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 3): George Roberts – Murderer

Old Geelong Gaol (part 3): George Roberts – Murderer

Geelong Gaol cell block - photo: Allen Tiller 2013

George Roberts was a 28-year-old man, who had arrived in Melbourne just six months prior to his conviction. He had found work at Native Creek on the cattle and stock station of Dr Hope.

 George Kelly was a shepherd who lived in a small hut on the Hope property about two miles from the homestead. Prior to living in the hut, he worked and lived alongside Robert’s doing different jobs around the homestead. Since the time that Roberts was employed, he had begun to notice objects go missing, clothing, a small box with some gold in it, and a bag.
 On the 4^th of August, Kelly gave Roberts a cheque and asked him to buy some goods for him from town. Roberts left the goods outside the hut as Kelly was off working. When Kelly next saw Roberts, he asked him for the balance of the cheque, which Roberts said he had not received.
 On Sunday the 6^th of August, Kelly left a half kettle of tea on his stove as he went out to church. When he returned, he found someone had been in his hut and thought it must’ve been Roberts who had agreed to bring him the balance of the cheque.
 Kelly noticed his half-full kettle had been emptied and refilled with clean water. He drank a gill of water (1 gill= ½ cup) from the kettle and immediately his throat began to burn. Kelly, throat burning, and now in incredible pain, looked inside the kettle where he could see some white powder resting in the bottom. He left the hut and ran towards the homestead but collapsed in agony about halfway there.
 A passing bullock-driver noticed Kelly laying on the ground and went to assist him. A doctor was called, and Kelly was taken to the homestead. On the way there, Roberts appeared and offered Kelly an emetic. Kelly asked what he had put in the kettle, to which Roberts replied “nothing”.  Roberts offered Kelly a glass of water, poured from the same kettle that he drank poison from, Kelly flatly refused to drink it. Roberts insisted he had washed the kettle out, but Kelly said he would never drink from it again.
 

An inquest was held which revealed evidence of arsenic being found in a box under Robert's bed. The box was one stolen from Kelly months before that contained his gold and a small bag. A nine-year witness was called to give evidence, in which he stated he had watched Roberts pour a white powder into Kelly’s kettle and stir it with a knife.
 It took a jury just ten minutes to decide Roberts was guilty of poisoning with intent to murder. George Roberts was sentenced to death by hanging.

George Roberts took sacraments on the morning of his execution. Of his affairs after his death, or contacting his family, he made no decisions.  Roberts walked firmly to the gallows. There he spoke to the hangman and the Gaol Governor, confessing his crimes.
 The bolt was pulled at 8am, and he fell to his death alongside John Gunn who had also been found guilty of murder and convicted to hang.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

Other Sources:

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

'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.

'GEELONG SUMMARY FOR ENGLAND.', The Argus, (23 November 1854), p. 6.

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.

Old Geelong Gaol (HM Prison Geelong) (part 1)

Old Geelong Gaol (HM Prison Geelong)
Part 1

 Geelong Gaol was built in sections over a period from 1849 until 1864. It was built with locally sourced bluestone, volcanic rock and brick. Its design is based on English gaol, Pentonville Prison in north London. The building appears as a large cross from above (cruciform). 
  The east and west wings served as cell blocks for prisoners, with the north wing serving as an administration wing. The southern wing of Geelong Gaol served as a Kitchen on the lower floor, a tailoring workshop and a hospital as well as a toilet block. A shower block was later added on the east wing of the cell blocks.
 The gaol was built with convict labour, with convicts being housed on floating prison barges on Corio Bay.

An 1850 Argus newspaper article made note of the cost of staff for the gaol proposed for the year 1851:

·         A Gaoler (Governor) at 125 pounds per year.
·         A Surgeon at 40 pounds per year.
·         A visiting Justice at 40 pounds per year.
·         Two Chaplains at 20 pounds each per year.
·         A Matron at 25 pounds per year.
·         A Clerk at 84 pounds per year.
·         A Superintendent of treadmills at 3 shillings 6 pence per diem.
·         Four Turnkeys at 3 shillings and 6 pence per diem.
·         One female Turnkey at 2 shillings and 3 pence per diem. [1]

The first appointed ’Keeper’ of the Gaol was Sergeant Ashley, of the State’s Detective Force announced in January 1851.[2]

The gaol was used for various purposes over the years:

·         In 1853, the gaol received its first occupant.
·         1853 until 1865 the building was used as a gaol for convicts
·         1865 until 1872 the building was used as an industrial school for girls (street kids) housing 180 children aged 9 to 16 who were abandoned during the gold rush.
·         From 1877 – 1940 it was a hospital gaol
·         From 1940 until 1947 it was an Australian army detention centre.
·         From 1947 until 1958 it returned to being used as a gaol hospital
·         From 1958 until its closure in 1991 it was used as a training prison, retraining the state’s worst prisoners.
·         1998 - 2019, the Geelong Gaol has housed Rotary International, and Lazarus Community Centre (from 2016)
·         2018 the site was purchased by Montgomery International who are going to re-develop the site in a heritage-appropriate manner.

 

Geelong Gaol Cell Block - photo: Allen Tiller

The Geelong Gaol cells never contained heating, cooling or any plumbing. Prisoners were forced to use buckets for toilets, emptying them every morning.

 There were six executions at the Geelong Gaol, most of which happened outside the gaol at Gallows Flat. Gallows flat was approximately 200 meters down the road from the gaol where present-day St Mary's Hall sits (162-190 Myers Road) it sat between Myers Road and Little Ryrie Street.[3]

EXECUTIONS:

·         1854: George Roberts (16 December); murder. Gallows Flat
·         1854: John Gunn (9 November); murder. Gallows Flat
·         1856: James Ross (22 April); murder. Gallows Flat
·         1858: Owen McQueeny (20 October); murder. Gallows Flat
·         1863: James Murphy (6 November), murder. Permanent Gallows inside the gaol.
·         1865: Thomas Menard (28 October), murder. Permanent Gallows inside the gaol.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller ©2019

Other Sources:

The Old Geelong Gaol, Intown, (2018) https://www.intown.com.au/locals/geelong/attractions/geelong_gaol.htm

Former Geelong Gaol, Heritage Council Victoria, (21 February 1997), https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/539

Exciting vision for Geelong Gaol revealed, City of Greater Geelong, (27 July 2018), https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/news/item/8d5f3a6a93a67b2.aspx

[1] 'Domestic Intelligence.', The Argus, (18 July 1850), p. 2.
[2] 'LOCAL INTELLIGENCE', The Melbourne Daily News, (30 January 1851), p. 2.
[3] 'TOWN TALK.', Geelong Advertiser, (30 November 1898), p. 2.