This week is Queensland Road Safety Week and together with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) we’re committing to putting road safety first.

Road conditions can change due to a variety of factors from weather, animals, the environment, traffic and roadworks so it’s important to drive to the prevailing conditions.

This includes on our state’s rural roads, where there were 136 lives lost and 1,915 people seriously injured in 2019 – that’s more than 60% of total lives lost on our roads.

When driving on rural and remote roads, remember:

• Reduce your speed before nearing the edge of the road and prepare for surface change – the edge may drop off or have loose stones.
• If you’re driving towards the west, the afternoon sun can affect your vision. Consider this when planning your trip.
• Keep an eye out for livestock and wildlife on or at the side of the road, especially at night. Slow down and beep your horn if you see animals at the edge of the road about to cross.

Every hazard on our roads has an impact on how your car will behave. When the conditions outside the vehicle change, you need to adjust the way you drive.

Not driving to the conditions can have serious consequences for all road users, so pay attention to what’s happening on the roads, slow down and put road safety first, every trip, every time.

Plan ahead and stay safe

Familiarise yourself with different conditions that you may experience by visiting https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/road-safety/driving-safely/driving-conditions.

Before you head out on the road, check out the road conditions and be prepared: https://roadconditions.racq.com.au/

Queensland Road Safety Week is running from 24 – 28 August. Put road safety first and show your support by signing up for road safety:

1. Think of a road safety message you want to share, then put it on a sign or create one using a TMR template.
2. Take a photo of your sign, making sure we can read your road safety message.
3. Share your photo! Fill in this form to add your sign to the TMR gallery, or share it on your socials tagging @StreetSmarts QLD.

Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane (left) and Constable 1/c James Boyle in the act of rescuing a man attempting to jump off the Victoria Bridge on February 8, 1958. Photograph taken by Ray Saunders a Courier-Mail photographer. (PM1183)

On the 8th of February 1958, a twenty one year old man, intent on committing suicide, climbed over the railing of Brisbane’s old Victoria Bridge and out onto a wooden spar. Ray Saunders, a Courier-Mail Photographer, saw what was happening and called the Police.

When Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane and Constable 1/c James Boyle arrived on the scene a short time later, they found the man dangling by one arm from the end of the spar. Thinking quickly, Constable Boyle grabbed the man’s arm and held onto him for over 15 minutes, until other Police arrived with ropes. Using skill and great care, the ropes were tied around the man’s legs and he was hauled to safety.

Police Commissioner Frank Bischof congratulates Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane (left) and Senior Constable James Boyle (middle), on the occasion of the presentation of the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, on 7 August 1959. The medal was awarded to both officers for saving the life of a man who attempted to jump off the Victoria Bridge on February 8,1958. (PM1144a)

Constable 1/c James Boyle and Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane were both awarded the prestigious British Empire Medal for Gallantry for their courageous efforts on this day.

Obverse of British Empire Medal for Gallantry awarded to James Boyle.

The British Empire Medal for Gallantry was awarded from 14 January 1958 until its replacement with the Queen’s Gallantry Medal in 1974. It was awarded to people below management or professional level. In the uniformed services, it was awarded to non-commissioned officers of the armed forces, officers below superintendent rank in the police, and personnel below divisional officer level in the fire services. It was awarded for acts of gallantry (not in the face of the enemy) below the level required for the George Medal.

Governor Sir Henry Abel Smith inspects Senior Constable James Boyle’s British Empire medal while Sergeant 2/c Alexander Cochrane looks on, 7 August 1959. (PM1144b)

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“From the Vault – Quick Thinking Police Rescue” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode

Hello all myPolice subscribers.

Thanks for your continued interest in our news.

From January 13, ‘immediate’ public emails from myPolice will be used only for urgent information.

You don’t need to do a thing: If you are subscribed to immediate public emails (multiple emails per day), your subscription will automatically be changed to a daily digest, so you won’t miss any of your news.

All subscribers will still receive immediate emails for any urgent posts.

Subscriptions to media alerts will not change.

Thank you for your continued support.

Regards

Your myPolice team

Warning: Readers are advised this article contains an image of an Aboriginal Police Trooper, now deceased.

We’re thinking a lull in criminal activity in the Coen area around 1897 is the best explanation for this photograph.  It appears to be a staged scene of police officers capturing bush rangers.  A check of the Queensland Police Gazette for 1897 reveals only six apprehensions recorded in that year, so  there was plenty of time to practice apprehension and arrest techniques.

A staged scene of police officers capturing bush rangers. Pictured is Constable 1/c Charles Bateman, Senior Constable George Inkerman Smith, one Aboriginal mounted Trooper, two unknown actor bush rangers, c1900.
Image No. PM1326 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

There are five people in the photograph; Constable 1/c Charles Bateman sits on his horse with his revolver pointed at one of the so-called bush rangers; Senior Constable George Inkerman Smith is in the foreground, handcuffed to the other so-called bush ranger.  We don’t know the name of the mounted Police Trooper calmly controlling the horses unfortunately.  We also don’t know the names of the acting bush rangers.

Coen Native Mounted Police Camp in the Cooktown District opened on October 27, 1885 with Sub-Inspector Frederick Mergetts in charge.  The station staff included two Constables and nine Indigenous Troopers and Trackers.  The Coen Township Police Station opened on April 20, 1895 with Constable James Kenny in charge.

Coen Police Station buildings, 1925.
“A view of the house paddock at the Station”.
1. the Cell
2. the Store
3. our Quarters
4. the Station
Image QP3842a believed to be taken by Constable William Spencer Osborne.

Charles Bateman was sworn into the Queensland Police on October 24, 1888 and served at Port Douglas, Montalbion, Herberton, Cooktown,  Musgrave, Piccaninny Creek and Cooktown before being transferred to Coen Township Police Station in 1895. Constable 1/c Bateman spent four years at the remote station before moving on in 1900 to Mount Morgan then Emu Park then Woodford in 1900.  Charles remained at Woodford for twelve years, before being Superannuated in 1912.  He lived out his days there and is buried in the Woodford Cemetery.

George Inkerman Smith was sworn into the Queensland Police on September 19, 1884 and served at Glenroy, McIvor and Laura police stations before the transfer to Coen Native Mounted Police Camp as Officer in Charge in 1894. Senior Constable Smith spent four years at Coen before moving on to Cardwell in 1898, Roma in 1900, Normanton in March 1901 and finally Turn-off Lagoon just one month later, where he died in September of that year and is buried at Egilabra, between Doomadgee and Burketown.

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.  The museum is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT – How to Capture Bush Rangers”  by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode

The Queensland Police Gazette (QPG) reported highway robbery of the Condamine mailman, on horseback six miles from Roma, on October 21 1865, and named suspect Alphin McPherson, known by many aliases and as ‘The Wild Scotsman’.  A further charge of robbery was to be effected on McPherson for holding up the Taroom mail delivery.  A £50 reward was announced and McPherson captured.

Architectural drawing of the Bowen Lockup, by J.B.C on February 2, 1885.
Image courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

A successful escape from Bowen Police at Port Mackay, on June 10 1865, preceded a crime spree including stock thefts by McPherson, firstly of a valuable four year old bay gelding branded to Messrs McEwen and Green, and six fine horses owned by P. Caldwell Esquire of Oakey Creek.  A silver pocket watch crafted by ‘Goldsmith, London’ was also found to be unlawfully in the possession of the suspect.  The gelding was eventually found near Gayndah by Sergeant Denis McCarthy.

The Wild Scotsman was described as about 23 years of age, 5 feet 10 ½ inches high, square shouldered, stout build, long arms, light hair, no whiskers, small downy tuft of hair on chin, Roman nose, blue eyes, face much sunburnt, gunshot wound inside left forearm from wrist to elbow, a native of Scotland and speaks the German language fluently (various QPG’s).

Snippet from the ‘Queensland Times’, supplied by the National Library of Australia via Trove.

Subsequent robberies under arms of Her Majesty’s mail from Orion Downs and Brown River prompted an increase in the reward, announced in the QPG of February 7 1866, to £250 for the apprehension of, or information leading to the capture of McPherson.  It was believed he was heading towards the Maranoa district of New South Wales via the Balonne River.  The theft of two strong horses from T.M. Bowman and allegedly ridden by McPherson at Galloway Plains on February 23 were located at Milton completely knocked up (QPG 4 April 1866, page 31).

First Queensland Police Commissioner David Seymour named McPherson in his second Annual Report, submitted in 1866 for the previous year, writing, “… it is not difficult for a good bushman, well supplied with information, to continue to ‘stick up’ with impunity for some time the solitary mailman.  I am in hopes that the active measures now taken, will shortly put a stop to this description of crime.  I am sorry to say that the opinion so confidently expressed some time back, that bushrangers would meet with no sympathy in this Colony, turns out to be incorrect.  The criminal can obtain plenty of assistance and information, the police but little.”

St Helena Island Penal Establishment ruins, 2015.
Image courtesy of Georgia Grier, Museum Assistant.

Police were now clued up to the bushranger’s modus operandi, his equine knowledge and riding prowess, and using the local mailman at Gin Gin as a decoy, successfully flushed McPherson out of hiding.  It didn’t take long for the fugitive to figure out the sting however, and he decamped at speed on horseback.  Fortunately for the police his chosen steed was too tired to gallop too far, enabling McPherson’s capture and arrest.  After trial The Wild Scotsman was given a lengthy prison term, to be served on St Helena Island Penal Establishment.

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This article was written by Museum Assistant Georgia Grier from the best resources available within the Queensland Police Museum.  The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT – The Decoyed Bushranger” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode

The following was recorded as written by Constable 1/c Michael O’Toole of Wyandra Police Station, in the Charleville District, 114 years ago and by hand in the station letterbook.

9^th February 1903
To the Sub Inspector of Police, Charleville

Report of Michael O’Toole 1/c Constable relative to the dead body of a man found near No. 2 bore on Claverton run.

1/c Constable M. O’Toole reports that on the evening of the 7^th instant [February] at about 6.30pm a young man named Albert Dowsett, a stockman on Claverton, reported having found the dead body of a man about 10 miles from No. 2 bore and about 30 miles from Wyandra.  On the morning of Sunday the 8^th instant the Constable had to borrow a horse as he could not ride the Government bicycle as the country was very ruff [sic] and scrubby, to go with Dowsett to where the body was, leaving Wyandra in company with Dowsett, and arrived at No. 2 bore at about 2.30pm where the Constable and Dowsett was [sic] joined by a young man named Patrick Higgins, another stockman.  Both are living at No. 2 bore and in the employ of Mr Arthur Leeds.  After making some preparations for the burial of the body the three of us left immediately for the place where the body was, a distance of about 14 miles from the bore.

Image of a section  of the Wyandra Police Station letterbook, held at Queensland State Archives, taken by history lover Jim Spurdle in 2014.

Dowsett pointed out the body to the 1/c Constable, the body had all decayed away, and could not be recognised, and apparently had been over 12 months dead.  The 1/c Constable examined the body carefully and could not find any marks of violence on it, there was not part of the body missing, the body was clad in a light coloured Tweed trousers and a flannel shirt, and a pair of Blucher boots very much worn.  The body was lying partly on the right side, the right foot stretched out, left foot slightly bent, and the right hand bent under the head, and the boot off the left foot.  About 1 yard away underneath the head of the body the Constable found the remains of an old vest which is of a very peculiar black pattern.  The 1/c Constable at once recognised the vest as being like a vest that a young man named John O’neil used to ware and in the left hand side and in the top pocket he found a rolled gold watch with a double silver chain attached.  In the left hand trousers pocket he found a brown leather purse which he found in it an addressed envelope with the words as follows; Mrs L.O’neil, Edward Street, Kennedy Estate, Toowoomba.

Wyandra Police Station, c1980. In 1903 the original station building was not equipped with cells, and prisoners were secured to a ring in the floor of the police office by means of a chain.
Image No. PM1173 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum

1/c Constable was well acquainted with a young man by the name of John O’neil who used to stop at times at Mr John Moody’s Commercial Hotel Wyandra and was last seen alive about the 15^th January 1902.  When O’neil had a conversation with Mr Moody he told Mr Moody that he would [have] left the hotel before any of the would be [awake] in the morning.  Mr Moody states that he asked him which wasy did he intend to go.  He stated that he did not know whether he wold go to Eliman and work for Mr John Brayley who had the contact to wash all Messrs Fletcher Bros. wool, or go to Oakwood. O’neil has been missing ever since.

The 1/c Constable has shown the rolled gold watch to Mr John Brayley who positively identifies it as the watch he sold John O’neil some time previously, and O’neil had been working for Brayley several times.  No doubt O’neil had started on a short cut track for Eliman and lost his way, and the 1/c Constable states that he must have perished for want of water.  It is stated that O’neil had no water bag in Wyandra, and was supposed to start on foot.  There is no water between Wyandra and where the remains was [sic] found.  No doubt he thought to strike one of the Claverton bore drains but lost his way, the nearest water at present to shere the body was found is about 6 miles, at the time he left Wyandra the weather was very hot.  There was no money found on the body, or any other property with the exception of watch, chain, and purse and the address enveilope.  Mr Moody states that O’neils mother lives on Kennedys Estate, Toowoomba, and that John O’neil used to get letters addressed to him , to the Commercial Hotel Wyandra, but none lately.

The old Commercial Hotel, Wyandra. Image taken in 2010 by photographer John Coyle.

With the assistance of Albert Dowsett and Higgins they [sic] buried the body and returned to No. 2 bore that evening, a distance of about 42 miles.  The 1/c Constable returned to his station at about 1pm on the 9^th instant, a distance of about 25 miles.  There is a post-mortem and some articles of clothing at Moody’s hotel which is the property of deceased, also a coat similar to the vest found under the head of deceased.

Signed, Michael O’Toole, 1/c Constable Reg 620

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.  The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT- Wool Washing Thwarted By Want Of Water” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode

Investigation commenced with an urgent circular to members of the Brisbane Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) on 30 September 1919, from their Inspector Michael O’Sullivan.  It read, “A man named Bailey [correct spelling is Baylie] was murdered near Giligulgul Juandah Miles Railway on Saturday the 27^th September 1919 and a man named Henry Richard Elterator is strongly suspected of having committed the murder, footprints found near scene of murder are similar to those of boots worn recently by suspect, and it has since been ascertained that suspect sold the murdered man’s saddle”.

The suspect was described as 34 years of age, 5ft 8 inches high, medium build, grey to brown eyes, dark brown hair, sallow complexion, clean shaven or small clipped moustache, stooped shoulders, sullen downcast appearance, labourer, Church of England, of German descent and lived when a boy at Scone, N.S.W., boil scar centre of back, mole near right arm pit, scar inside left wrist, one tooth missing front upper jaw, mole inside of bottom lip, when last seen was dressed in grey trousers, brown coat, furry hat with black band, new elastic side boots which he purchased at Coolumboola, also had another pair of boots with remarkable nails in heels, and followed the occupation of scalper and had with him a 32 Winchester rifle.”

Whilst searching for Elterator, renowned for using alias’ including Alterator, Cohen and Hall, police received a letter and accompanying photo from a most concerned Mrs Alma Hall from Collingwood, Victoria, enquiring whether her husband might be the man the police were looking for.  Detective Senior Sergeant James Farrell forwarded the letter and photo of Mrs Hall’s husband to Inspector O’Sullivan on 10 November 1919.  The Inspector forwarded the enquiry with his opinion for the information of Police Commissioner Frederic Urquhart, “Photo of H.R. Alterator, alias J.G. Hall, herewith.  It will probably be found that he is not identical with the person inquired for.”

The suspect had actually purchased a railway ticket for himself and a dog from Coolumboola, near Miles, to Toowoomba at noon on the 29 September, the dog arriving in Toowoomba at 5.20pm that day, unaccompanied.  Police believed Elterator left the train between Coolumboola and Pengaray Junction.

The more likely location for suspect to flee was in Scone, N.S.W, the town he grew up in and where his sister Norah still lived.  Previous arrest warrants had been issued by the Scone Bench, including in 1912 for the theft of horse tack, and “with a view of inducing him to contribute toward the support of his illegitimate child”, (Queensland Police Gazette, 27 July 1912, page 340).

It was Kingaroy Sergeant Frank Price who made the arrest, five days after the murder, and the suspect remanded in custody to appear before the Miles Police Court later that month.  Constable William Gooch and Doctor Short described their examination of the crime scene; a partially buried, fully clothed soldier in uniform, lying face down in a sandy grave.  Inspection of the body revealed a bullet wound to the head.  A felt military hat was located nearby, and showed entry and exit bullet holes.  All the evidence was tended in court; the suspected murder weapon compared with wounds possible by a 32 Winchester rifle, footprints at the murder scene matching the suspect’s boot tread, and his sale of the victim’s saddle with a history of saddle theft.  A guilty verdict was recorded and the offender sentenced to death, the sentence later commuted to life imprisonment.

Elterator’s served his prison term at Boggo Road Gaol, Brisbane.  He was released in 1933 after just fourteen years, describing the stay as “hell”.  Assistance was given to him by friends and the Returned Soldiers League, also a returned trooper, to effect the release after many previous unsuccessful pleas of innocence.

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This article was written by Museum Assistant Georgia Grier from the best resources available within the Queensland Police Museum.  The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT- Murder near Miles” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY-SA 4.0. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence.

Constable Robert John Sands was born in 1905 and joined the Queensland Police Force in 1932.  With minimal paperwork to refer back to, Constable Sands’ Service History may appear unremarkable, but the variety of country stations he policed in a 10 year policing career, and a few remarkable images in the Queensland Police Museum’s collection tell another story.

Group photograph of constables sworn in at the Depot, July 1932. The Instructor, Senior Sergeant Charles James Lisle Perrin, stands in the centre of the front row. Constable Robert John Sands stands third from the right. Image PM0667 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Text on the back of this photograph reads, “A camel team loaded with 10 tons of ore from some outside place. This is a very common scene in Cloncurry, and is the only mode of travel to some of the out lying places. These camels carry approximately 7cwt each. Robert.” By Constable Sands, c1933.
Image PM0671 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Group photograph of Police Cricket Club Premiers, Turf, “C” Grade, QCA, c1933. Image PM2207 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

The wife of Constable Robert Sands with the family pet, presumably at home, Mount Isa c1934. Image PM0670 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Constable Sands policed the following stations; 1932 Roma Street, Brisbane, 1933 Cloncurry, 1934 Mount Isa, 1935 Pialba, 1938 Surat, 1939 Dunwich, returning to Roma Street, Brisbane in 1941.  The Constable left the force in 1942.

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.  The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT- Constable Robert John Sands” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons License CC BY SA 4. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence.

Sunday, 28 February 2021
11:00am to 12:30pm

Police HQ, 200 Roma Street,
Brisbane  QLD  4000

Bookings essential at Eventbrite – get your tickets here
FREE entry

On 13 February 1896, during major flooding, the steamer Pearl left Queen’s Wharf, Brisbane, and inadvertently fouled the anchor lines of the QGY Lucinda. The Pearl quickly capsized near Victoria Bridge with more than 80 passengers on board. Within fifteen minutes about thirty people had drowned, with some bodies never being found.

On the 125th anniversary of “Brisbane’s worst disaster”, author Paul Seto will present the latest findings of ten years of detailed research. He will speak movingly on those who drowned, and those who were rescued and by whom.

This disaster led to the foundation of many swimming and lifesaving clubs, chiefly for ladies, and the establishment of formal lifesaving organisations especially the Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland, in which several police officers were active members.

The one-and-a-half hour presentation will begin at 11am on Sunday, February 28 and will provide educational and up-to-date content suitable for all audiences.

The Museum opens its doors to the public on the last Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm from February to November in addition to the standard Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm opening hours. Monthly Sunday openings feature guest speakers from across the historical and crime-solving spectrums.

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Museum will open Sunday February 28 from 10am to 3pm, and is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.

Thrifty fore folk left fascinating evidence of overseas trading preferences, restricted finances and careful reuse in hundreds of memorandums retained by the Queensland Police Museum.  In October 1929 Commissioner William Harold Ryan signed Circular Memorandum with the following direction;

Officers–in-charge of Districts are advised that intimation has been received from the Chief Secretary’s Office, to the effect that it has now been decided that the Queensland Government, in placing orders for material and in accepting tenders, will give;

           1) 5 per cent preference to goods of Queensland manufacture over goods manufactured in other Australian States,

             2) 5 per cent preference to goods manufactures in the other Australian States over British goods,

             3) 5 per cent preference to British goods over foreign goods including goods manufactured in the United States of America.

Constable Robert G. Pacholke on horseback near the Fossilbrook Police Station agistment yard, c1928.
Image No. PM1110 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Due to good growing conditions the purchase of forage for horses was expected to reduce, with agistment obtained instead, but this was not the only cost mentioned when scrutinising expenditure in September 1930;

Transfers in future cannot be taken into consideration except in cases of absolute hardship or necessity, and then it must be stated as already instructed, whether the applicant is able and willing to pay the expenses of transfer.

Railway Fares, Freights and Conveyance – the interest of the Department and the present economic stress must ever be borne in mind when services have to be performed under this heading.  The horses provided by the State must be used in all practicable instances, and the tendency to use private cars or motor cycles at the cost of the State must be discontinued.  Claims for mileage will, in future, be closely watched and will not be passed unless the circumstances indicate special urgency and the need to avoid dangerous delay. 

Until further ordered Police Reports may be written on both sides of the paper, the margin on the reverse side being retained on the right hand edge of the paper.  Moreover when applications for leave etc. are submitted, there is not real need to attach a separate report, and any relevant information that cannot be shown on the race of the application can be set out in a report or memorandum on the back thereof.

Control of Fibres and Jute Goods Order from the Prime Minister, Canberra, 1943.

In March 1943 the Department of Supply and Shipping reported an acute shortage of fibre supplies, so much so that an order from the Prime Minster was forwarded to all government departments requesting the conservation of such products, which was in turn provided in a Commissioner’s Memorandum;

“Control of Fibres and Jute Goods Order – Conservation of Rope, Cordage, Twine and String”
Old rope, binder twine and similar types of cordage should be saved for teasing and manufacture again into other commodities.  Details of the arrangements that have been made for the purchase and processing of this material are set out in circular letter [dated] 22^nd March 1943 from the Controller of Fibres.  Commonwealth Departments are being advised that specifications should be revised with the object of saving as much fibre as possible, and that everybody must be prepared to accept and use the type, size and quality of rope, cordage or twine that will do the particular job in hand, regardless of colour, appearance and special preferences.

DISCLAIMER – No animals were harmed whilst writing this article, and all horses were appropriately fed and watered.

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.  The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT- Refrain, reuse, recycle” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY-SA 4.0. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence.

Sunday, 28 March 2021
11:00am to 12:30pm

Police HQ, 200 Roma Street,
Brisbane  QLD  4000

Bookings essential at Eventbrite – get your tickets here
FREE entry

This event will also be livestreamed

Senior Constable Jarrod Tetro of the Forensic Imaging Section (previously the Photographic Section) will describe and visually demonstrate the current diversity of forensic imaging techniques that are in use to capture and process crime scenes with the Queensland Police.

Senior Constable Tetro has 30+ years of operational policing experience within the QPS including 10 years as a Child Protection Detective and 14 years as a Forensic (Scenes of Crime) Officer, having attended and processed 1000’s of crime scenes. He is a recent addition to the Forensic Imaging Section, which in addition to his Scenes of Crime experience, allows him to expand his evidence gathering techniques by delving into the exiting and innovative world of 3D imaging and crime scene reconstruction.

His multimedia presentation will be supported by physical examples of the equipment employed, including the latest terrestrial scanning and aerial video platforms. There will be interactive opportunities for audience members to experience client products following the Q&A session.

This one-and-a-half-hour presentation will start at 11am on Sunday, March 28 and will be both informative and educational and is suitable for any audience.

The Museum opens its doors to the public on the last Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm from February to November in addition to the standard Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm opening hours. Monthly Sunday openings feature guest speakers from across the historical and crime-solving spectrums.

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Museum will open Sunday, March 28 from 10am to 3pm, and is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.

Well into the retirement of Superintendent (Grade 2) Ronald Albert Donovan in 1995, he recalled the start of World War II on September 3, 1939, and provided an account of his policing service during the next 5 years.  Ronald Donovan commenced as a Queensland Police Cadet on July 2, 1937, and was inducted as a Constable on December 17, 1940.  Ronald initially served at Roma Street Police Station before transferring to Brisbane Traffic Branch, but the next transfer made for some interesting recollections.

‘In January of 1944 I was transferred from the Traffic Branch to the Licensing Branch.  This section dealt with the ever increasing problem of the unlawful sale of liquor, which unlicensed persons were selling to the [Brisbane based] American Troops. 

Constable William Chapman with three American soldiers during World War II, c1943.
Image No. PM1953 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

One evening just after seven o’clock a sergeant and I went to the Shore Patrol Station in Mary Street; it was in a building on the Gardens side of Mary Street between Albert and Edward Streets.  We went to the Officer of the Watch who was at his desk, and behind him was the brig [a warship prison] which contained about six cells.  There was a sailor in one cell; the other cells were empty.  We knew the Officer and after greeting him he said, “This guy is driving me nuts; he came in today off a sub and all I’ve heard from him is what he did at Tarawa.  He thinks that we’ll dock his pay, but we don’t do that to fellows from the subs; when he leaves here he’ll be taken to a spot about 100 yards from where his vessel is moored and then told to walk the rest of the way.  If he wants to tell his skipper then he can, but we won’t tell him.”  I said, “What time did he come in?” The Officer replied, “About five o’clock; he and one of your Aussie soldiers started a riot outside the T & G and we brought him down here before they wrecked the place.  They both had some of your local beer and this fellow hasn’t tasted beer like that before.”

The sailor in the cell was still shouting at the Officer and the latter said, “I’ll have to shut this fellow up.”  He then walked to the door of the brig and said, “Sailor, when did you join Uncle Sam’s Navy?”  He replied, “February, nineteen forty-two.”  The Officer said, “That was after Pearl Harbour; Now I’ve been in this outfit since 1935, and you think that I have been sitting on my butt behind a desk all of that time.  Well, I’ll tell you something sailor; I’ve seen action, and I’m going to ask you a question, and if you can’t answer it I want you to shut up.  O.K.?”  The sailor nodded his head, and the Officer said, “Now this is the question.  Where the hell were you when I was in Toowoomba?”

With that remark, the sergeant and I, keeping straight faces, left with the Shore Patrol sailor for the night’s duty.’ 

Senior Sergeant Course No. 1, from 27 January 1970 to 13 February 1970.
Ronald Donovan is dressed in Plain Clothes, and stands second from the left in the centre row. Please contact the Queensland Police Museum if you would like the names of any other officers.
Image No. PM3282 courtesy of the QPM.

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The account was written by Ronald Albert Donovan, and provided to the Queensland Police Museum on June 6, 1995.  The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.
Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT- Shore Patrol Station by R.A. Donovan” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY-SA 4.0. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence.

Sunday Lecture Series:
Queensland Police and the Great War 

Sunday, 25 April 2021
11:00am to 12:30pm

Police HQ, 200 Roma Street,
Brisbane  QLD  4000

FREE ENTRY

This event will also be livestreamed

Queensland Police and the Great War is an award-winning historical project by a policing historian Dr Anastasia Dukova, which connects personal, police and war service stories and histories of the Queensland Police who left active police duty to volunteer in the Australian Imperial Force.

In conjunction with the Queensland Police Museum, Dr Dukova’s research  uncovered 199 Queensland policemen who volunteered in the AIF, 30 of them did not come home. Today, for the most part, the personal and professional biographies of these men remain lost to public knowledge.

Coming in 2022

Despite abundance of scholarly research on the First World War, the military campaigns, political and labour unrest, national division, along with the institutional histories there is a glaring absence of scholarship that focuses on the policemen within WWI. Who were these men that embodied one of the country’s key institutions in the time of international conflict? What was their experience of the home and battle fronts?

Queensland Police in the Great War offers new and detailed knowledge of Queensland wartime policemen, their personal, war and service histories; and connects their domestic and overseas policing experiences, as many of these men had previously served in police forces of Britain and Ireland.

This presentation consolidates a wide range of historical content on policing Queensland during and around the time of the Great War. In doing so, it will enhance our understanding of the personal and professional circumstances of these policemen, their experience of the First World War on the battlefield and in Australia, as well as their role in the post-war society as many policemen resumed their duties upon returning home. Numerous men went on to have long careers with the police forces, in some cases their children carrying on their policing legacy.

Queensland Police and the Great War Effort is an award-winning project, funded through
Q ANZAC 100: Memories for a New Generation which brings our shared history to life and creates a renewed legacy for future generations.

The Museum opens its doors to the public on the last Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm from February to November in addition to the standard Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm opening hours. Monthly Sunday openings feature guest speakers from across the historical and crime-solving spectrums.

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Museum will open Sunday, 25 April from 10am to 3pm, and is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.

The stock standard Queensland Police Gazette (QPG) managed to treat readers with a colourful addition on September 24, 1938.  A swath of silk fabric in red, yellow, ochre, black and white adorned the front page in attempts to locate the package of stolen material which included ‘a quantity of dress trimmings and green buttons of a total value of £3 12s. 4d., which was stolen from another mail bag in the mail van at same time’.   The addressee of this parcel was Eileen Cameron from Mount Isa who had purchased the dress material from David Jones Ltd., Sydney.  The brazen theft of £3000 in bank notes from the same mail van suggested a calculated theft; both bags were stolen to ensure the targeted cash was within.

Queensland and New South Wales newspapers including The Armidale Express, New England General Advertiser and Cootamundra Herald reported the missing money a day after the crime.  A week later a regular editorial in the Townsville Daily Bulletin headed ‘Mt Isa Notes’, revealed ‘The mail train robbery excitement has simmered somewhat.  Two detectives are investigating at the moment, but clues, if any have not been divulged.  There were many wild rumours during the first day or two after the discovery of the theft, but there have been so many robberies of a similar nature out this way, that it takes something extraordinary to cause old-timers to raise their eye-brows now’ (Townsville Daily Bulletin, 9 Sept 1938, p. 2).

Unusually colourful image added to this 1938 edition of the Queensland Police Gazette showing the stolen silk fabric, bound for Ms Eileen Cameron of Mount Isa.
Image copied from the Queensland Police Gazette, 24.09.1938.

Three weeks prior to the QPG notice above and on September 3, notice of the mail robbery was made, having occurred from a locked train carriage somewhere between Townsville and Mount Isa.  The property was considered to be that of the Postmaster General, but the cash was intended to pay the wages of Mount Isa Mine employees.  The notes had been properly accounted for, including serial numbers, and within months were being circulated around northern Queensland towns and in Brisbane.

All serial numbers and denominations were recorded before the journey from the Bank of New South Wales by the Postmaster General, destined for Mount Isa Mines.
Image taken from the Queensland Police Gazette, 3 September 1938.

A Cloncurry Railway Guard, Francis Walsh, was arrested and brought before the Police Court.  String similar to that which bound the mail bags was found in his possession, a mismatched Yale lock was located on the wagon, evidence of the presence of a train jumper was sought, as was the procedure to check mail bags in transit, and all tendered in court with relevant witness testimonies examined.  The case was heard by Police Magistrate R. Power over several weeks who found a lack of evidence sufficient to commit the defendant, and discharged the much relieved Francis Walsh.  Mr Walsh then alleged Brisbane Detectives, Senior Sergeant Daniel Mahony and Sergeant 1/c Thomas Lloyd ‘maliciously caused him to be arrested and charged with stealing’ (The Courier Mail, 29 June 1939, p. 2), and attempted to sue the policemen for wrongful arrest.  A day later that claim was finalised with Justice R.J. Douglas handing down a verdict in favour of the Detectives; although there was insufficient evidence to convict Mr Walsh, that evidence was sufficient for an arrest.  The Detectives were awarded costs but this crime remains unsolved.

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This article was written by Museum Assistant Georgia Grier from the best resources available within the Queensland Police Museum.  The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT- Silk Yards and a Railway Guard” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY-SA 4.0. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence.

A handwritten copy of a wire sent to all Inspectors by Police Commissioner William Parry-Okeden on 21 January 1889 requested to “Say whether you strictly adhere to clause 37, page 203 of [Queensland Police] Manual or whether you give full pay in all cases of sickness”.

The early Manual of Police Instructions and Duties, the copy referred published in 1876 by James C. Beal, Government Printer, William Street, Brisbane, was a series of regulations to guide Queensland’s constabulary.

Clause 37 reads ‘In ordinary cases of sickness, a constable will be considered as on leave of absence, and paid in accordance with clause 4 of “Leave of Absence” ’.  Clause 4 stipulated that “All men incapacitated for duty by accident or illness are to be under the care of the police surgeon, and must be seen by him and reported as being really so incapacitated, within twenty-four hours of their declaring themselves sick.  Without this report no man’s name is to be entered on the sick list”.

In accordance with the wired request, stations commenced submitting their reports.  Several are recorded below:

            From Inspector 2/c Alexander D. Douglas, Normanton, all cases of sickness this district have come under clause 10, page 200. There has been no case under clause 37.  Men suffering from fever constantly perform duty during intervals.

             From Inspector 1/c Frederick J. Murray, Cooktown, re your wire today no pay has ever been deducted from sick constables beyond hospital charges when long enough sick to go there.

             From Inspector 2/c John Stuart, Port Douglas, your telegraph today I do adhere strictly to clause 37, except when sickness is the result of misconduct, the rule in this district appears to be to five [days] full pay in all cases of sickness.

            From Sub-Inspector 1/c Ernest Carr, Winton, re your wire twenty first instant one constable received full pay while suffering from effects of accident to his kneecap received in scuffle with prisoner on New Year’s Day 1887.  All other cases regulations strictly adhered to.

            From Inspector 2/c William Britton, Blackall, re your wire today, Senior Constable Livingstone got three months sick leave without pay and this is the only case of sickness since I took charge.

             From Inspector 1/c Aulaire L. Morisset, Rockhampton, your telegram today I cannot say I have always strictly enforced provision clause 37, page 203.  I frequently experience difficulty in obtaining necessary repots etc. but make it a rule as far as practicable to report all cases coming under this clause to Commissioner.

Inspector 1/c Aulaire L. Morisset.  Image PM1825 part of the Queensland Police Museum collection.

            From Inspector 1/c Samuel J.C. Lloyd, Maryborough, re telegram of yesterday have given full pay in all cases of sick leave.

            From Senior Sergeant John Kincaide, Charleville, re your wire today not aware of men being sick for a long period since Inspector Ahern came to this District only Senior Sergeant Kincaide who was suffering from diarrhoea and inflammation of the lungs.

            From Inspector 1/c William Harris, Toowoomba, re your wire today don’t remember any man sick over fourteen days except one at Goondiwindi from fever contracted through sleeping in prison cell, there being no other quarters and he was allowed full pay. Men meeting with accidents in the discharge of duty are said to be sick whilst absent from duty and would I think be entitled to full pay accident not being the ordinary cases of sickness contemplated by regulations.         

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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing.  The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT- The 1889 Sick Leave Audit” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY-SA 4.0. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence.

A man ahead of his time in 1969, newly appointed Police Commissioner Norwin W. Bauer considered traffic crashes, increasing crime and drug use as the main problems facing police.

Norwin Bauer joined the Queensland Police Force 40 years prior, at the age of 24.  With a family background in farming and a love of horses, Constable Bauer initially worked the Police Depot Stables then completed a country stint at St George, before returning to Brisbane’s Roma Street Station, Bulimba and Southport.  In 1936 Plain Clothes Constable Bauer was appointed to the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) marking the start of a successful investigative career.

Queensland Police Commissioner N.W.Bauer. Image PM2303 courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.

Promoted to Detective Constable in 1939, Bauer was detailed to perform interchange duty in New South Wales and Victoria and this training set the scene for further travel much later in his career, including to study police training methods in Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and many European countries.  This research resulted in recommendations to improve the training methods of Queensland’s Police Force.

Further promotions, to D/Sergeant in 1943 and D/Senior Sergeant in 1950, then to the rank of Inspector in 1957 entitled Norwin to the position of Officer in Charge (OIC) of Cloncurry District and he was soon tasked to the nationwide manhunt for a suspect in a triple homicide on Sundown Station, northern South Australia.  Questioning techniques employed by the Inspector with Raymond J. Bailey, a carpenter from Dubbo found working in Queensland’s Mount Isa, elicited valuable evidence and Bailey was eventually convicted of the three murders.  Many criminals floundered in the face of this analytical thinker, and credited with a string of successfully solved crimes Mr Bauer was recognised for receipt of a Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 1966.

Commissioner Bauer addressing guests and students at the official opening of the Queensland Police College, Chelmer in 1970.

In 1982 and well into his retirement, Mr Norwin Bauer was still active in police circles and scheduled to speak at September’s induction lunch.    Ever prepared Mr Bauer’s speech had been written when his unexpected death shocked all those around him; he had appeared in very good shape for his age.  The speech was reproduced in the October edition of the Police Vedette, 1982, and is partially provided here;

One of the most important requirements in a police officer is to attain and retain a high standard of responsibility and reliability both to the Department which employs you and to the public whom you serve.  By your attitudes and actions, let it be known to your superior officers and to the members of the public with whom you have to deal and over whom you exercise a watching guardianship that they can repose an implicit trust in you at all times.

Police work is not just another job.  It is a very specialised job and very demanding of your time, thought and effort – on in which you must ever be alert, observant and active.  Take the opportunity of getting to know your State.  My advice to you, especially when you are single and without family ties, is to seek to serve in some of the outlying parts of the State, and thus widen your experience and knowledge not only of its geography but also of its citizens.

Reputable members of the society will certainly assist you with knowledge if they have it and if you command their confidence and respect.  But knowledge of the not so reputable members of society is seldom held by the reputable members.  The old adage that ‘Birds of a feather flock together’ is certainly true, and often it will be in the more shady side that you will have to seek information.

I wish you every success in the interesting and challenging times that lie ahead in your chosen career. 

Débutantes and flower girls surround from left to right, then Police Commissioner Francis Bischof, Minister for Education Jack Pizzey and Chief Inspector Norwin Bauer at the Qld Police Centenary Ball held at Cloudland, April 15th, 1964.

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This article was written by Museum Assistant Georgia Grier utilising information contained within the best resources held by the Queensland Police Museum.  The museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb – Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT- CoP Norwin William Bauer” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY-SA 4.0. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence.

OFF SITE TOUR of Toowong Cemetery Police Graves
Sunday, 30 May 2021
10:30 – 12:30
Mid-tour Morning Tea Provided
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL via EVENTBRITE

The Friends of Toowong Cemetery is a voluntary organisation of people with a special interest in the Toowong Cemetery, formally known as the Brisbane General Cemetery, located in Toowong, Brisbane, Australia.

The Toowong Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Queensland and is an important record of the history of Brisbane and Queensland. It was officially opened in July 1875 and over 119,000 people are buried there. Toowong Cemetery is an operating cemetery, consulted by the Brisbane City Council in decisions regarding future planning, new initiatives, and restoration of graves.

Darcy Maddock and guides from the Friends of Toowong Cemetery have partnered with the Queensland Police Museum for a tour of police graves as part of the museum’s Sunday Lecture Series.

Bookings are essential for this 2 hour tour on Sunday May 30, 2021, commencing at 10:30am, and can be made through Eventbrite here.

Good mobility is required for this trek, with closed-in shoes and weather protection.  Bring drinking water.  Mid-tour morning tea will be provided.

BOOK HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/136573034623
DATE: Sunday, 30 May 2021
TIME: 10:30 – 12:30
PLACE: Toowong Cemetery, Corner Frederick Street and Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong
REFRESHMENTS: Mid-tour morning tea will be available
ESSENTIAL: Good mobility, closed-in shoes, weather protection, drinking water

The Museum opens its doors to the public on the last Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm from February to November in addition to the standard Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm opening hours. The Sunday Lecture Series features guest speakers from across the historical and crime-solving spectrums.  The Police Museum will also be open on Sunday, 30 May from 10am to 3pm, and is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.

Glass Plate Negatives, introduced by Englishman Frederick Scott Archer in 1851, were the first widely available photographic negatives and offered sharper images and faster exposures than the calotype and daguerreotype negatives which preceded them. The process of glass plate photography was further refined in about 1870, becoming cleaner, more convenient and, more importantly for police purposes, producing longer-lasting negatives.

Famed detective and spy Allan Pinkerton, founder of the first detective agency in the United States, was the individual who initially capitalised on the camera’s potential as a police tool. In 1870 Pinkerton assembled the first collection of photographs of known criminals to aid in his agency’s work, a procedure that soon became standard practice around the world.

Glass plate photography’s fall from favour came in 1888, when George Eastman sold the first Kodak cameras with flexible rolls of film but Queensland Police were still using the technique for mug shots. On September 11, 1897    the first photo supplement, showing a mug shot, was printed in the Queensland Police Gazette.

The use of glass plate negatives had virtually disappeared by the 1920s. Images captured by the Queensland Police during this period remain some of the best preserved images in the Police Museum collection.

A picture is most certainly worth a thousand words: here are stories of two criminals and their corresponding mug shots scanned from the Police Museum collection of glass plates negatives.

Peggy Moore, alias Renee Lorraine, was arrested on September 8, 1938, for the murder of Douglas Johnstone at Heraud Street in Townsville. Johnstone, a naval rating (enlisted man) on the HMAS Canberra, approached Moore’s home in the company several of his shipmates. It was alleged that the sailors attempted to gain entry to the house by banging and kicking the front and rear doors, eventually breaking a side window. Upon hearing the glass break, Peggy Moore retrieved a revolver from the kitchen and threatened a man whom she saw peering in through the shattered window. As the front door was further battered, Moore moved out onto the veranda and saw Douglas Johnstone poised to throw a bottle at her. Moore shot at Douglas, hitting and killing him. All the sailors present denied breaking a window, and also denied that Douglas was carrying a bottle. On November 7, 1938, Peggy Moore was found not guilty of murder. She was, however, found guilty of possessing an unlicensed firearm, for which she was fined ₤20 with 6 shillings in costs.

Domenico Scarcella, a native of Palmi, Italy, and his accomplices, Mario Strano & Salverio Militano, were charged in 1933 with child stealing and the abduction of Elizabeth Margaret Rosarti. Of the three, Militano was sentenced to 12 month’s hard labour, Strano was found not guilty, & Scarcella was sentenced to 6 month’s hard labour, suspended after the judge’s recommendation for mercy. In June 1935, Scarcella was living on a sugar-cane farm 8 miles from Innisfail. At 9pm on the 8th, Scarcella took a hurricane lantern and went to his barn to attend to his horses. Soon afterwards, two quick shots were heard, followed moments later by a third. Scarcella’s wife called for help, and her husband’s body was found lying in the barn with gunshot wounds to his stomach, left side, and head. A member of Italy’s “Black Hand Society”, Scarcella had visited his hometown of Palmi in 1931 and returned to Queensland in 1932. Police busied themselves trying to learn the whereabouts of all Italian nationals around Ingham at the time of the killing, to no immediate avail. On the 12th of December, 1936, 38 year old Italian canecutter named Francesco Guglielmo Femio was murdered in a room at the canecutter’s barracks at Stone River, Ingham. Scarcella’s widow was strongly of the opinion that Femio was involved in her husband’s murder, and it is believed that Femio’s death was the result of a vendetta carried on by Mrs Scarcella and her relatives.

This information was written by Curator Lisa Jones from those Queensland Police Museum resources available at the time of writing.

The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“A mug only a mother could love”  by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode

AFTER THE MURDERS

 Wednesday 6 November

Griffin and Bedford start for Rockhampton with Griffin keeping Bedford in front of him all the way. About 20 miles into the journey, Griffin rides off the track to rearrange his swag (at which point some notes escape and fly about in the breeze).

Thursday 7 November

Griffin and Bedford arrive at Rockhampton. Both the men and another named Hornby called at the Commercial Hotel. Griffin ‘shouts’ his friends and tenders a torn and tattered £1 (No.1440).

Extracted from the Queensland Police Gazette of 4 December 1867, pgs 88 – 91.

Same Day

John Petersen, an employee of the Bedford Hotel, was out looking for a horse and as he was going towards the river bank he noticed a kind of stench and followed its direction. He came upon the bodies about 200 yards from the river. He calls out “Good morning” but does not get an answer. He sees one body lying in a straight position with its head resting on a saddle. The body is covered with a blanket to about half way up the face, he lifts the blanket to see the face which shows some blood and evidence of worms and flies, but he does not recognise him. Peterson sees another body nearer the river with its legs drawn up, the face is not so disfigured as the other, but he still cannot identify him.

Petersen reports the finding of the bodies to Sub Inspector Stokes at the Native Police Barracks. The NMP attends the murder site and then place the bodies between two sheets of bark and buries them.

Friday 8 November – Meanwhile News reaches Rockhampton

Griffin asks Sub Inspector Elliott and if he has heard the rumour that the Clermont gold escort has been found dead. Elliott makes inquiries to authenticate the information of the death of the troopers. The startling official news is brought by the mailman via telegraph that the two escort troopers had been found dead at the Mackenzie River – initially the report stated that the men had been poisoned. Griffin, shows himself as both distressed and surprised at the news.

Sub-Inspector George L. Elliott (Image courtesy QPM, PM1616)

A party consisting of Sub-inspector Elliott, Tom Hall, Manager Australian Joint Stock Bank, Henry Abbott, Police Magistrate, Dr Salmond, a black tracker and Griffin made ready to start for the scene of the murder.

Griffin was loud in his demands for a ruthless hunting-down of the murderers, even before it was officially known that murder had been done. He protested so much which confirmed some suspicions in the mind of Sub-inspector Elliott that had been building since Julian was relieved of his command.

In protesting to Elliott about his suspension, Julian had reported the various subterfuges adopted by Griffin to delay the start, and his belief that an attempt had been made to poison him. Elliott had been inclined to dismiss the complaint until during the ride out, Griffin went out of his way to express surprise that the escort had been robbed. He also told Hall that the troopers would have been shot despite the report of poisoning and lack of reference to shooting at that stage.

Griffin tries to wreck the carriage in which he is travelling with Dr Salmon. As the journey continued Griffin showed visible signs of nervousness. Elliott suspiciousness grows and during the night he extracts the cartridges from Griffin’s firearm.

Sub-Inspector James Balfrey of Clermont Station, heads for the murder site and arrives 24 hours before the Rockhampton party. He visits the scene briefly to note the burial of the bodies and sees Sub Inspector Stokes who has all of the trooper’s effects from the scene. He sends a telegraph to the Commissioner advising of the deaths and the amount of stolen money.

Saturday 9 November – The Investigation

The Rockhampton party arrives the Mackenzie River crossing at 9am.

The bodies are exhumed, and a post mortem is conducted by Dr Salmon.

On arrival Griffin shows much nervousness and on nearing the scene of the murder, he exclaims, “My God! I cannot face this” and sits on a log 50 or 60 yards away from the scene.

The camp is well examined by the officers of the native police who with the aid of their bush experience and the dry characteristics of black loamy soil, find tracks leading to and from the camp and to the hotel.

Griffin’s small boot prints are a match to the tracks, they show that he moved from the camp towards a small lagoon, which was away from the both the camp and the public house, to a log where he sat down. He then retraced his steps from the log to a point of the track leading to the public house. There are no other tracks.

Sub-Inspector Elliott and Detective Kilfeder conduct interviews with:

Mary John Petersen – concerning the movement of the escort men and the discovery of the bodies

Alfred Bedford – concerning hearing shots that night and what he observed of Griffin

Sub Inspector Uhr has a conversation with Griffin, on the subject of poisons. Griffin speaks of his knowledge that while mineral poisons are easily detected in the human stomach, vegetable poisons, such as morphia, are difficult to trace.

Arrest of Griffin

When the first post-mortem examination is completed, Sub-Inspector Elliott confers with the other police at the scene, the doctor, and completes speaking with and interviewing the witnesses. He is now sure that Griffin is the prime suspect. At 11am Detective Kilfeder and Sub-Inspector Elliott arrest Griffin on the suspicion of murder of John Power and Patrick Cahill.

Monday 11 to Thursday 14 November

An initial Court sitting is held at the Bedford Arms Hotel at the direction of Henry Abbott the Police Magistrate. Depositions are taken from Sub Inspector Elliott, Detective Kilfeder, Dr Salmond, Mr Alfred Harding Bedford, John Petersen, Sgt James Julian, Mary Petersen, Sub-Inspector Charles Uhr, Sub- Inspector Richard Stokes, Jonathan Ashcroft, Inspector James Balfrey and John Reborah.

 Tuesday 19 November

Griffin’s arrival

On Tuesday 19 November crowds at the Rockhampton station awaited Griffin’s arrival, but police took him from the train at a nearby station and brought him inconspicuously in a cab to the lock up.

 First Rockhampton Court appearance

The Deposition Clerk reads the warrant, remanding the prisoner from the court held at the Bedford Arms, Mackenzie, on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14^th instant, and the depositions then taken. Sub Insp Elliott then told the magistrate that he was not prepared with evidence to go on with the case and requested a remand of eight days. The remand was given.

After everyone returns from the Mackenzie River, the case against Griffin continued with great care and judgment by Sub Inspector Elliott, who had shown that in addition to the courage and pluck required to knock’ over a bushranger, he possessed also the coolness and calculation of a first rate detective. The main links and mass of closely connected evidence was put together by him, and the case was subsequently completed. Detective Kilfeder joined him first the day of notification of the murders, Sub Inspector Stokes of the Native Police and Uhr at the Mackenzie Station, Sub Inspector Balfrey of Clermont and then Detective Slattery from Maryborough, and lastly, Sub Inspector Samuel Lloyd from Brisbane.

30 November

Dr Salmon describes his findings and 20 other witnesses give evidence at the committal proceedings against Griffin and he was duly committed to stand Trial at the Rockhampton Supreme Court.

 14 December – The Trial starts

The trial takes place in the Rockhampton Supreme Court before Justice Alfred James Peter Lutwyche, who was the first judge for the Supreme Court of Queensland, and a jury of 12.

Justice Alfred James Peter Lutwyche, was the first judge for the Supreme Court of Queensland (Image courtesy SLQ)

The Crown is represented by the Attorney-General, the Honourable Ratcliffe Pring, QC (afterwards Mr Justice Pring) and Mr Charles Lilley, QC, afterwards Chief justice of Queensland.

Mr Charles Lilley, QC, afterwards Chief justice of Queensland (left) and Attorney-General, the Honourable Ratcliffe Pring, QC (afterwards Mr Justice Pring) (right) (Images courtesy of the SLQ)

For the defence were Mr Edward MacDevitt, a clever Irish barrister, newly arrived, Mr Hely and Mr Samuel Griffith.

For the defence were newly arrived Edward MacDevitt (Left), a clever Irish barrister, H.L. Hely and Mr Samuel Griffith (right), a young Welsh born lawyer, aged 22. Later Chief justice of Queensland, Premier and Chief Justice of the Commonwealth. (Images courtesy SLQ)

At the trial, a total of 60 witnesses were called to give evidence:

Chinese gold diggers, as most were not from an English-speaking background an interpreter had to be used and because they were not of Christian belief, they were sworn by blowing out a candle.

Each gave evidence that they had given Griffin money and he gave each a piece of paper in return for their money. They stated they paid money to Griffin approximately 4, and some up to 8, months earlier for escort to the Rockhampton bank. Griffin after transferring to Rockhampton kept telling the Chinese that their money had not arrived from Clermont. They all stated in evidence that Griffin had paid them at the back of the Club House Hotel, and the date of payment coincided with the dates prior to the escort leaving Rockhampton and the evening that Griffin took charge of and had possession of the money from Power.

The bank tellers gave evidence as to how they had narrated the numbers on the notes and how the notes had been placed in the parcels, and how each parcel was packed and tied. The police all gave evidence and it appears that Julian was a main witness as to how the escort had three starts to commence the journey to Clermont.

Bedford and the Petersens gave evidence as to circumstances at the Mackenzie River and how shots were heard in the early hours of the morning. How Griffin had a ‘big awful swag’ and how Griffin went off the road to adjust the swag.

Mr Pitt gave evidence as to how he had located the one-pound note in the vicinity where Griffin had gone off the road to adjust his swag. Evidence was produced to show that the note located by Pitt was one of the notes that had the number recorded by the bank staff. The tattered note produced by Griffin at the Commercial Hotel was also confirmed as being another of the notes recorded by the bank staff and was part of the escort money.

The fact that his small shoe prints were found at the scene indicated a different version of events to what Griffin had stated, that Power went looking for the horses in the early evening. Griffin’s comments to others and his behaviour whilst travelling from Rockhampton to the Mackenzie with the investigating party, were all given in evidence during the trial.

All this circumstantial evidence led to Griffin’s conviction. At no time, to this point, did he admit to killing the police officers.

28 March Sentencing

The jury returns to the court room and the foreman announced that they had found Griffin guilty of the murder of Power and Cahill and is sentenced to death.

Queensland Police Gazette Entry Vol. V, No. 4, 1st April 1868.

 Execution of Griffin

Griffin remain in the Rockhampton gaol, until his appointment with the hangman. He maintains his innocence publicly the whole time to his execution, he did however confide in a turnkey at the prison during his wait for his execution on 1 June 1868.

The execution of Griffin was recorded in a spectacular article headed, ‘Execution of Griffin’ in the Rockhampton Bulletin on June 2, 1868.

 The executioner, having completed all his ghastly preparations, shook his victim by the left hand and withdrew to the entrance of the platform, where he said, “God bless you.” A painful pause of a few seconds here occurred whilst the executioner waited for a signal from the Sheriff. On this being given, the bolt was quickly drawn, the drop came clanging down, and the murderer – Griffin – passed into eternity. His death must have been almost instantaneous as there was fracture and dislocation of the second and third vertebrae. The body fell a distance of four feet six inches, reckoning from the floor of the platform to the rope as he hung suspended. As the body fell the right leg and thigh were drawn up, then there was a trembling and a quivering of the feet, the result of muscular action rather than pain, and all was still; he was dead. The body swayed about for several minutes and settled at last with his face to the wall. After the lapse of about thirty-five minutes, Drs Salmond, Callaghan, Thon, and Robertson, examined the body. Life was pronounced extinct, and the executioner cut the body down. It was placed in a coffin which had been placed under the gallows and must have been before Griffin’s eyes as he ascended to his death.

 Griffin describes a struggle between him and the troopers and that he shot them in the stomach and eye – however both were shot from behind. He told the principal turnkey where he had hidden the money, but it could not be found at that point.

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This information was researched by Curator Lisa Jones and sourced from the best Queensland Police Museum resources available at the time of writing. The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane. Email: museum@police.qld.gov.au

“FROM the VAULT – Gold and Greed Part 3: the murder of Constables Power and Cahill in 1867” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode

Police scour Brisbane for clues of Ether Man

27 June 2021
11:00am – 12:30pm
 Police Headquarters
200 Roma Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
FREE ENTRY – Bookings Essential via Eventbrite
This lecture is not suitable for young children.

The signature of a predator, the dedication of police officers and the lucky break leading to the capture of the Ether Man will all be revealed in June’s Queensland Police Museum Sunday Lecture.

Between April and September 1966 five women were attacked by a man who used either Ether or Chloroform to subdue his victims before he raped them. The attacks occurred in Brisbane’s north and south. The Curator of the Queensland Police Museum, Lisa Jones will outline the police investigation and the lengths to which officers went to catch the attacker.

The investigation was taken up with earnest by police who tried to find the man and his source of ether before the next woman was attacked. The attacks shocked Brisbane and the police were flooded with calls about possible sightings of the attacker and from people who thought they smelt ether on street corners and in taxis.

The one and a half hour presentation will start at 11am on Sunday, June 27 and will be both informative and educational for adult audiences. The Museum opens its doors to the public on the last Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm from February to November in addition to the standard Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm opening hours. Monthly Sunday openings feature guest speakers from across the historical and crime-solving spectrums.

The Police Museum will open on Sunday, June 27 from 10am to 3pm, and is located on the ground floor of Police Headquarters, 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.