Muriel Bath
Policewoman Muriel Bath was appointed on 3 February 1947, she was 38 years old. She had a short but eventful career in the service and was based primarily in Brisbane before she resigned 18 months later when she decided to marry. Policewomen were forced to resign from their jobs upon decision to marry until the legislation was changed in 1971.
This interview took place on 8 October 2007 between oral historian Suzanne Mulligan and Muriel Bath. In this excerpt Muriel talks about her role in an illegal alcohol raid.
Transcription
“They had been trying for a long, long time to get a sly grog seller and they knew this fellow and they knew he was as guilty as could be but they had never been able to catch him. So this night they took me out with them. There were several of them and one of the detectives was told to look after me whatever happened. And I was, I was dressed casually and one of the young detectives was dressed casually and we were passing ourselves off as a young couple, you know. He had his arm around me and giving me a squeeze and all this business as we got near this place. And of course this was before mobile phones and we had to go in and see if there was any sly grog etc and see if we could buy any and if we were successful, when we got outside I was to stand under the nearest lamp and powder my nose. So we went into this awful place and the fellow sold us this stuff. Then we got outside, we went under the light, which was quite near, and I brought out a powder puff and was dabbing my nose like that and then the detectives closed in. One detective grabbed me and took me and put me in a car right away from the business and the others went and they got him.
Well, they were so elated at their success they got a bit over themselves I think. They decided to go after another fellow, they had been after for a long time, using me and my “boyfriend”, so called boyfriend, as a decoy. But I had a strange feeling. I said to them “I have a feeling this won’t come off.” I said “Please don’t do it tonight.” I said, “I’m sure it will not be successful.” “Oh, yes it will,” they said you know. “You’ve done so well, we’ve been after this fellow for ages and you’ve got him etc. No we’ll try this fellow.” “Well I’ve still have great misgiving.” However, they proceeded and the boyfriend and I went along, cuddling each other again. We got to this awful place and the fellow appeared. He walked around us and he gave us such a thump in the back and he said “Coppers’ both of you” so it didn’t come off. And you know I had that presentiment but they were so determined to go ahead. So that was a real washout, but by Jove I felt that thump for a long time.”… Continue reading