the pole ; immediately afterwards the ropes were adrift.
By the prisoner : At what time did you see me ? Answer : About seven o’clock. Had no doubt as to the identity of the prisoner.
Robert Hobbs deposed that he went to the Domain on Monday morning about half-past six with tents for the accommodation of visitors, and remained there till ten at night ; identifies the prisoner Atkinson ; saw him kick the furnace, and some sparks flew from it ; he did not kick it over; at the same instant the mob around said set fire to the balloon, which was no sooner said than done ; prisoner drew the balloon to the fire and set it alight, then drew it to the tent, with the assistance of Kelly and others, and set fire to the tent. The witness next described the pulling down of the poles ; the prisoner Atkinson let go the guys ; could have seen clearly had any one pushed at the pole when it fell ; did not see any one pushing it ; saw a soldier or marine about at the time the balloon and tents were burned ; he took a very active part in it ; did not see the second pole fall, nor did he hear any one call ” Get out of the way” before the first pole fell ; saw a man dressed as a sailor of the Juno, who was pockmarked; he took an active part in pulling down the poles ; could identify him.
By the prisoner Atkinson ; It was between half past 7 and a quarter to 8 that he saw the prisoner at the balloon ; recognised the prisoner by his dress and present appearance; he was a little excited from drink ; saw no sheaths or knives with the sailors.
George Nelson spoke generally as to the conduct of the crowd, and from the falling of the poles, from the position the boy was in, did not think he could have had anything do with the pulling at the pole which fell on him ; saw no one shove the pole, nor did he recognise the sailors now present as being there ; several sailors were throwing chairs and other things on the fire ; saw sailors with others pulling on the ropes, but did not see them do more than others did ; gave the alarm to the police that a boy was killed ; could not identify a single individual that was there.
At this stage of the proceedings, the enquiry was adjourned until next day ( Thursday ), at 12 o’clock, and the jurors bound over in the sum of £20 each for their appearance.
SECOND DAY.
Yesterday, at noon, the inquest was resumed at Mr. Driver‘s, King-street.
Mark Levy, furniture dealer, George-street, examined : Went to the Domain at 4 o’clock to see the balloon ; saw some men-of-war sailors there, who were the worse for liquor ; recognised the two shortest prisoners now before the Court as the men ; saw the sailor Atkinson pulling away the other, who gives his name as Prior, and persuading him to come away ; Prior wanted to fight some one ; they were disposed to be quarrelsome, and persuaded them to go away ; then saw Atkinson and Prior go out of the gate ; did not see them go near the pole ; it is possible that they might have got back to the pole without his seeing them ; saw lots of boys there, and it was his opinion they did most mischief ; was almost positive that the seamen now before the Court had no hand in pulling down the poles ; believed the people were quite as much excited as the sailors ; followed the body of the boy, and as he got outside the gate, saw the prisoner Kelly standing talking to some other sailors ; this might have been about 200 yards from the pole ; it is possible he might have come from the pole after it fell ; thought however, that he did not ; cannot say whether he was in liquor or not.
By a Juror : Was within a few yards of Atkinson when prisoner pulled him away.
By the prisoner Atkinson : Saw him first about four o’clock.
Samuel Redshaw, a police constable, stated that he did not see the first pole pulled down ; saw the second, however ; the prisoner Kelly was pulling a rope attached to it, and calling for help ; was about ten yards from him ; many civilians were assisting equally as bad as the sailors.
James Burt, sergeant of police, detailed the burning of the balloon, chairs, &c. With reference to the pulling down of the poles, he stated that there were civilians, as well as sailors and soldiers engaged in the work ; believes he saw the prisoner Prior there doing as the mob did ; the prisoner Kelly was not there to his knowledge ; had he been, thinks he must have seen him ; although he said that sailors and soldiers took an active part in the affray, he meant that they were more prominent by their dress ; the people were quite as much engaged as they.
William Carruthers, civil engineer, residing in Woolloomooloo, was in the Domain on Monday afternoon. His evidence presented no new feature, the chief point in it being, that before the pole came down a general shout having previously been given that it was falling, and to look out for it – it was almost impossible to say who was to blame in the matter, as it seemed a general thing. Dr. Duigan informed witness, after he had examined the boy, that he ( Thomas Downs ) could not live. Did not, on Monday, see any of the prisoners then before the Court.
This closed the evidence, and the jury shortly after returned the following verdict :- ” That the deceased, Thomas Downs, aged 11 years, came to his death by the falling of a pole in the Domain, on Monday evening the 15th instant, which was thrown down by a disappointed and excited crowd of people, out of whom it is impossible to single out any individuals as the ringleaders, or as throwing down the poles ; and we unanimously consider that, if any person is to blame, it is Monsieur Maigre, the perpetrator of the sham balloon ascent, which we consider caused the death of the said boy. We wish this to be considered a censure upon Monsieur Maigre. ”
ELECTORAL LISTS.- Notice is hereby given, that at a Meeting of her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace acting in and for the Police District of Sydney, holden at this office on the 31st of December last, and 1st of January instant, the following persons were duly appointed Collectors of the Electoral Lists within tho Police District of Sydney, under the Electoral Act of 1858, for the several electoral districts in connection with their respective names, viz. :
EAST SYDNEY.- Inspector James Singleton, Sergeants Charles Smith, Jeremiah Stale, William Sutton, and John Taylor, and Constables Matthew McKeogh, William Cook, William Fairland, and Roger Fenton.
WEST SYDNEY– Inspector George Reid, Sergeants Richard Lee and Edward Sweney and Constables Edward Bloomfield, Anthony Hargrave, Peter Grimley, Andrew Love, William McNish, and Samuel Condick.
CANTERBURY.- Sergeants John Nowlan, John Enright, and Denis Linane, and Constables Thomas Hanly, John Emerton, James Hart, William McNamara, and Charles Harris.
GLEBE AND BALMAIN.- Inspector Wm. John Weston, Sergeants David McMakin, and John Healy, and Constable Wm. Rourke.
ST. LEONARD’S.- Inspector Thomas Ferris Quirk, Sergeants George Lamont and Thomas Joyce, and Constables John Hiatt, John Sheaves, Stephen Whelan, Henry Blaber, Patrick Kelly, and Patrick Malone.
NEWTOWN.- Sergeant Peter Conway, and Constables John Ibbotson, James Fairley, and John Carroll.
PADDINGTON, SURRY HILLS, AND REDFERN.
Inspector James Black, and Sergeants Henry Hogg and Samuel Redshaw, and Constables Thomas McKenzie, Edward Slattery, and William Cook.
It is particularly requested that all persons entitled to vote under the new Electoral Act in the said districts will afford the necessary information, and otherwise facilitate the duties of the collectors, and the proprietors of unoccupied lands or other property in the rural districts of Sydney are invited to communicate with the collectors, in order that their names may be inserted in the Electoral List in respect thereof.
By order of the Bench of Magistrates,
GEO. WARBURTON, Clerk of Petty Sessions.
Central Police Office,
Sydney, 5th January.
Patrick Connery, indicted at the last sittings, was placed in the dock to stand his trial for that he, at Paddington, on the 13th day of October, 1859, did unlawfully and indecently assault one Mary Ellen Burke, a female child under the age of twelve years.
Mr. Butler conducted the prosecution against the prisoner, who was not defended by counsel.
The prosecuting counsel addressed the jury, and briefly stated to them the circumstances of the case.
Sergeant Samuel Redshaw, of the Sydney Police Force, deposed that he had arrested the prisoner on the fourteenth October last. Witness told him what was the charge against him. Prisoner said that the charge was a made up affair between the mother, the daughter, and the old woman Connolly.
The witness was cross-examined by the prisoner, but nothing of importance was elicited.
Mary Ellen Burke, the child referred to in the indictment, aged about seven years, was brought into court, but as she did not appear to have received any instruction whatever upon religion, her evidence could not be taken.
Catherine Connolly deposed that she knew the prisoner ; at the time that prisoner was arrested she was stopping at the house of Mr. Burke, the publican – the father of the little girl, Mary Ellen Burke ; witness one day went up stairs, and went into a room wherein there was only a basin stand and a box. This was three or four months ago. Mrs. Burke’s child was there, and the prisoner was also in the same room. [ Witness then proceeded to describe circumstances which amounted to a direct proof of the charge against the prisoner. ]
The prisoner had been drinking that morning, and seemed much the worse for liquor. Witness went down immediately, and told the parents ; the father questioned the child, and, on hearing what she said, struck Connery with a billet of wood when he came down stairs ; Mrs. Burke had sent witness upstairs for the child. Witness was cross-examined by the prisoner, but her evidence was not thereby affected. Cross-examined by the Judge, witness described the nature of the washhand-stand on which the child was sitting when witness went into the room ; the little girl was sitting on the top of it ; the prisoner had owed witness a pound for a long time, and witness used to ask him for it ; about a fortnight before this occurred Burke was bouncing the prisoner, and saying that he would not give up the property to him.
Mary Burke, the mother of the child Mary Ellen Burke, deposed that she remembered the day that something was done to her daughter. She was upstairs that morning with her brother ; they both once came down together : they had then some money, which the child said Paddy ( the prisoner ) had given to them ; witness was in the front room sewing, and after that sent the woman Connolly up stairs for them ; the woman came down stairs saying the child was destroyed ; witness saw her husband, just afterwards, striking the prisoner with a billet of wood; there was no difference existing between witness’s husband and the prisoner, except that Connery held a mortgage over the house. The prisoner had drunk something that morning, but was not drunk ; witness was not drunk. Cross-examined by the prisoner : witness admitted she had once been placed in gaol by her husband, and that prisoner had bailed her out ; witness had never expressed a determination to be revenged upon prisoner; the witness Connolly was drunk on that day, at the time she came down stairs, and made the statement against the prisoner Connery. The counsel for the Crown begged to withdraw the case.
The jury ( by the direction of the Judge ) returned a verdict of not guilty, and the jury intimated that the prisoner left the Court without any stain upon his character.
Sydney James Dalton was arrested by Samuel Redshaw, sergeant in the city police, charged with being in the dwelling-house of Rose Strange, for an unlawful purpose, on the 7th instant. The complainant Rose Strange, resides in Windmill-street, and only knew the defendant few days before she charged him with this offence.
It appears that he lodged in a house next door to the complainant, kept by a Mrs. Jacques, and about a quarter-past 2 a.m., on the morning of the 7th instant, the complainant was awoke by hearing a noise at the window shutters. She struck a light and saw defendant through the window, and asked him who he was and what he wanted, and he replied he would soon let her know. She went to the room in which her son slept, and roused him, and when they returned to complainant’s room Dalton was in the act of getting in at the window, whereupon, her son shoved him back, and he then went back to the house where he lodged.
On the following day, Mrs. Strange saw Dalton, and said if he apologised for what he had done, she would let the matter drop ; but he laughed, and said he was drunk at the time.
The prisoner, in defence, stated that when Mrs. Strange saw him the next day, that he said if he had been guilty of any ungentemanly act he was sorry for it.
The Bench ordered him to enter into his own recognisance in the sum of £50, to be of good behaviour for twelve months.
” 1. Has any communication been made to the Government, or to the Attorney General, relative to the alleged sudden and mysterious death of a man named Hart, a few weeks since, while in the service and upon the premises of Captain Moore, J P , of Liverpool ?
2. Was any inquest held upon Hart’s body, or magisterial investigation made at the time into the circumstances of Hart’s death ?
3. If so, by whom, when, and where?
4. Was there any post mortem examination, or was any – and, if any, what – medical man present at such inquest or investigation ?
5. What was the result?
6. Has any further enquiry been ordered, or is any intended, by the Government ?
Mr COWPER answered generally, that a communication was addressed to the Government and a magisterial inquiry held, the result of which he held in his hand, in the form of a police report.
It was as follows – ” John Hart, aged seventy-two, labourer, place of death, Asylum, Liverpool.
The deceased has been in the employ of Samuel Moore, Esq, J. P., Liverpool, for many years, but for some time past was not able to do much work.
He was very much addicted to drink, and on last Monday he got drunk, and a man named George Fagan gave him a slap on the face for making a noise in the yard, afterwards putting him into an outbuilding to sleep.
Yesterday morning, Captain Moore sent for me for the purpose of giving the deceased into custody for protection.
I saw that the deceased was very ill, and I sent a constable to Dr Smith for an order for his admittance into the Asylum. Dr Smith gave an order, and I had him removed there immediately, and he died this morning.
Dr Smith made a post mortem examination, and found that he died from apoplexy, and that the slap on the face did not hasten his death.
Samuel Redshaw,
245,
senior constable,
24th September, 1862 “.
The hon. Colonial Secretary stated further that, in consequence of a letter sent by Mr. Charles Luke Bayly, a second investigation was held before Mr Jones and another magistrate, with a similar result – the medical evidence proving death to have been caused by sanguineous apoplexy, and in no way brought about by the slap or blow which the deceased received.
The Coroner of Parramatta and Liverpool held an inquest at the Court-house, Liverpool, on the 24th instant, on the body of a man named Sidney Baldwin.
Samuel Redshaw, the senior-constable in charge of the Liverpool Station, deposed that at daylight on the 24th instant, he was in company with Mr. Thomas Thorn, searching for the body of deceased at Heathfield, about eight or nine miles down the George’s River, and found it in a paddock lying face downwards ; it was wet and covered with mud, and appeared to have been left by the flood waters as they receded ; it was then about 6 o’clock a.m. ; had the body brought to the police station.
Dr. Strong deposed that he had externally examined the body, and found it to present all the indications of death from drowning.
Thomas Thorn, farmer, Heathfield, deposed that he and deceased a little after daybreak on the 23rd instant started together on horseback towards a ridge, where some of witness’s cattle and horses were standing in the flood waters ; their horses got into a hole, and threw them both off into deep water ; both swam for it, holding their horse’s bridles; deceased said to him, ” I must let my horse go, it will be drowned ; ” witness then took both horses himself ; when he got standing ground he looked round for deceased, but he had disappeared beneath the water.
William Hart, a seaman, identified deceased as a shipmate of his by the Strathnaver, from England, in November last ; deceased came out as an able seaman, was 23 years of age, and a native of Manchester, England, where he had friends.
The Friends of the late Samuel REDSHAW, Senior-Constable of Police, are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral ; to move from his late residence, Police Station, Parramatta, at 2 o’clock, on WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, for Rookwood Cemetery.
REDSHAW.—August 16, 1886, at his residence, Police Station, Parramatta, Senior-Constable Samuel Redshaw, leaving a sorrowing wife and nine children to mourn their loss ; aged 56 years.
New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 – 1900), Tuesday 24 August 1886 (No.475), page 5733
In the Supreme Court o£ New South Wales.
In the estate, goods, chattels, credits, and effects of Samuel Redshaw, late of Parramatta, in the Colony aforesaid, senior constable and watch-house keeper, deceased, intestate.
NOTICE is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof, application will be made to this Honorable Court, in its Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, that letters of administration of all and singular the estate, goods, chattels, credits, and effects of the abovenamed Samuel Redshaw, deceased, who died on the 16th day of August, 1886, may be granted to Thomas Redshaw, of Dowling-street, Sydney, in the said Colony, grocer, the eldest son of the abovenamed deceased.— Dated this 21st day of August, a.d. 1886.
ROBERT HENRY LEVIEN,
Proctor for the said Applicant,
George-street, Parramatta, and Phillip-street, Sydney.
Rookwood cemetery today, 6/1/2021. Paid my respects to-
Senior Constable Samuel Redshaw, #245
Born c1832, Derbyshire, England.
Died 16/8/1886 at Parramatta NSW, cause unknown.
Buried Rookwood, NSW.
His headstone has been vandalised with graffiti.
It also overlooks the “Old Anglican War Lawn Cemetery” which makes it very easy to find.
Grave location:
Old Anglican Section, EE, zone B, plot #183. GPS -33.866970, 151.053185.
That gps will take anyone to his headstone so much so that one can download it to a smart phone with location/gps turned on, fire up google maps and walk to its location on the map. Use it all the time for Rookwood. So accurate that I have stood on top of an unmarked grave. (Posted earlier for an unmarked grave of a Police Officer). Hope this helps.
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this man at the time of publication.
Records show that, in the beginning of 1942, the Officer In Charge ( O.I.C. ) of the ‘ Police Depot ‘, Bourke St, Redfern, was A. R. McKEACHIE. ( ” possibly ” another relative ).
Andrew Rowley McKEACHIE, Born 1889, NSW, NSW Police Reg # ‘Q ‘ 9175 – ProCst Thursday 29 December 1910
Detective Constable Bruce McKeachie, of Ashfield, played a consistent game to win a stableford event in a competition staged by No. .9 Division Police Golf Club last week.
McKeachie gained 41 points to win from Inspector Ray Blissett, of Paddington, who returned 40 points.
It was McKeachie‘s first win in competition golf events organised by the Police Golf Club.
Presenting trophies to winners, the club president, Detective Senior Constable Jack Thompson, said he was particularly pleased that Detective McKeachie had won. He said he had been playing with the club for a long time, and this was his first victory.
Senior Constable Thompson also congratulated the other winners.
Next meeting of the club will be held at Carnarvon Golf Club, Lidcombe, on Christmas Day.
A single stableford competition event will be staged.
Players will receive a Christmas gift from the club. The event is set down to begin at 8 a.m. sharp.
The club has held elections for the coming year.
Elections resulted: President, Detective Senior Constable J. D. Thompson; vice-presidents, Detective Sergeant 3/c E. W. Quill and Detective Constable 1/c E. A. Booth; secretary, Detective Senior Constable R. S. Cox; treasurer, Detective Sergeant 3/c F. G. Bridges; handicapper and organiser, Senior Constable L. R. Clancy; club captain, Constable 1/c G. A. Dobbins; vice-captain, Constable 1/c L. Weston; committee, Senior Constable J. R. Beswick, Constable S. S. Johns.
Following are results of last week’s game:
Police — Detective Constable 1/c Bruce McKeachie, of Ashfield, first with 41 points; Inspector Ray Blissett, of Paddington, second with 40 points; Detective Sergeant 3/c Ted Bridges, of Lidcombe, third with 40 points.
Bridges was beaten on a count-back for second place.
Visitors: Mr. Hilton Neal, of Liverpool Golf Club, first with 38 points; Mr. Alby Beveridge, of Fox Hills Golf Club, second with 38 points ( beaten on a count-back ), and Mr. George Barker, of Cabramatta Golf Club, third with 35 points.
I remember Bruce as a Sgt 1/c at the old Fairfield Police Station ( same location as the present station but when it consisted of two separate buildings with the driveway down between them ).
Bruce was on GDs and I recall him as being under 6′ tall, with black ‘ brilcreamed ‘ hair – combed back and, I think, had bit of a prominent nose and / or jaw line.
He was a nice bloke.
Cal
13 Jan 2021
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this man at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
