LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919

Municipality of Woollahra: Appointment of Deputy Member of Parking Advisory Committee

HIS Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council and in pursuance of section 270D of the Local Government Act, 1919, has been pleased to approve the appointment of Sergeant 3rd Class James William Byers, Police Department, vice Sergeant 2nd Class Claude Richardson, as deputy member of the Parking Advisory Committee for the Municipality of Woollahra, for a period expiring on 19th February, 1975. (P.A.C. 120, pt 2)

C. B. CUTLER,

Deputy Premier and Minister for Local Government. Department of Local Government,

Sydney, 4th May, 1973. (3213)

04 May 1973 – LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919 – Trove

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919

Municipality of Waverley: Appointment of Members and Deputy Members of Parking Advisory Committee

HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council and in pursuance of section 270d of the Local Government Act, 1919, has been pleased to approve of the appointment, as from 3rd April, 1967, of the following gentlemen as members and deputy members of the Parking Advisory Committee in respect of the Municipality of Waverley:

Members

Frank Edmund Pogson, Esquire, Administrative Assistant, Department of Local Government (Chairman);

Sergeant 1st Class Aubrey Augustine Goodyer, Police Department;

Harold Alban Peach, Esquire, Department of Motor Transport;

Patrick Thomas Seery, Esquire, Department of Government Transport; and

Alderman Ernest Thomas Page, Waverley Municipal Council.

Deputy Members

Sergeant 3rd Class Claude Richardson, Police Department; Frederick Sydney Bezer, Esquire, Department of Government Transport; and Alderman Joseph Einfeld, Waverley Municipal Council. (G. 67-687)

P. H. MORTON, Minister for Local Government. Department of Local Government,

Sydney, 31st March, 1967. (5289)

Coroner Told Nine Trams Passed Man

The City Coroner, Mr. F. L. McNamara, was told yesterday that a man had lain for 30 to 45 minutes with a broken hipbone at the corner of Oxford and Moncur Streets, Waverley, while nine or 10 trams passed him.

Mr. McNamara found that the man, Arthur Reginald Townsend, of Nelson Street, Woollahra, had died accidentally at St. Vincent’s Hospital on February 26 from shock following an operation for a fractured femur, accidentally received when he fell from a moving tram on February 24.

He said: “I find it almost impossible to believe that no person saw the unfortunate deceased lying on the ground during the half to three quarters of an hour he must have been there.”

Constable Claude Richardson, of Paddington Police Station, said Townsend had told him he was getting off at Moncur Street and had one foot on the ground when the tram started off and he fell over.

Townsend had added: “The tram didn’t stop and I lay there while about nine or 10 trams went past before anybody came to my assistance.”

Boy Badly Hurt In Fall From Lorry

Bruce Carter, 6 years, of Suffolk Street, Paddington, was seriously injured yesterday when he fell off the back of a lorry in Glenmore Road, Paddington.

Central District Ambulance took him to St. Vincent’s Hospital, where he was admitted with head injuries.

Constable C. Richardson, of Paddington police is in charge of inquiries.

Policeman remanded on charge

SYDNEY: A NSW police superintendent appeared in a Sydney court yesterday charged with conspiracy to act corruptly.

Superintendent Ronald Arthur Ralph, 55, of the anti-theft squad, appeared in Newtown Local Court and was remanded on unconditional bail to appear in Castlereagh Street Local Court on June 12.

The police internal security unit charged him with conspiring with others between November 1, 1982, and April 30, 1984, to have money corruptly given to him in his official capacity and that he accepted the money as an inducement to act corruptly.

The assistant commissioner for internal affairs, Mr Bob Shepherd, said in a statement that the unit had been granted a warrant in Castlereagh Street Court yesterday morning for the arrest of Superintendent Ralph and another person.

The warrants had been sought after advice from the Crown Prosecutor, Mr Barry Newport.

Police were yesterday looking for the other person.

Courts • ■

Jail for former policeman

SYDNEY: A former police inspector was jailed for 14 years yesterday after receiving $80,000 for protecting two heroin dealers.

Mr Ronald Arthur Ralph, 58, was sentenced to 14 years for conspiracy along with one of the drug dealers he protected, Mr Morres George, 49.

In passing sentence, Judge Wall said ‘ he had never seen a worse case of conspiracy.

He said it was more serious than the corruption cases involving the former NSW Chief Magistrate, Mr Murray Farquhar, and former NSW Minister for Corrective Services, Mr Rex Jackson, who were both sentenced to jail terms. ( Mr Farquhar was released in January, 1986, after serving 10 months of a four-year sentence. Mr Jackson is still in jail after being sentenced in September, 1987, to seven years’ jail. )

A District Court jury found Mr Ralph and Mr George guilty on December 20.

Judge Wall said Mr George had operated a heroin racket with another man and had conspired with Mr Ralph to receive police protection.

Mr Ralph received a 5½ year non parole period, while Mr George‘s non parole period was increased to 9½ years due to a sentence he is serving for his role in the Jackson early-release conspiracy.

Mr Ralph was a detective inspector with the Internal Affairs Branch when he agreed to protect the racket, and later was promoted to detective chief inspector-in-charge of the Organised Crime Bureau at CIB headquarters.

Mr Ralph collapsed into his chair, silently weeping, when the judge read out the sentence, while his wife stifled her gasps and sobs.

During sentencing, Judge Wall said the crimes had been committed for no other reason than “plain greed” and the desire for “filthy lucre”.

The essence of the conspiracy was that a police officer had acted corruptly to operate a protection racket for two major heroin dealers.

“It is difficult to imagine conspiracies more repellent or nauseous than these,” Judge Wall said.

The judge said special provision would be made for Mr Ralph during his jail term because of his former position as a policeman.

He said the crimes had been committed between November 10, 1982, and April 14,1984.

A third member of the conspiracy, known as “John Smith“, had given evidence for the Crown after being granted immunity.

The conspiracy began in November, 1982, when Mr George and Mr Smith established a heroin partnership and soon met Mr Ralph to arrange police protection.

Mr Ralph then began to receive payments of up to $ 1000 weekly from each man, sometimes $5000, to protect the two from prosecution.

The scheme ended with the arrest of Mr Smith by the Australian Federal Police and the evidence he later gave against his former colleagues.

Mr Smith said Mr Ralph had received at least $80,000 in payments.

Former chief inspector of police refused bail

SYDNEY: Former chief inspector of police, Mr Ronald Arthur Ralph, was refused bail yesterday pending an appeal against his conviction on three charges of conspiring to bribe a public officer.

Mr Ralph, 58, was sentenced on December 29 to 14 years’ jail with a non-parole period of 5½ years after being found guilty of charges related to receiving $80,000 for protecting two heroin dealers.

When charged, Mr Ralph was a detective chief inspector in charge of the organised crime bureau at CIB headquarters.

Mr Ralph‘s counsel, Mr Michael Adams, told Justice Yeldham in the Sydney Supreme Court yesterday that his client would appeal on 23 grounds.

These included the form of the indictment, the conduct of the trial by Judge Wall in the District Court and the judge’s directions to the jury.

Mr Adams said the main witness against Mr Ralph had been a police informer whose evidence was corroborated by a police superintendent.

The superintendent had been put forward by the Crown as “a man of unquestionable probity” but had since been charged with an offence.

Mr Adams said Mr Ralph‘s appeal could not be heard until at least June. Until then he was being kept in strict security which was a hardship for him and his family.

Justice Yeldham said the special or exceptional circumstances necessary for the granting of bail had not been shown. He rejected the bail application.

As he was being led from the court Mr Ralph told the judge, “I would just like to say I am an innocent man being persecuted”.

Policeman out after appeal

SYDNEY: A former chief inspector of police in charge of the Organised Crime Bureau, jailed for 14 years after allegedly receiving $80,000 for protecting drug dealers, was acquitted yesterday by the Court of Criminal Appeal in Sydney.

Mr Ronald Arthur Ralph, 58, had appealed against his conviction and sentence on three charges of conspiring to have him act corruptly in the discharge of his duties.

Judge Wall, in the District Court, had fixed a non-parole period of 5½ years.

A verdict of acquittal was also entered yesterday against one of Mr Ralph‘s alleged co-conspirators, Mr Morres George, 49, who had also been sentenced to 14 years’ jail. Mr George‘s non-parole period was fixed at 9½ years because he was already serving a sentence for his part in the Rex Jackson early release conspiracy.

The Crown had alleged that between November, 1982, and April, 1984, Mr Ralph had been paid amounts of between $1000 and $5000 a week to protect Mr George and a man known as John Smith from prosecution on drug charges.

The three judges unanimously ruled that the convictions of Mr Ralph and Mr George were unsafe and unsatisfactory.

Young woman slain by gem thief

SYDNEY, Monday. — A young woman killed by a thief during a $50,000 gem robbery was an innocent victim, police said today.

“She lay down on the floor and he just went bang”. Detective Sergeant R. Ralph said. “It was a cold-blooded callous thing to do”.

Miss Narelle Grogan, 23, was killed. The murder occurred at the Burraneer home of Sydney opal dealer Mr Jack Anderson last night.

Mr Anderson runs shops at Sydney’s international airport, the Opera House and several interstate airports.

“This will show you I mean business”, the killer said as he fired a bullet into Miss Grogan’s back.

The gunman rejected opals valued at S250 each.

Police believe the killer, a man aged between 35 and 38, knew exactly what he wanted and was prepared to do anything to get more valuable opals in a safe.

He took Australian opals, in diamond settings, valued about $50,000. They could be intended for the overseas market.

Mr Anderson’s address in Lugarno avenue, Burraneer, is common knowledge among opal dealers.

The killer, with a stocking over his head, grabbed Mr Anderson when he went to put out rubbish bins shortly after 10pm.

One arrest before stabbing

SYDNEY: A youth was arrested and charged with assault a few hours before 17-year-old Geoffrey Berrett died at the same under-18s dance at The Hills Centre in Sydney’s north west last weekend, police said yesterday.

The organisers of the Castle Hill dance said they would now require all youths to go through metal detectors to gain entry and video cameras would be installed.

Police and organisers have come under pressure over safety at the dances, with both denying there had been many major incidents at previous dances, held monthly.

But a senior sergeant at Castle Hill police admitted several youths had been charged with assault at the no-alcohol dances, with one charged in an unrelated incident on the night of Geoffrey Berrett‘s alleged murder.

Senior Sergeant Gordon Connolly said several youths had been charged with assault in the past three years, but there had been nothing worse “than a bloodied nose” until last weekend.

Two youths charged with the murder of Geoffrey Berrett will appear on Monday at Westmead Coroners court.

20 Nov 1993 – One arrest before stabbing – Trove

GALLANT POLICEMAN’S GRAVE.

MURDERS OF 1858 RECALLED.

By H. A. Barnes.

ALMOST hidden by rubbish and weeds, a tombstone which was recently discovered in the Carisbrook cemetery recalls the story of a policeman who lost his life while gallantly pursuing an armed bushranger on the Havelock diggings in 1858.

The grave was found by Constable J. Casey, said residents of the district, who had been clearing the cemetery of weeds.

At the suggestion of police officials, it was decided to have the tombstone and grave renovated.

Half the cost was borne by the Chief Commissioner ( Brigadier-General Blarney ).

The Inscription on the stone had become almost unreadable, but it has been restored by recutting in a marble slab.

It reads as follows:

Sacred to the memory of

EDWARD BARNETT,

native of Tallow, County Waterford, Ireland,

Late Senior-constable of the Victoria police,

Who was shot dead whilst gallantly performing his duty to endeavouring to arrest an armed bushranger on the night of Jan. 31, 1858, on Havelock Diggings.

This tablet is erected by the Chief Commissioner of Police, the Officers and Constables of the district, as a mark of esteem and respect.

In the midst of Life we are in Death.

For official purposes, Senior-constable Brown, of Russell street, obtained the facts of Barnett’s death from newspaper files and police gazettes of 1858.

In those days Havelock went under the strange but pretty name of White Hills.

Thousands of adventurers flocked to the district when gold was discovered, and overnight, it seemed, every kind of crime was being freely committed. Life was cheaper than gold at White Hills.

The “hold-up” which resulted in the death of Senior-constable Barnett occurred early on the morning of February 1, 1858, according to records of the period, although the tombstones fixes the date as January 31.

Charles Lopez and his wife, who conducted the Gumtree Restaurant in a dimly lighted tent, were standing behind their improvised counter, checking the pile of money that had been received during the day.

Notes, silver, and gold-some of it won from the fields around them — had been sorted, and husband and wife were handling the money when three men suddenly rushed into the tent demanding liquor.

Lopez told them to “get out,” but they replied by dragging him into the street. What happened outside in the next few seconds is not known, but two shots were fired in quick succession. Mrs. Lopez ran after her husband, but could see nothing until she stumbled across the body of Senior-constable Barnett, who was then dying.

—————————

A graphic story of the shooting was told to the coroner at the time by Henry Bradley the cook employed at the Gumtree.

He rushed out of the tent to see Lopez chasing three men. As they raced past a store owned by a man named Thomas, one of the men turned and fired, but the shot did not take effect.

Lopez caught up to the armed robber, and in the struggle that followed another shot was fired. Lopez reeled, evidently badly hurt, but in almost his last breath he slashed and stabbed the murderer with a large knife, inflicting terrible injuries, Lopez then fell back dead. The robber turned and ran again, but this time Bradley and Senior-constable Barnett, who had heard the first shot, gained on him rapidly.

Weakened by loss of blood from his knife wounds, the fugitive evidently perceived that escape was impossible. He stopped suddenly in his tracks, and fired what proved to be his last bullet point blank at Barnett, who was then only two yards away. Crying “0 God, I’m shot!” Barnett stumbled forward and dropped dead. He had been shot through the heart.

His last bullet gone, the murderer again tried to escape, but Bradley and some miners eventually captured him. He was taken to the Carisbrook police camp, where he died from the wounds inflicted by Lopez. The murderer’s name was reported to be Joseph Brooks, aged 56 years, a native of America.

The murders had a remarkable sequel, according to facts mentioned in a recent issue of the “Police Journal ( Victoria ).

” Barnett‘s death was deplored by many miners on the Havelock diggings. He bad been a popular and respected officer, and evidently as their own form of vengeance more than 1,500 miners set out to clear the township of “undesirables.”

They were in the mood for lynching.

Their first act was to set alight to a notorious place known as ” The Manchester. ” When nothing but ashes remained of this shanty, the mob marched through the town, and attacked the ” Star and Garter. ” No hand was stayed until the place had been wrecked. Liquor flowed into the street from broken bottles, jars, and barrels; and bonfires were made of the bedding and furniture.

The position of many places in White Hills looked desperate until a rumour of the finding of a wounded man at Tuckwell‘s called the howling mob away on a man hunt.

MURDER AT HAVELOCK.

FUNERAL OF THE POLICEMAN.

On Tuesday the remains of Edward Barnett the unfortunate police constable, were interred in the New Cemetery, at Carisbrook.

The body was followed to the grave by Mr. S S Furnell, officer in charge of the district, and Mr. Inspector Hare, of Maryborough, and the whole body of the police stationed at Carisbrook, as well as by several friends of the deceased and gentlemen of the neighbourhood, amongst whom were F Call, Esq., P.M., R. Southee, Esq, Chairman of the Municipality of Carisbrook, and other members of that body.

The burial service was read by Mr. Furnell in a most impressive manner.

The deceased was much respected by the officers and men of the police force for his attention to his duties and general good conduct.

He was constable in charge at Chinaman’s Flat during the rush there, and performed his duties in a most satisfactory manner.

A tombstone, with a suitable inscription will be erected to the memory of the poor fellow.

FUNERAL OF LOPEZ

On Wednesday morning the remains of the unfortunate man Lopez were conveyed to their last resting place.

The melancholy cortege consisted of three vehicles, one or two horsemen, and a few of the diggers on foot.

The body was conveyed from Havelock to the old burying-ground on the Quartz Hill ( now Bristol Hill – 2019 ), Maryborough, where it was interred.

The grave was surrounded by many of the friends of the deceased during the ceremony.

THE MURDERS AT THE WHITE HILLS.

ADJOURNED INQUEST.

The adjourned inquest on the bodies of Lopez and Constable Barnett, was held at the Charlie Napier Hotel, Havelock Flat, White Hills, on Monday last, when the following evidence was taken : —

Samuel Edwards sworn : Am a blacksmith, residing at the White Hills. On the morning of the 1st inst., about one o’clock, was awakened by a great noise in the street.

Got up and ran in the direction that the other people were running. Got as far as a large tree, when I saw a man running in a stooping position. He got up and ran about 200 yards. I followed him, and got within six feet of him, when he snapped a pistol at me. The pistol did not go off. A policeman named Barnett (now dead), was running after the man Brook, who snapped the pistol at me.

Brook fired and shot the policeman dead. When the policeman received the shot he exclaimed, ” I’m shot to the heart. ”

The spring that he gave when shot knocked the man Brook down. I fell over him. They both fell together. I then took the pistol now produced out of the man Brook’s hand. I identified the man Brook, lying dead at the police camp, as the man who shot Edward Barnett, the policeman.

I heard two shots fired before I came out of my tent, and two afterwards. After Barnett fell on Brook there were no more shots fired. I handed over the pistol to the police. When the man Brook was running he kept his hand on his stomach. Did not see any wound on him.

Constable John McCormick deposed to having seen the bodies brought in to the police camp, and receiving the prisoner and the pistol from the last witness.

Dr. Cooper sworn : Deposed to having made a post mortem examination of the bodies of Lopez and Barnett, assisted by Dr. Dunne.

On the body of Edward Barnett found a gunshot wound two or three inches below the right collar bone. There were no external marks of violence.

On tracing the course of the ball, found it running backwards and to the left side, passing in its course between the first and second ribs, near the junction of the cartilage, through the anterior edge of the superior portion of the right lung, superior portion of the pericardium, perforating the superior vena cava and windpipe, thence through the posterior portion of the superior lobe of the left lung, and passing out of the chest between the fourth and fifth ribs at their angles, perforating the left blade bone about half an inch from the posterior margin.

The bullet now produced I found just beneath the skin. All the other organs were healthy.

The cause of death was the gunshot wound. The bullet exactly fits the pistol produced.

When the deceased Edward Barnett was brought to the police camp he was apparently dead, but gasped twice. I saw the wound in his chest which caused his death.

I also made a post mortem examination of the body of Lopez.

He was brought to the police camp immediately after Edward Barnett, and was quite dead.

I found a gunshot wound about two inches below and to the left of the left nipple. There were no other external marks of violence.

The ball had passed in a direction backwards, through the fifth rib, about an inch and a half from its articulation with the cartilage, through the anterior edge of the left lung, through the left side of the pericardium, then entering the root of the left lung, wounding the left pulmonary artery, and the left bronchial tube, passing out of the chest through the ninth rib, and was found just beneath, the skin, below the inferior angle of the blade-bone.

The bullet is the same size as the one that was found in the body of Edward Barnett.

The cause of death was the gunshot wound.

The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Joseph Brook, now deceased.

— Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser.

BALLAARAT.

The HAVELOCK MURDER.— Joseph Gibson, alias Laycock, alias Yorkey, was charged at the Police Court, on Friday, on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of the storekeeper Lopez and Senior Constable Barnett, at Havelock diggings, on the 1st February last. Detective Hyland proved the arrest of the prisoner at 5 o’clock on the same morning, and stated that he answered the description in the Gazette. Prisoner was remanded to Curisbrook. — Times

LOCAL INCIDENTS OF THE MONTH.