Charles TURBET

The Police Force as a Career

FORMER Inspector of Police Charles Turbet, who died in retirement in Sydney last week, was an example of what may be attained by those who take to police work as a career. ( The most prominent on hand in that way is, of course, the Chief, Mr. Childs, who, a youth from, the country, joined up, and, adding brains to physique, became Commissioner ).

A policeman’s life nowadays is capable of greater acceptance of ability and hard work than it was half a century ago, and those who add strings to their bow have fine opportunities. Mr. Turbet was one of the class that assiduously pursues the side lines and aids. He learned shorthand, and became of great value in that way. He also had a hand in the introduction of the priceless finger-print system.

When he became Superintendent of Traffic he was reaching the topmost branches of the tree, but ill-health had its claim on him. He was 59 years of age.

OBITUARY.

SUPERINTENDENT TURBET.

The funeral of Superintendent Turbet took place on Friday. There was a large gathering of officers and men of the Police Department.

The interment at Randwick Cemetery was preceded by a service at the Randwick Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. W. G. Grant, who was assisted by the Rev. T. Jamieson Williams.

The chief mourners were Mrs. Turbet (widow), and Messrs. Charles Turbet, James Turbet, and Norman Turbet (sons), and Mesdames Robey and Martin (daughters), Messrs. Robert and Walter Turbet (brothers), Mrs. Tom Waterson, Miss L. Turbet, and Mrs. Mark Garner (sisters), Messrs. Arthur Robinson, Tom Waterson, R. Y. Robinson, and Mark Garner (brothers-in-law), Mesdames A. Raynor, A. Edwards, G. Raynor, and G. Carpenter (sisters-in-law), Messrs. L. Robey, and J. A. Martin (sons-in-law), and Master Lance Robey ( grandson ).

Others present included the Commissioner of Police (Mr. Childs), Acting Superintendent Linegar (representing Metropolitan Superintendent Leary), Inspector Pattinson (representing Inspector Mackay, Criminal Investigation branch), Superintendent Bennetts (Traffic Department), ex-Inspector Thom (representing ex-Superintendent Saunders, president, Retired Police Officers’ Association), Chief Fire Officer Nance (representing Fire Brigades of New South Wales), Mr. Gordon Henderson (secretary), and Mr. W. J. McKinney (representing Royal Automobile Club of Australia). Alderman Jennings (Mayor of Randwick), Alderman J. Dunningham, M.L.A., Messrs. W. K. Percival (town clerk), and K. C. Rourke (deputy town clerk of Randwick) Inspectors Lynch, Farley and O’Brien, Messrs. H. H. Newell (deputy president), and S. R. Henderson (deputy member, Main Roads Board), Mr. I. B. Hodgson, Inspectors J. Scott, G. Mortimer, Rosen, W. J. Jones, ex-Superintendents Park, Brack, Edward, George Mitchell, May, John Cook, Lewis (secretary, Retired Police Officers’ Association), Nolan, Whitfield, Banks, ex-Inspectors Jones, Bannan, Maze, Devlin, A. Campbell, Manktelow, Sherwood, R. Bennett, Fullerton, W. J. Spence, Fowler, Briggs, Ewen, Doig, Littlejohn, Taylor, Robinson, Young, C. Smith, and Priddle; Messrs. W. G. Cox, ex-Detective-sergeant Jordan, M. W. McDonald, Oliver C. Cohen (Government Savings Bank, Randwick), S. F. Cutler, Charles M. Pearce, Detective-sergeants James and Quinn, Detective Almond, Messrs. Ross Jones, J. Pemell, W. Crawford, A. Kay, W. Matchett, Mr. and Mrs. William Duff, Messrs. Gordon Duff, W. J. Spence (Wollongong), John Yardley, ex-Detective-sergeant May, ex-Sergeants Bennett and Blair, and ex-Detective Jordon.

There were many beautiful floral tributes, among them being those of the Traffic Department, the New South Wales Police Association, officers and detectives of the Criminal Investigation branch and various metropolitan police divisions, the Minister and Session of the Presbyterian Church of Randwick, the Royal Automobile Club of Australia, and the Master Carriers’ Association.

POLICE PALS

DEATH PARTS TWO IN TWO DAYS

WITHIN two days, death has robbed the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Childs, of two personal friends, who were formerly associated with him in the force.

The ex-superintendent of Traffic, Mr. Charles Turbet, died on Wednesday night, and ex-Superintendent John Evans, who retired 18 years ago, passed away at the Sydney Sanitarium, Wahroonga, last night.

Mr. Turbet was an old schoolmate of Mr. Childs, and Mr. Evans was closely associated with the Commissioner during his early days in the service.

Mr. Evans retired at Tamworth 11 years ago, and then bought a home at Pymble, in which he resided up to the time of his death. He had a record of long and valuable service. He was stationed at Tingha, in the tin mining area, and at Richmond River in the cattle stealing days. He was associated with many important cases, including the Wardell murder, which attracted much attention.

Mr. Childs met Mr. Evans, who was then the sergeant in charge at Armidale, 30 years ago. The present Commissioner was then serving in the town as district clerk to Superintendent Garvin, who rose to the office now occupied by Mr. Childs.

Before joining the service in N.S.W., Mr. Evans served with the Cornish police, in which he was a colleague of the late Inspector Sobye.