Plaque

SYDNEY, Monday. — At the Pine Grove Memorial Park near Rooty Hill today, Bishop Hulme-Moir, chaplain of the NSW Police Force, dedicated a plaque in memory of Sergeant Maurice McDiarmid and Sergeant William Riley, who were shot when attempting to arrest an armed man at Toongabbie on September 30 last year.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/102204297

Payments to 3 police widows

SYDNEY, Wednesday. – The NSW Government agreed today to make, as “an act of grace”, lump-sum payments of $12,500 to each of three police officers’ widows.

“The Premier, Sir Robert Askin, said the payments would be in addition to the pensions and dependant’s allowances already paid out of the police superannuation and reward fund.

The three policemen involved in the payments are Senior Constable W. E. King, who was murdered at East Gresford police station on August 13 last year, and Sergeants W. Riley and M. McDiarmid, who were shot by a man at Toongabbie on September 30 last year.

Sir Robert said members of the police force had always been specifically excluded from the definition of “worker” under the Workers Compensation Act.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Allan, had brought to the notice of the Government that, in certain matters of workers’ compensation, police were in an anomalous position in relation to other Crown employees.

Sir Robert said a full examination would be made of overall benefits of workers’ compensation available to police.

Two policemen commended by coroner

SYDNEY, Friday. — A Sydney coroner has commended two policemen who chased and stopped “an armed and desperate man“.

The man, Mr Ronald Desmond Clarke, had earlier shot and killed two other policemen after having killed his own brother in Toongabbie on September 30.

The coroner, Mr J. Parnell, SM, found on Wednesday that Mr Clarke in turn died in a car of cerebral lacerations and gun shot wounds to the brain inflicted by a person defending himself.

Constable A. C. Gregory, giving evidence at the inquest into the deaths of the four men, said that he and Constable L. ( Les ) A. Crawford in a police truck had rammed Mr Clarke‘s car, causing him to lose control.

Constable Gregory had seen Mr Clarke transfer a gun from his left hand to his right. The gun had been pointing at the policeman’s face and the constable had fired “one shot towards his shoulder“.

“The impact of this bullet appeared to throw him towards the passenger side of his car, but he still had the revolver, which he now held in both hands, levelled at my face“, Constable Gregory said.

“He appeared to be endeavouring to discharge the gun and it was then that I fired two quick shots at him“.

The four men who were killed were Sergeant First Class William Watson Riley, 50, and Sergeant Maurice Raymond McDiarmid, 39, of Blacktown, and Ronald Desmond Clarke, 20, and Warren John Clarke, 22, both of Toongabbie.

( Both policemen were promoted posthumously. Sergeant Riley was raised from second-class to first class, and Sergeant McDiarmid from senior constable to sergeant third class. )

Mr Parnell found that Mr Warren John Clarke died from gunshot wounds inflicted by his brother, Mr Ronald Desmond Clarke.

He found also that Sergeant Riley died from a fractured skull and lacerations to the brain, and Sergeant McDiarmid died in an ambulance between Toongabbie and Blacktown Hospital.

Both died as a result of bullet wounds inflicted by Clarke.

He said Mr Ronald Clarke, a professional criminal, had shot his brother, Warren Clarke, after having raped his brother’s de facto wife.

Shooting in Sydney Brothers, two police die

SYDNEY, Thursday. – Two policemen and two other men were shot dead in the outer western Sydney suburb of Toongabbie today.

The policemen were shot while investigating a report of rape and murder.

Earlier, Mr Warren Clark about 22, died in his bed. Police said his elder brother, Ronald. 23, had shot him through the head with a .22 calibre repeater rifle.

A young woman, living in the house in Mimosa Ave, Toongabbie. with Mr Warren Clark, told police that Mr Ronald Clark had awakened her and then shot his brother.

The woman alleged that Mr Ronald Clark then raped her and forced her to accompany him in his car.

After driving her around for several hours, he had released her at Black town.

The woman went to Blacktown police station.

She was in a hysterical condition.

Sergeant Second-Class William Riley, 50. and Senior-Constable Morrie McDiarmid, 39. left the station immediately to go to the house.

While they were on their way the police radio directed other police to the house.

The next-door neighbour, in Mimosa Ave, Toongabbie. Mrs Ethel Roberts, 54. said she first knew something was wrong when a police officer ran down a driveway at the side of her house.

He began kicking on the door of the house next door.

“He eventually forced the door and went inside”, she said.

“All was quiet for perhaps two minutes, then three shots rang out.

“I ran to the front porch as a young blond man ran from the house with a rifle in his hand, entered a car and screeched off down the road”‘. Mrs Roberts said.

“After he drove off, I saw a policeman’s blood stained hand grasping the back steps of the house”.

Stem flow of blood

“I ran to the road where a woman was delivering bread and told her to call an ambulance”.

Another neighbour, Mrs Dawn Harris, was called by Mrs Roberts, who was trying to stem the flow of blood from Constable McDiarmid.

“When I reached the house a policeman was propped against the back steps”, Mrs Harris said.

“His mouth and part of his face were torn and shredded from the shotgun blast.

“Another policeman was lying dead on the ground.

“In a bedroom in the house another man covered with a sheet was also dead and blood could be seen everywhere”.

Police said later they believe Sergeant Riley died immediately when he was shot at point-blank range with a shotgun.

Constable McDiarmid was taken by ambulance to Blacktown Hospital. He died shortly after arrival.

Meanwhile an all-points bulletin was broadcast over the VKG police network for all cars to be on the lookout for a bright blue 1950 sedan.

The broadcast warned, ‘This man is dangerous. He has a .22 rifle, a shotgun and two police pistols”.

“We have sighted him”, one car replied. “He is going toward Hillview”.

“We have stopped the car”, was the officer’s next report.

Constable Alfred Gregory and Constable Les Crawford said later they had rammed the suspect’s car with their police van.

The sedan got out of control and crashed into a bowser at a service station.

Constable Gregory jumped out of the van. As he approached the car he saw Mr Clark take one of the police pistols from the seat and transfer it to his right hand.

Three shots from pistol

Constable Gregory fired three shots from his pistol.

One of his shots struck Mr Clark in the side of the head, killing him.

In the car, police found several Commonwealth Bank cash bags, a blood stained nightgown and two suitcases containing mostly women’s clothing.

Two police revolvers, a .22 repeater rifle and a sawn-off shotgun were also recovered.

Tonight forensic and ballistic experts were still examining them.

The policemen killed are each survived by a widow and two children.

Sergeant Riley joined the force in 1945 and Constable McDiarmid in 1956.

A CIB spokesman said this afternoon the families were eligible for a special allowance paid to police killed while on duty.

He said that the lack of witnesses, particularly when the two policemen were shot, was hampering investigations.

DEATH OF CONSTABLE COADY.

The accident reported in our ( Braidwood Dispatch ) last issue as having happened to constable Coady on Thursday last, terminated fatally on Saturday morning. The poor young man expired at about 3 o’clock that morning, he having been in a sinking state from the time he was brought home. As we said before, he has only been about three months stationed in Braidwood, having previously been stationed at Cooma for two years. He has no relations in the colony but one brother, who is also in the police force and stationed in the Clarence district ( Grafton ). Deceased during his short sojourn in Braidwood was much respected by the other members of the police force and other persons with whom he had become acquainted. His remains were buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery on Sunday afternoon, the funeral being attended by the members of the force and a considerable number of the townspeople. His body was interred close to the graves of the special constables who were murdered at Jinden.

An inquest was held upon the body at the Police Station on Saturday afternoon, before the Coroner and a jury of twelve, when the following evidence was taken :-

Francis Duffy deposed :- I am senior- sergeant of police Stationed at Braidwood. I knew the deceased, James Coady. He was a foot constable, stationed here since the 11th April last. On the 8th instant I directed him, with senior constable Walsh, to proceed the following morning in the execution of warrants. I told him he could either ride my horse or that of constable Bragg, as we would both be engaged at the Police Court next day. Constable Bragg, who was present, said, ” Yes, Coady, you can take my horse if you wish. ” Coady replied, ” I will take the sergeant’s. ”

On the morning of the 9th senior constable Walsh and deceased left here about 9 o’clock. Both were mounted. The deceased was riding my horse. A little after 5 p.m. senior constable Walsh returned to the station and informed me that constable Coady‘s horse ran away with him, fell, and rolled over him, and that he was lying by the side of the road between here and Jembaicumbene. I at once proceeded on foot, and found deceased lying a little way off the road, about four miles from here on the road to Bellevue. Deceased was lying on his back. He was moaning very much. There appeared to be some vomited matter about his head and face, and he smelt very strongly of spirits. At first I thought he was lying in a very drunken fit. On raising him to a sitting posture, he moaned and said, ” Oh, my back ” I spoke to him. He knew me and mentioned my name. His face was cut and bleeding, and I then knew that he was seriously hurt.

Before leaving Braidwood I had given directions for the police dray to follow me. It arrived while I was there, and we had deceased conveyed to the Police Station without delay, where Dr. Gentle attended him the same evening, I believe about 4 o’clock.

James O’Brien deposed :- I am a storekeeper, residing at Bellevue. I saw deceased, James Coady, on Thursday last, about 3 p.m. I saw him first at my store, and we went across the road to Mrs. McManus’ public-house, which is directly opposite. Mrs. McManus is a connection of mine, and I act for her when she is away. On this occasion I went behind the bar and shouted for deceased. He had a nobbler of whiskey. He stopped some little time talking, and then went away. He appeared to me to be sober when he came and seemed sober when he went away. Senior constable Walsh was with him. He could have had some grog before he came over to my store. He came there to get change of a cheque, I think it was a £10 cheque. He wanted me to change it, and take out of it the price of some refreshments he and constable Walsh had had previous to coming over to me. He had nothing after he had the whiskey. The day was a very cold one. The deceased was dressed in the ordinary police uniform, and had no over coat. He left at a canter.

Constable Walsh was about one hundred and fifty yards before deceased, whose horse was very restive while he was mounting. He did not seem a first class rider, and Walsh‘s horse having gone on made his hone restive. He had a revolver in his belt when he went away. It was about ten minutes after I treated the constables that they started.

By the Jury:- They both tried to mount at the same time, but Walsh mounted and rode off quicker than the other. I did not see the constables arrive.

William Walsh deposed :- I am a senior constable of police stationed at Braidwood. I went out to execute some warrants on Thursday, 9th instant. We went to the Chinese Camp, at Jombaicumbene, and arrived there about 10 a.m. We remained at the Camp about five minutes, and then proceeded to a locality known as Moreing’s Flat, where the Chinamen we were in search of were supposed to be. When we got there they had left. We searched the claims and the hut, as I was informed they had been there a short time previous. We then went back to Bell’s Paddock, to a Chinamen’s camp there. I waited there while a Chinaman went to look for those we were in search of. He could not find them. I then wrote a note to Senior constable Stapylton, informing him that there were warrants out for these men, and that they were supposed to be at Major’s Creek. After that, hearing that the men were back in the house we first searched; we went back, but could not find them, as they were not there. We then went towards Braidwood.

We stopped at Mrs. McManus’s public-house at Bellevue, as constable Coady wished to see Mr. O’Brien. Mrs. O’Brien asked us if we would have some dinner. We had some bread and cheese and a glass of ale each. We then went across the street to the store. Constable Coady had some conversation there. I was then going away when Mr. O’Brien asked us to have a drink before we went, as it was very cold. We each had a glass of whiskey, and started for Braidwood.

About a mile and a half this side of Mr. O’Brien’s, constable Coady’s horse went into a gallop. I pulled up, and he pulled in in three or four hundred yards. About three miles and a half this side of Mr. O’Brien’s we went to have a trot. I was trotting, and he was cantering. He kept on the old road, and I went down a new track. The roads are about forty or fifty yards apart. I looked across and saw the horse rising up and Constable Coady on the ground in the middle of the road. I followed and caught the horse and brought him back. I asked the deceased if be was hurt. He did not speak. I bathed his head with water which was close by. I again asked him if he was hurt. He said ‘Yes.’ I asked him where; he said his back. I lifted him on his feet and found he could not stand. He did not try to stand. I laid him down, and kept bathing him. With the assistance of some teamsters who came up I put him on the horse, but he said he could not ride, that his back was broken. I took him down, and carried him about thirty yards off the road to a small ridge. I rode into Braidwood as quickly as possible for assistance, and he was brought in in the police dray.

Cross-examined by the jury :- We had had a glass of grog about five hours before we went to O’Brien‘s. It was at Miller‘s, close to the Chinese Camp to which we first went. There was no appearance on the deceased as if he was at all affected by grog before we began to trot. He was a very poor rider. The horse did hot appear as if it had bolted with him at the time he was thrown. It had bolted with him the previous time. He had trotted with me in the morning when we first went out. All we drank at McManus‘s was a glass of ale and a glass of whiskey each. The road was very rough where the horse appeared to have fallen on deceased. I came to the conclusion that the horse must have rolled over deceased when I saw the saddle marked with the earth. The bar of the bit was bent on the near side, as if the horse had fallen with his head on the ground. There was earth on the bit. The bit produced is the one I speak of. It is bent on the off side. There was some red earth on the horse’s head, on both sides, when I caught him, as if he had rolled over. There were some men breaking stones about a mile or a mile and a half from where the accident occurred. I saw no men nearer. I was not riding with deceased when we passed the men breaking stones. As we passed the men the horse bolted a second time. Deceased appeared to be trying to pull him in. I pulled up, and called to deceased to do the same. The horse galloped pretty smartly when he bolted, but was not at full gallop. He rode with a double-bridle, but I think he used the check rein. When the horse bolted in the morning I was in front. This was before we called at Miller‘s. He did not fall off any of these times, although the horse was galloping quick. I do not think he was rider enough to manage that horse. He waited for me when he pulled up after passing the stone breakers. We went a mile before we again commenced to canter. I was abreast of deceased when his horse fell. I only saw deceased have one glass at Miller‘s; he could have had another glass without me seeing him. I only saw deceased take one glass of ale and one glass of whiskey at McManus‘s. I now recollect that Mrs. O’Brien served him with a glass of brandy or something else before the ale. I saw not the slightest effect of grog upon him after we left McManus‘s. Deceased said that his horse was so lively that he almost jumped from under him. I consider the horse a quiet one. When I went with deceased I told him to bring his revolver and handcuffs with him. When I searched about deceased I found the handcuffs and ammunition pouch, but not the revolver. Deceased told me yesterday morning that he must have dropped the revolver where he fell. I found two belts on deceased when I searched him, but no revolver.

Dr. Gentle deposed that be believed the cause of death was the fracture of the spine. He had no hope of the recovery of the deceased from the time he first saw him. A fall from a horse would cause such a fracture, which might make man vomit.

The jury returned a verdict that deceased was accidentally killed by a fall from his horse while in the execution of his duty.

MANNING RIVER.

( From the Manning River News, June 26. )

ACCIDENT AT TAREE:- A rumour has been current for some days past that *Senior Constable John Coady was thrown suddenly to the ground a few nights since by coming in contact with a clothes-line stretched across the Court-yard. He was much bruised by the fall, but is again in the discharge of his ordinary duties.

Telegraphic Intelligence.

Thursday evening.

A DEPLORABLE PICTURE OF A FAMILY IN THE BUSH.

The fearful results of drunkenness are shown in the following paragraph, taken from the ‘Monaro Mercury ‘ of Friday last : — ‘We never witnessed in Cooma so painful a spectacle or so deplorable an instance of the effects of drunkenness as that brought before the Police Magistrate on Tuesday last. A woman, named Rudd, aged about 30 years, and apparently a strong able person, appeared before the Bench, as an idle and disorderly character.

From the evidence given in support of the charge it would seem that the woman was arrested by sergeant Lenthall, assisted by Constable Coady, in the Market square, on Monday, she then being in a state of intoxication, her daughter, Catharine, sitting near to her.

Both mother and daughter were conveyed to the lock-up, and the police, being aware there were other members of the family, proceeded to where the woman had been in the habit of camping, a short distance from Cooma; Here the officers found a miserably constructed shelter composed of rags and boughs, seated outside of which was the oldest girl, Eliza Rudd, comfortably enjoying a pipe of tobacco, a child about three yearn of age, in a shocking state of filth, lying on the ground close by; within the hut, if it could be so called, they discovered the boy, James Rudd, and to judge from his appearance, soap and water or any cleansing process was an litter stranger to him, and had been so far a considerable time past. The children, together with what few articles of clothing that could be seen, were taken to the lookup.

The case of the children formed the first committal in Cooma under the Industrial Schools Act.

POLICE EXAM.

Mr. Bert Cartwright, son of Mr. O W. Cartwright, J.P., has been successful in passing an examination for entry into the mounted police force. Mr Cartwright was successfully coached by Mr. D. Perks at his evening school. We congratulate both teacher and pupil.

A Revolver Shot

Mr. Bert. Cartwright, son of Mr. O. W Cartwright, met with an accident at his home on Sunday which might easily have been attended with more serious consequences. He.appears to have been extracting some bullets from a revolver, when he got his finger on the trigger and the weapon went off. Portion of his left hand was over the muzzle and the bullet went right through it. The fleshy part of the palm was punctured, just outside the bone connecting the little finger, but fortunately the bone was missed and the flesh only was wounded.

CONSTABLE ALPIN’S DEATH

KYOGLE, Wednesday.

At the inquiry into the death of Constable Laurence Alpin, held at the Court House to-day, the coroner

( Mr. William Amess) found that the constable died at Upper Grady’s Creek, near Kyogle, on 17th February from the effects of injuries accidentally

received on that day through falling into Grady’s Creek while it was in a state of flood and being struck by

obstacles in the creek.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/93663061

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Grady’s Creek Fatality.

DEATH OF CONSTABLE ALPIN.

The circumstances surrounding the death of Constable L. Alpin on Friday at Upper Grady’s Creek, were related by his confrere, Constable Peterkin, on arrival at Kyogle on Saturday afternoon. The lamentable tragedy cast a gloom over the railway settlement, where, although he had a difficult task as officer-in-charge, deceased exercised the duties of his position with tact and skill.

With Constable Peterkin and Mr. J. Doak and others, deceased was essaying to free the traffic log placed across the stream, of timber washed down by the flood. This log was used as a footbridge, and to make it safer for foot traffic a wire had been erected to serve as a handrail. Deceased and Constable Peterkin and Mr. Doak were standing on the log, and in freeing a heavy piece of timber the later swung round and hit the wire, pulling the posts to which it was secured out of the ground. Constable Alpine was plunged into the rapidly flowing stream; his companions more fortunately escaped. Deceased was a very powerful swimmer, and little anxiety was at first felt for his safety. He was seen to grasp a floating log upon which he floated until, apparently thinking he could make the shore, he released his support and struck out. The current, however, was too strong, and he was swept among a number of tea. trees.

At this time Constable Peterkin, who had run across from the first crossing to the next, saw deceased struggling feebly as if he had been injured. The current was running so swiftly that although Constable Peterkin had only a hundred yards to run, from one crossing to another, deceased had disappeared by the time he reached the point.

The alarm was at once given, a crowd of helpers quickly explored the banks of the creek for deceased. Meantime camps farther down the creek had been advised of the happening by telephone and were asked to watch at the crossings.

Ultimately the body was found about three quarters of a mile down stream, pinned under a huge log. Only a hand was visible at the time, and this kept disappearing under the water.

It took fourteen men to remove the log before the body could be extricated.

Constable Peterkin and others then formed the opinion that deceased had not been drowned, and that he had received fatal injuries while being swept down the stream.

When the body was medically examined later at Kyogle the skull was found to be fractured. However, Mr. Harris ( ambulance officer stationed at Richmond Gap ) and other men with first aid certificates worked for two hours trying to restore animation, but without success.

The course of the stream in its higher reaches, is studded with rocks and huge boulders, while the flood also traversed thickly timbered country. Doubtless deceased collided with a stone or log and sustained the injury which was the immediate cause of death. On Saturday, a party was organised to bring the body to Kyogle. Stupendous difficulties faced the undertaking owing to the flooded creek.

The road, which crosses the stream 26 times in 13 miles, was impossible even if the creek was fordable. It was decided to carry deceased to Risk and from thence a vehicle could travel to Kyogle. The party set out at 11 o’clock on Saturday for its strenuous walk across the hills. At times hands had to be linked to climb precipitous slopes, while the men occasionally were waist deep in water. They eventually arrived at Risk at 4 p.m. utterly exhausted. The river was 4 feet over the bridge at Risk, and here again a human chain had to be formed to get the body across. With the stream running very swiftly it was a hazardous undertaking, but was accomplished without mishap. Mr. Moss ( driving one of Messrs. Green Bro’s. lorries ) transported the party to Wyangarie, where the river was crossed with the aid of the railway flying fox, and so on to Kyogle by car. Too much praise cannot be given those who participated in a dangerous and extremely arduous undertaking. Food for the party was provided at Hackett’s and King’s boarding houses between the Gap and Risk; Miss Hennessy, in charge of the telephone, did yeoman service, and was assisted by Mrs. Grieve, at the Risk end, in warning people along the route and asking for assistance when the grim task of transporting the body was commenced. The carrying party consisted of Messrs. Tom McManus, Stan Gibson, Mat Leo, Col. Keightley, M. Carlton, Bill Harding, Carl Farrawell, Arthur Fraser, Ted Turner, Alex Morad, W. McAlpine, J. O’Connor, snr., and jnr., Sam Zammett, Jack Heath, Jack Wilson, Dan Higgins, J. Borg, A. Howard, H. Thompson, — . Evans, Robert Hayden, Jim Morris, Alan Hobday, Ernest Green, J. Johns J. Burke, Barney Rolfe, Graham Bros., Gordon Graham, A. Archer, D. McLean, Jim Doak, Bob Hobday, R. Maslen, J. Grieve, with Constable Peterkin in charge.

The Coroner commenced an inquiry at the Court House yesterday morning, when the evidence of Constable Peterkin and Mr. C. Keightley, school teacher, Upper Grady’s Creek, who was an eye-witness of the occurrence was taken. Their statements were on the lines given above.

The late Constable Alpine was 27 years of age, and was a native of Griffith, where his people reside. He was an efficient and popular officer, and his untimely death is universally regretted.

The funeral will be held to-morrow at 11 a.m.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/234667559

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