Charles CHAPMAN

AKA ?

Late of Booligal, NSW

New South Wales Police Force

Regd. # ‘ P ‘ 467

For the purposes of this website ‘P’ = represents those Police joining Pre 1862 when NSWPF “Officially” commenced

Rank:  Constable – appointed 6 September 1861

Senior Constable – appointed 1862 ( Newly formed NSWPF )

Final Rank = Senior Constable

Stations: ?, Booligal Police Station – Death

Service: From 6 September 1861 to 22 February 1866 = 5 years Service

Awards: No find on It’s An Honour

Born: ? ? 1835 – 1836?

Died on: pre 22 February 1866

Age: 30

Cause: Exposure

Event location: Booligal ( Deniliquin ), NSW

Event date: between  Thursday 1 March – Saturday 10 March 1866 ( according to newspaper reports dated below )

Deceased body located on: 22 February 1866 ( according to NSW Police Gazette – Issue 10, page 86, Wed 7 Mar 1866 )

Funeral date: ? ? ?

Funeral location: ?

Wake location: ?

Funeral Parlour: ?

Buried at: Booligal Cemetery, 689 Lachlan Valley Hwy, Booligal

Unmarked grave

Memorial located at: new Deniliquin Police Station Wall of Remembrance – 2018

 

 

[alert_red] CHARLES is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_red] * BUT SHOULD BE

[alert_pink] CHARLES IS mentioned on the new Deniliquin Police Station Memorial Wall – 2018[/alert_pink]

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FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.

PLEASE SEND PHOTOS AND INFORMATION TO Cal

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May they forever Rest In Peace

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Constable Chapman was the officer in charge of Booligal Police Station, in the Deniliquin District.

In mid-February, 1866 he set out on horseback to visit several properties in his area to serve summonses and carry out other duties. A few days later a report was received that his riderless horse had been seen near Tooragama, about twenty miles from Booligal, so Constable Barry went in search of him.

Barry found the horse, without either saddle or bridle, and then he proceeded to call at every place where it had been Chapman’s intention to have called.

The unfortunate constable was never seen alive again.

 

On 6 March, 1866 the Maitland Mercury reported that “Our correspondent at Hay reports that Constable Chapman is missing. It appears that, being stationed at Booligal, he left that place on Thursday fortnight to serve a summons at a station about forty miles distant. His horse, without saddle or bridle, was subsequently found, as were his waistcoat hanging on the branch of a tree, probably put there by the unfortunate man as a guide to those who might be, and are now, searching for him. Our correspondent hints at foul play but the central office here has no suspicion of such, believing that, having lost his way, he has perhaps perished from thirst. Let us hope not.”

Then, a fortnight later the Sydney Morning Herald of 21 March, 1866 reported that “The remains of the unfortunate Constable Chapman, lost in the bush near Deniliquin, were found a few days since and buried at Booligal Cemetery.”

The New South Wales Police Gazette of 7 March, 1866 recorded that “Chapman Charles, Senior Constable (No. 467), lost in the bush; body found on February 22nd.”

The constable joined the police force on 6 September, 1861 and in 1862 he became a senior constable in the newly-formed New South Wales Police Force. At the time of his death he was aged 30 years and was stationed at Booligal. He was not long married when he passed away and his wife was expecting their first child. He is not listed in the official New South Wales Police Honour Roll.

 

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New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime (Sydney : 1860 – 1930), Wednesday 7 March 1866 (No.10), page 86

 

DEATH.

Chapman Charles, Senior Constable ( No. 467 ), lost in the bush; body found on February 22nd ( Thursday ).

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/252042237

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Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 – 1933), Wednesday 28 March 1866, page 3

 

HORRIBLE DEATH IN THE BUSH. –

The Deniliquin Chronicle states that the remains of constable Chapman, who was lost in the bush lately, have been found by a man named Patrick Hardy and another, within three-quarters of a mile of where some men were making a dam. He was buried in the Booligal cemetery, and followed by a good many people to the grave.

His horse was found naked.

The body was as black as ink, and in an advanced state of putrefaction.

In his struggles he had torn his shirt, and forced his pants up to his knees, and by his tracks it was seen that he had been rolling round and round the tree under which he was found to avoid the sun.

He must have had a horrible death.

He is said to have been lying on his side, with a coat under his head for a pillow.

The spot was a dry creek, about twenty-five miles from Booligal, and seven from the Lachlan River.

It is understood that there were no mark of violence on deceased’s person, but that he had evidently perished from exhaustion, and had, after rambling about for some time in a circuitous direction, being overcome with fatigue and thirst, lain himself down to die, having, it is supposed, hung his waistcoat on a tree or bush near as a guide to his last resting-place.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1264852

 

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Freeman’s Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 – 1932), Saturday 10 March 1866, page 151

 

 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/115451038

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Wagga Wagga Express and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1858 – 1859; 1866; 1872 – 1874), Saturday 10 March 1866, page 2

 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/105997671

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Constable Charles CHAPMAN does NOT appear on the on-line version of NSW State Archives – Register of Police.

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Constable James QUINN

Hit by Lightning

Cockatoo Island

12 January, 1862

 

The constable was killed when he was struck by lightning while on duty at Cockatoo Island on the night of 11 January, 1862. The Sydney Morning Herald of 14 January, 1862 reported at some length on inquest into Constable Quinn’s death. It is reproduced here, almost in its entirety, due to the subtle poise and clarity of the writer in describing the sad events which led to the death of the young constable.

 

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT BY LIGHTNING – An inquest was held in the coroner’s office, yesterday, on the body of Constable James Quinn, who, as stated in our issue of yesterday, died from the effects of being struck by lightning on Cockatoo Island on last Saturday night. It appeared that the deceased had only joined the City Police Force on the 2nd of December last, and went over to do duty on Cockatoo Island on the 7th of the present month. At eight o’clock on Saturday night, he, in company with Constable Campbell, went on duty in the prison yard. At about nine o’clock a heavy thunderstorm broke over the island, and in a few minutes there came a flash of lightning more vivid than those that had preceded it, and Inspector Lane, who was sitting in his quarters, heard a heavy crash, and thought the prison had been knocked down. He ran out and saw one constable at his post in the verandah, he then ran to the back and saw another at his post, everything appearing to be alright, but after standing a minute he (the inspector) was conscious of a strong smell of sulphur. As, however, nothing appeared to be touched, he returned indoors, when, in a few minutes, his attention was called to the cry of fire he again ran out and found the prisoners were calling out “fire, fire!” He shook the gate, and the guard having opened it, he inquired where the fire was, but could not ascertain, he called for Constable Campbell, who, after two or three calls, replied in a faint voice, “I am here, sir,” and by the lightning, which was very vivid, he saw him lying on the floor of the building known as the chapel, his head covered with blood. The inspector was under the impression on seeing the blood that some of the prisoners had escaped, and had attacked him. He accordingly at once ordered a double sentry to surround the prison, and enquired of Campbell what was the matter, to which he replied he did not know, but had been knocked down, enquiry was then made as to where his mate was, and Campbell replied “Poor fellow, I saw him over there,” pointing to a shed covered with galvanised iron in the yard.

 

Thither the inspector went, and inside saw Quinn leaning with his back against the wall, he went up to him, touched his head and found it cold, he then called for the dispenser (there being no qualified medical practitioner resident on the island), who came, and after the injured man had been removed, administered medicine, which revived him. Inspector Lane forthwith sent the police guard boat to Sydney, with messages requesting the immediate attendance of Dr West, and Dr. Rutter, the latter of whom at once responded to the call. On arrival at the island he found Quinn strongly convulsed, requiring several men to hold him. He ordered what he deemed requisite and then left, returning again the next morning, when the injured man was found to be much better. There being no hospital (beside the hospital for prisoners) on the island, Dr. Rutter recommended his removal to the Sydney Infirmary, and thither he was conveyed, arriving there at about one o’clock. Dr Roberts saw him soon after his admission, and treated him as he considered his case required. The sufferer never rallied, but expired about four o’clock on the same afternoon.

 

It came out in evidence that the rifle carried by the deceased at the time he was struck was untouched by the electric fluid, as also the ammunition on his person, but a gold chain attached to his watch was burnt through in several places. It appeared that the lightning struck the highest port of the building in which the deceased was found, descended through the coping to a lamp, close to the spot where he was discovered. There were no lightning-conductors on the island. The deceased had formerly been in the Irish Constabulary Force, he was a native of Ireland, a steady well conducted man, and about twenty eight years of age. He has left a widow and two children. The jury returned a verdict of “Died from being struck by the electric fluid on Cockatoo Island on the evening of the 11th instant.” The body of the deceased was interred in the Roman Catholic burial ground, in Devonshire Street, yesterday afternoon, all the available police, dressed in uniform, with white gloves and white cap-covers, following him to the tomb.

 

The constable joined the Sydney Police Force on 2 December, 1861 and at the time of his death he was stationed on Cockatoo Island. He was 28 years of age, and was a former member of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

 

Amazingly, the only two recorded NSW police deaths by lightning strike occurred on the same date, sixty years – to the day, apart.  The other being Constable John Charles DONOVAN who was struck at Brewarrina, NSW, on the 12 January 1922.