Old Geelong Gaol (part 7): Thomas Menard – Murderer.

Old Geelong Gaol (part 7): Thomas Menard – Murderer.

Two Warrnambool quarrymen, under the employ of Mr JH Evans, got into an argument over the American Civil War.  It was 1865, and the American civil war between the North and the South had just ended in May. The two workers, James Sweeney, and US-born Thomas Menard, known locally as 'Yankee Tom', argued incessantly, almost coming to blows, until the fight was broken up.

 After their shift, the men returned to their lodgings. Menard was heard telling his bunkmates that the day's argument wasn’t over, and there would be worse to come. That night, as all the men lay in their beds in the shared bunkhouse, Menard arose and unloaded a six-shot revolver into Sweeney’s bunk.[1]

 Menard hastily escaped as the men panicked. He was later arrested near Beechworth.[2]

Sweeney languished in pain and remained alive after the shooting. He had a flesh wound on his upper abdomen on the left-hand side, another wound between his naval and his ribs on the same side, and one a little higher up where the bullet had gone between his ribs and lodged in his armpit.[3] Sweeney also had a bullet lodged in his arm. He lingered on for two more days in the hospital but eventually died due to a bullet lodged in his liver, dying on June 12 from his wounds.

Thomas Menard was also known by his other alias’ ‘Yankee Tom’ and ‘Thomas Barrett’. He was brought up on remand from Beechworth, via Melbourne for the murder of James Sweeney on June 10th, 1865. Menard was put on trial, with witnesses John Haw stating he had seen the whole event. When questioned, Menard showed no contrition and stated he would do the same again. He was duly convicted of murder and sentenced to death.[4]
 Thomas Menard was born in Louisiana, USA, emigrating to Australia in 1855. He was described as 28 years of age, five feet five inches tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a medium build.

 Menard was given ample opportunity to confess his guilt in gaol. At first, he refused counsel from gaol-appointed priests, but the day before his execution changed his mind. [5]  Up until that point though, Menard had repeated that his actions were justified, that Sweeney got what he deserved and that he, would do the same again knowing his own outcome.

 The day before his execution, Menard’s views changed, and he admitted his guilt and sorrow for what he had committed, stating that he knew he deserved what was coming for him. Menard began to pray with the priests.

 A rosebud was given to Menard, of which he requested that it be placed in his coffin and buried with him.

 The hangman entered Menards cell before 10am on 28 October 1865. Menard appeared emotionless and allowed the hangman to go about his business pinioning Menards arms. At 10am, led by the Governor of the Gaol, Menard was led to the gallows. He was paraded in front of the Gaol Governor, Chaplains, Surgeons and Officers, and around 40 members of the public.[6]

  Menard stood on the trap door, over his head a small white cap was placed that partially covered his face. In his hand, he held a prayer he had written. The noose was placed over his head, and Rev Strickland read out a burial service. Menard made no sounds or movements. At the conclusion of Rev. Strickland’s sermon, the hangman lowered the cloth other Menard's face shook his hand and said a few words to him. Menard did not speak but nodded in recognition. The order was given, and the hangman released the lever. Menard dropped to his death, his handwritten note dropping from his hand. He was allowed to hang for 15 minutes before a doctor checked for signs of life.

The letter Menard was holding when he was executed stated (in his spelling):

“I stand this Day of Our Lord before his grace. I knew a man the name of Sweeny.

The first or second day he insulted me on the work. I never spoke. A day or two after I had sivel  word with King, which we settled. Was good friends after. The next morning Sweeny asked me where was I rered, what makes you let the Shelbag say any thing, why don't you strike him. I don't like quarrelling. This time anything Swny told me to do I dun it, and gave him anything he wanted as a neighbor. He commenced growling, I then went to another place; the foreman called me down to help him. I dun so. Swny came over and turned back sayd Yankee, I will kick your— I do not allow Irish to kick. Do it. He got in vilant rage, going to strike. I stoped him. I looked at him, sayd I will give you a cause. I will have, them arms of yours when I go home. If you do you will never harm no more. This saild his death. Have I dan wright or evil. God forgive me. Was he (illegible) Duck Yafrican he wd never be shot. That he was Irish he cryd for mercy. I could give no quarters knowing his wrongs. His mate grond fearfull. Could give no assistance with his life lost. I can't say I am sorry. God forgive me. With you all I lave the old world its troubles blesd. I go along to the new one. Farewell, I do not wish to say any more. The secrets of my heart go to the grave with me."

 THOMAS MENARD.

Thomas Menard was interred in the Geelong Gaol grounds with the letter, he had written and the rosebud he had been given inside his coffin.

A death mask was made of Thomas Menard which is on display in the gaol.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

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[1] 'INCIDENTS OF THE MONTH.', Geelong Advertiser, (25 October 1865), p. 2.

[2] 'INCIDENTS OF THE MONTH.', Geelong Advertiser, (25 October 1865), p. 2.

[3] 'THE LATE MURDER IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT.', The Australasian, (12 August 1865), p. 7.

[4] 'VICTORIA.', Launceston Examiner, (19 October 1865), p. 3.

[5] 'EXECUTION OF MENARD AT THE GEELONG GAOL.', Border Watch, (11 November 1865), p. 1.

[6] 'EXECUTION OF THOMAS MENARD, ALIAS YANKEE TOM.', The Australian News for Home Readers, (25 November 1865), p. 6.

Old Geelong Gaol (part 6): James Murphy – Murderer

Old Geelong Gaol (part 6): James Murphy – Murderer

Former Warrnambool Police station, cells and courthouse complex

 

James Murphy pleaded Not Guilty to the charge of murdering Daniel O'Boyle, a police constable, at Warrnambool, on August 4, 1863. Murphy was accused of lighting a fire in the Warrnambool Courthouse in an effort to escape prison. Murphy struck Police Constable, Daniel O’Boyle in the back of the head with a hammer, killing him.

Murphy, an old soldier who had served in the Afghan wars, had been placed in the gaol cells at Warrnambool, which was a small complex that also housed a courthouse. He was awaiting trial for stealing horses in the district. It was the job of the prisoners to aid the police in cleaning the courthouse and other sections of the complex. On this day, Constable O’Boyle escorted Murphy to the courthouse where they were going to clean the room of the Clerk of Petty Sessions. As Constable O’Boyle leaned down to light a fire, Murphy took the opportunity to strike him in the back of the head with a hammer. Murphy had stolen the hammer from a local stonemason who was repairing a wall in the courtyard. 

Murphy made his escape, casually walking back through the courtyard towards the gaols. With no one on duty, he was able to walk out the front door. O’Boyle’s body was only discovered sometime later when a worker went into the searching for a ladder.
 27-year-old O’Boyle died 22 hours after the attack.

A search party of police, volunteers and townsfolk scoured the town for Murphy, but he was not to be found. In the next few days telegraphs dispatched were sent to towns around Victoria, with a description of Murphy.
 Murphy was arrested in Melbourne and sent to Geelong Gaol for holding until his trial.

It took a jury just 15 minutes on October 21, 1863, to find Murphy guilty of murder. Murphy was asked if he had anything to say about being found guilty, and he replied: “I throw myself, gentlemen, on your mercy. I have a wife and five children, and I have been in a long time in the colony. There was a row, your Honour, between myself and the constable, and he struck me in two places on my head.”

 The Judge replied that his objections had been raised by his counsel, but that as he was detained, and struck O’Boyle when he was not looking, it could not be considered manslaughter, but murder. Despite more pleas from Murphy that the murder was an accident, the Judge ruled with the jury and sentenced Murphy to death by hanging.

James Murphy was executed inside the Geelong Gaol on the newly constructed gallows. He was the first man hung inside the gaol. The Mayor of Geelong, the Sherriff, Dr Reid, Dr Pincott and Dr Macking, as well as 30 other people, were present for the execution. 100 people had gathered outside the gaol, hoping for a glimpse of the execution.

 Murphy was given last rites by Catholic Priest, Rev Clampet. Clampet had spent the night previous with Murphy offering prayer and solace to the convicted murderer.
 An executioner was sent to Geelong from Melbourne, who recognised Murphy as a former friend from their time in Tasmania. The two men greeted each other, with the executioner driven to tears. He soon composed himself and got to the job at hand.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

Other Sources:

'THE EXECUTION OF JAMES MURPHY.', Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser, 12 November 1863, p. 3.

'BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.', Hamilton Spectator and Grange District Advertiser, (23 October 1863), p. 2.

'MURDER AT THE WARRNAMBOOL COURT HOUSE; ESCAPE OF THE MURDERER.', Geelong Advertiser, (11 August 1863), p. 3.

'Table Talk.', Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser, (20 August 1863), p. 3.

 'ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.', Leader, (8 August 1863), p. 3.

'MURPHY THE MURDERER.', The Herald, (14 August 1863), p. 3.

'THE WARRNAMBOOL MURDER.', Leader, (24 October 1863), p. 4.

'MISCELLANEOUS.', Geelong Advertiser, (25 November 1863), p. 3.

'THE EXECUTION OF JAMES MURPHY', Geelong Advertiser, (7 November 1863), p. 3.

Old Geelong Gaol (part 5): Owen McQueeney – Murderer

Old Geelong Gaol (part 5): Owen McQueeney – Murderer

  In 1858 Owen McQueeney (sometimes spelled McQueeny or Queeny) was accused of killing Elizabeth Lowe at “Green Tent” near Ballarat. Green Tent, where ‘Green Tent Road’ near Meredith in Victoria gets its name, was a small structure that served as a shop and tavern to local gold fields.
  The Green Tent was owned by Mrs Elizabeth Lowe (nee Matheson), who with her husband had established a travelling shop. Her husband had left one day to buy a horse and cart and never returned. Mrs Lowe decided to stay where she was and set up the Green Tent as her shop. She made a lot of money very quickly and was able to purchase a pair of jade earrings that she wore daily which proclaimed her success in business.

  McQueeney was an Irish man, with an imposing disposition and a cataract in one eye, giving him a fearsome look. McQueeney had spent two years in prison for stealing horses and claimed he had come to the gold fields to find some missing bullocks. He leered at the shop owner, Mrs Lowe as he explained his fake story of seeking lost bullocks. The following day he returned and spent the entire day at Green Tent drinking. McQueeney began to visit the Green Tent daily, with locals noting Mrs Lowe’s fear of the man.


  One day, local Revenue Officer, Joseph Smith arrived at the tent, and noticed swirling smoke from the chimney, went inside expecting to be greeted by staff or other visitors, only to find no one inside. Smith decided to wait for Mrs Lowe, thinking she had gone running an errand. He became suspicious when a strange smell came from the chimneys. He went to check and found Mrs Lowe sprawled across the floor, her hair lying in the fire. Smith noticed a gunshot wound, where a bullet had penetrated her eye, and instantly called for help. He rolled Mrs Lowe over and found underneath her body her 2-month-old son, uninjured. He ordered a man nearby to get to the telegraph station and report to the Geelong and Ballarat police that a murder had occurred.


 A local aboriginal tracker came to Smith and showed him tracks leaving the hut. McQueeney had very large feet, which made him easily tracked. A witness spotted him near Meredith, carrying a very large swag. McQueeney was next reported by a local salesperson named Gallagher, near Geelong who he had sold all his tea too. Gallagher stated that McQueeney had sold him the teas because his mother had; “sickened him of it when he was a youngster in England”. This fact would eventually be his undoing.

Trooper McIntyre visited Mrs Adam's boarding house in Geelong. He asked Mrs Adams; “Have you in your establishment a man with one eye that does not like tea?”
Mrs Adams, suspicious of the policeman asked why he needed to know, to which he replied “ murder!”.
Mrs Adams, taken aback by the claim stated: “There’s a cove at my place with a shield over one eye, and only this morning Nellie remarked that he never drank tea.”
Trooper McIntyre arrested McQueeney, earning himself a promotion.


 The police, despite all the evidence they had collected against McQueeney, seemed non-plussed about prosecuting him, putting him in gaol while waiting for more evidence to be procured. McQueeney himself provided the last bit of evidence needed to place him squarely as the murderer.
While in gaol, McQueeney confided in another prisoner who was soon to be released and offered him a pair of jade earrings, telling him to sell them for tobacco, and to get it into the gaol. Instead of following McQueeney’s orders, the prisoner reported the earrings to the Gaoler.

During the trial inquest, Mrs Lowe’s body was exhumed from her grave at Meredith, where it was shown her well-known earrings had been torn from her ears. During his trial on October 9 1858, McQueeney was called to the stand, where he verbally abused all the witnesses, the judge and everyone else in earshot and asked ridiculous questions in what appeared to be a plight to be declared insane.

The sentencing Judge, Mr Justice Williams led proceedings. After all the evidence was submitted, it took the jury just ten minutes to reach their guilty verdict. McQueeney was sentenced to death by hanging.


At 7:30 am on 20 October 1858, McQueeney was taken from his cell by the Governor and hangman. His shackles were removed, and his arms pinioned. Catholic Priest, Father O’Brien read McQueeney his last rites. At 8am, the Sherriff demanded the body of McQueeney and then led the procession to the gallows. McQueeney proclaimed his innocence with every step. Once at the gallows, he claimed he was been manhandled excessively, and ironically, claimed the noose was too tight.
At 8:05am, the pin was pulled, and McQueeney was hung at Gallow’s Flat.[1]

There are claims that after the death of McQueeney, an unusual request was received by the Sherriff. About an hour or so after the execution, a crippled woman sought permission to have her hands “streaked over” by the hands of the dead murderer in the hope of curing her disease!

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

Sources:

'GEELONG.', The Argus, (21 October 1858), p. 5.

'GEELONG.', Bendigo Advertiser, (26 July 1858), p. 3.

1858: Owen McQueeney, Green Tent Murderer, ExecutedToday.com (2014), http://www.executedtoday.com/2014/10/20/1858-owen-mcqueeney-green-tent-murderer/

'The Case of the Man Who was Hanged by an Eye', The World's News, (13 October 1937), p. 10.

1858 'THE GREEN TENT MURDER.', The Age, (7 August 1858), p. 5.

'SOCIAL.', The Age, (16 October 1858), p. 5.

Mitchell, Jo, ‘Making tracks - all roads lead to the Green Tent’, Barwon Blog, (29 October 2015), http://barwonblogger.blogspot.com/2015/10/

'THE MURDER AT THE GREEN TENT.', The Argus, (27 July 1858), p. 6.

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[1] 'GEELONG.', The Argus, (21 October 1858), p. 5.

Old Geelong Gaol (part 4): James Griffiths, alias ‘Ross’ – Murderer

 James Griffiths was born in 1825 and committed his first crimes as a young teenager. He broke into a church and stole church wine and 4 pounds cash. This led him to break into more chapels, as they were an easy target.
 After a long run of stealing from churches, Griffiths got a job as an apprentice on a ship which he deserted. He soon found another apprentice position on another ship and deserted after stealing the Captain’s coat.

 In 1842, Griffiths enlisted in the 11^th Regiment, a British military component assigned to defend Australia that sailed from North Devonshire. While on the ship, Griffiths’ got into an argument with another soldier, where he threatened to run him through with his bayonet but was stopped by his Sargent. He was subdued and thrown in the brig. In 1851, Griffith’s absconded while the ship was in Adelaide, then made his way inland, to Melbourne taking on the alias James Ross, so as not to draw attention to himself for being a known deserter.

 As James Ross, Griffiths took a job as Shepard at Mr Darlow’s Station. He worked hard and saved some money, but his guilt from robbing churches and deserting the army made him paranoid, so he soon moved on, and found himself in Geelong.

 At Geelong, he met a woman and married her. Not long after marrying, he began to treat his wife poorly: in his own words in a letter, he wrote before his execution he stated that he often bound his wife with ropes and beat and raped her, he beat her with sticks, poured water over her and beat her until she fell into fits. On at least one occasion, he admitted to beating her so badly, that she miscarried.

 The last straw for Mrs Griffiths was being dropped naked in a water hole, where Griffiths placed his boot on her head, and almost drowned her. She left him that day and headed to the Darlow Station, but Griffiths grew jealous that she was now staying somewhere else and decided he would kill her and those she was staying with.

 On March 13, 1856, Griffiths went to the home of Mrs Sayers on the Darlow station to confront his wife and force her to come home.
 A Chinese shepherd witnessed Griffiths shoot Mrs Sayer, then pounced on her, and stabbed her in the neck. He then beat her with a shovel. The Chinese Shepard fled to his own hut, but Griffiths followed, threatening to kill him if he didn’t reveal where his wife was hiding. The Chinese Shepard said he didn’t know and escaped to raise the alarm with Mr Darlow.

Griffiths dragged Mrs Sayer's dead body down to a nearby river and threw her in the water. Meanwhile back in Mrs Sayer's hut, Griffith's 14-month-old son was lying in a pool of its own blood after being stabbed to death, and Mrs Griffiths was on the ground, beaten into an inch of her life. Griffiths fled into the scrub.

 Mr Darlow went to check Mrs Sayer’s hut, and found the dead child, but found Mrs Griffiths was still holding onto life. Police and doctors were sent for, and Mrs Griffiths was sent to Horsham for medical treatment.

James Griffith’s returned to the station, a couple of days later, admitted his crimes and wished to be turned in to the police. Griffiths stated he killed his child so he wouldn’t be raised an orphan and be abused by others.In his closing remarks, Justice Williams concluded that the crimes were; “one of the most atrocious and premeditated murders that during my experience has ever been brought to the attention of a jury”.

James Griffiths alias; 'Ross', was hung on the portable gallows at Gallows, flat Geelong, on April 22 1856. Unlike previous hangings, Ross’ execution was not viewed by the public, but by officials only.

Witnesses at the execution of James Ross:

• ·         Robt. Rede, Deputy Sheriff.

·         Charles Brodie, Gaoler.
·         Michael Smith, Head Turnkey.
·         Duncan D. Tatham, Turnkey.
·         James Rowley, Head Turnkey.
·         James Snifer, C. Serj. 40th Regiment
·         J. C. S. Hant, Chaplain.
·         Ronald Gunn, M.D.
·         Alexander Fraser, Solicitor.
·         Sidney Somerford Lynch, District Surgeon.[1]

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

Other Sources:

'EXECUTION OF JAMES ROSS, ALIAS GRIFFITHS.', Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer, (23 April 1856), p. 2.

'SUPREME COURT.', Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer, (14 April 1856), p. 2.

Jaunay, B., British Regiments in the colonies, (2019), http://www.jaunay.com/garrisons.htm

'GEELONG CIRCUIT COURT.', The Argus, (14 April 1856), p. 5.

'CRIMINAL SESSIONS.', The Age, (15 April 1856), p. 3.

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[1] 'EXECUTION OF JAMES ROSS, ALIAS GRIFFITHS.', Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer, (23 April 1856), p. 2.

Old Geelong Gaol (part 2): John ‘Crankie’ Gunn – Murderer

Old Geelong Gaol (part 2): John ‘Crankie’ Gunn – Murder

George Roberts and John Gunn were the first two convicted murderers executed at Geelong. They faced their execution on 9 November 1854. The men were executed on portable gallows at Gallow’s Flat in a public execution that drew a crowd of around 2000 people.[1]

John Gunn was from Inverness shire, Scotland, and before coming to Australia was a convicted criminal, who escaped gaol during a Church service. In 1814, he had been brought before the courts for shooting a man in Melbourne but was acquitted upon insufficient evidence.

 John Gunn was thought by friends to be an impolite, reckless or insane man, which earned him the nickname “Crankie Gunn”.

At 1pm on 11 August 1854, Gunn went to the house of Charlotte Newman to ask about some washing. At around 4pm the same day, Gunn returned with a man named Nolan, both appeared to have been drinking. The men entered the house, followed by Samuel Harris. Gunn started an argument with Newman, then slapped her. He went outside and Nolan followed, trying to calm him down. Gunn started smashing Newman’s windows, so Harris tried to stop him. Gunn, drunk and angry left the house stating he would be back with something to end the argument and anyone that interfered with him.

 Gunn returned a little later with a 6-shot revolver and a cane with a hidden sword inside. Gunn beat on Newman’s door, so Harris went outside to settle him down. The two men got into a scuffle. Newman heard Harris scream “Murder!” and ran outside to see what was happening.
 Gunn was leaning over Harris who was on his knees. Newman ran over to him, only to have Gunn throw her onto the ground and try and stab her with the cane-sword. Nolan rescued Newman, as Gunn left to go back to his own house, just metres down the road.
 Harris was dead.

An inquest into the death of Harris revealed that Gunn’s sword had gone through Harris’ left side, through his stomach, pancreas and then into his heart. A coroner stated Harris could not have lived more than 10 minutes after his wounds.

  Gunn, a 60-year-old Scottish-man, who had lived in Victoria for around 15 years, stated he would like his farm spilt equally amongst his heirs after his death. The night before the execution, he prayed alongside a Scottish Presbyterian Minister and a Gaelic Minister in his cell.

 Gunn walked to the gallows, and wanted to speak before his execution, proclaiming his innocence, but was not allowed. The bolt was pulled at 8am, and Gunn fell through the trap door to his death.

I’ll be hosting two paranormal investigation nights at Old Geelong Gaol in late August 2019. Find the details here: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=509130&

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

Other Sources:

'DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.', The Argus, (28 August 1854), p. 5.

Executed – Victoria, Geni.com, (2019), https://www.geni.com/projects/Executed-Victoria/49212

'GEELONG CIRCUIT COURT.', Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer, (30 October 1854), p. 7.

'GEELONG CIRCUIT COURT.', The Argus, (30 October 1854), p. 5.

'GEELONG CRIMINAL COURT.', The Sydney Morning Herald, (7 November 1854), p. 3.

'THE NEW CONVICT BILL.', Mount Alexander Mail, (3 November 1854), p. 3.

'CROWDED OUT.', Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer, (10 November 1854), p. 4.

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[1] 'GEELONG.', The Age (13 November 1854), p. 5.

The Hanging of Two Innocent Aboriginal Men in Victoria.

Bob & Jack

In 1842 two Aboriginal men said to be from Tasmania, were found guilty of killing two white whalers in Cape Patterson, Victoria.

The two men, known as Bob and Jack, were not allowed to give evidence in their own defence, or to call forward Aboriginal witness's, they were consequently found guilty by the white settlers jury, and sentenced to be hung at Gallows Hill.

Gallows Hill, stood outside the Old Melbourne Gaol, the gallows were two large wooden poles buried in the ground with a plank between them, and two pieces of wood, attached to the poles with hinges, for the prisoners to stand on, under the other unhinged end of the planks stood a pile of rubble, which kicked over, would release the planks and hang the prisoners.

On this occasion, the rubble did not fall far enough, and the two men hung, choking until an onlooker realised the problem and kicked the rest of the rubble out of the way, allowing the men to die.

Bob and Jack were removed from the gallows and their bodies were taken to the Melbourne cemetery, they were not allowed proper Aboriginal Rites nor Burial. The two men were buried in the northernmost section of the cemetery.

Today, Queen Victoria Market sits atop the old cemetery where it is believed hundreds, possibly thousands of people had been buried, Bob and Jack have been seen upon occasion in the Market and also are known to cause all kinds of mischief, no doubt they are restless due to not receiving their proper burial rites and the possibility of a miscarriage of justice from the white men jury.

© 2013 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au