Stations: Nyngan, Narrandera, Barrellan, Bowraville, Patrol Tactician – North Sydney ( 1990’s ), Police Association of NSW
Service: From ? to 5 August 2004 = 26 years Service
Awards: National Medal – granted 7n May 1994
Born: ? ? 1949
Died on: Monday 6 April 2015 in Macksville Hospital
Cause: Respiratory failure whilst recovering from cancer
Age: 65
Funeral date: Monday 13 April 2015 @ 11am
Funeral location: St Patrick’s Church, Macksville
Buried at: ?
Donald (Don) Freudenstein served the Police Association as branch secretary, delegate to conference, Executive member, trustee and vice-president spanning the years from 1985–1992 when he was promoted to inspector. In 1996 he was seconded to become secretary of the Commissioned Police Officers Association (CPOA). Following the amalgamation of the Police Association and CPOA in 1999 he resigned to take up the position of commissioned officers’ co-ordinator with the Police Association, a position he held until his retirement in 2004. A veteran unionist, Don was a finalist (1 of 3) in the ACTU Organiser of the Year Award 2002. He died on 6 April 2015.
[alert_blue]DON is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED
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Funeral Service Location:
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Funeral Service photos – courtesy of John Cumberland
Joined NSW Police Force via NSW Police Cadet system on 5 February 1946
Penrith Police College – Class # 029
Cadet # 596
Regd. # 6340
Rank: NSW Police Cadet – Commenced Training on 5 February 1946 ( Aged 16 years, 13 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed 24 January 1949 ( Aged 19 years, 1 day )
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Detective – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 1 January 1966
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed 1 June 1973
Sergeant 1st Class – appointed 31 October 1975
Inspector – appointed ? ? ?
Superintendent – appointed ? ? ?
Assistant Commissioner – appointed 18 December 1985
Deputy Commissioner – State Commander – appointed ? May 1991
Stations: ?, Commanded a wide variety of specialist criminal investigation squads including Homicide, Consorting and Special Breaking, and the Special Weapons and Operations Section, Broken Hill ( Supt. of Broken Hill Police District ), the 1st Regional South-West Office ( 23 – 31 Moore St, Liverpool ) – 1st Region Commander ( August 1987 – June 1991 ), State Commander ( June 1991 – 3 June 1993 )
Service: From 5 February 1946 to 3 June 1993 = 47 years, 3 months, 29 days Service
Awards: National Medal – granted 10 September 1986 ( Assistant Commissioner )
Australian Police Medal – granted 26 January 1988 ( Assistant Commissioner )
1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 23 February 1993 ( Deputy Commissioner )
Born: Thursday 23 January 1930
Died on: Thursday 2 April 2015
Cause: ?
Age: 85 years, 2 months, 10 days
Funeral date: Friday 10 April 2015 @ 11am
Funeral location: All Saints Anglican Church, Ocean Street, WOOLLAHRA.
Buried at: ?
Memorial: NSW Police force Service Memorial Wall, Sydney Police Centre, Surry Hills, B33 ( left wall )
LANCE is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT JOB RELATED
Location of Funeral Service:
On the left is former Assistant Commissioner, Lance Stirton (Cadet No. 559) with Jack Bailey (Cadet No. 613) holding the blunt end of a very much DEAD red-bellied black snake. Jack being the junior two, he was allowed (directed?) to hold the bitey end for the photo. It was taken at Buff Point around 1947 – where Lance’s parents had a weekender…Lance and some of his male friends, together with his sister (Betty) and her girlfriends, most of whom were workmates, would spend some weekends at this place – a million miles from no-where in those days then travel back to Sydney on Sunday night by bus then train. The snake was killed and (being cadets) carefully curled up before being placed in the sandy-dirt floor of the back-yard ‘dunny’ and then they waited. The door on the old dunny inwards. Jack’s (now wife of nearly 60 yrs) was first to enter and close the door to relieve herself but when her eyes became accustomed to the darkness from outside sunlight, the bottom hinge was taken off the door as it blasted open. What a terrible joke to play on someone who always feared snakes. But we were waiting on the back step for her to wake up to what it was. Thankfully for Jack she was the forgiving type. She is still with him!!!
Deputy Commissioner & State Commander Lance Stirton (Right) & Acting Patrol Commissioner Sid Walsh (left) (Newtown) inspect Newtown Police station cells which apparently don’t comply to the Geneva convention.
Dep/Commissioner, Lance Stirton. June 03, 1992. (Photo by Robert Pearce/Fairfax Media via Getty Images).
With regret I advise the death of Lance STIRTON, 85 old, former Regd. No. 6340, an Unattached Veteran Member of the RPA.
Lance passed away on 02/04/2015 and his funeral is proposed to be held at 11am on Friday 10th Instant at All Saints Anglican Church, Ocean Street, WOOLLAHRA.
STIRTON, Lance.
Former Deputy Commissioner of Police.
23/01/1930 – 02/04/2015.
Late of Maroubra and Matraville.
Devoted husband of Jean for 61 years. Father to Lindsay, Naomi and Matthew, father in law to Marcella, Stephen and Anita, adored ‘Poppy’ to Luke, Jessica, Alena, Alicia, Nicola, Christopher, James, Andrew, Amelia and Caterina.
Provided over 47 years of dedicated and exemplary Police service to the State of New South Wales.
Aged 85 Years
A Funeral Service will be held for Lance in All Saints Anglican Church, 85 Ocean Street, Woollahra on Friday April 10, 2015 commencing at 11.00am
Lance STIRTON passed away in Sydney, New South Wales. The obituary was featured in The Sydney Morning Herald on April 7, 2015.
*
Dear Mrs Stirton and family.
My Sincere condolences in the passing of Lance.
I have only now become aware of his passing.
I worked for Lance in the NSWP in admin support throughout 1997/9.
He was an impressive leader for all to follow in the best traditions.
Lance displayed an incredibly high level of integrity, honesty, and fairness in his dealings with all personnel. He treated everyone with a high degree of respect, which was always reciprocated by all.
Lance always had a smile and a nod to say “g’day” each day, and I am pleased to say that I had the privilege of working with and for him, and believe that I am a better person from my working association with him. My he rest in peace.
Eric Daniel
February 17, 2020 | Sydney | Coworker
*
My sincere sympathy to the Stirton family. May he Rest in Peace.
Diane Reid
May 05, 2015 | Smithfield, NEW SOUTH WALES
*
Dear Mrs Stirton and family.
Sincere condolences in the passing of Lance.
I worked for him in NSWP in admin support.
He was an exemplar for all to follow in the best traditions of integrity, thereness and getting the job done.
A wonderful man revered by all who had the pleasure of working with and for him.
My he reap his eternal reward.
Terry O’BRIEN
April 16, 2015 | Gosford, NEW SOUTH WALES
*
Dear Mrs Stirton, Lindsay, Naomi and Matthew.
Our thoughts are with you at this sad time.
With lots of love Terry, Fran and Patrick Moore (Cairns) (daughter of Ralph & Gloria Coogan)
April 10, 2015
*
NSW Police Service Annual Report 1991 / 1992
Lance Stirton APM
Deputy Commissioner and State Commander
Mr Stirton is currently the longest serving police officer in the State and has received 13 awards throughout his career including the Commissioner’s Commendation.
Mr Stirton was appointed to the position of State Commander in May 1991.
During his long career he has commanded a wide variety of specialist criminal investigation squads including Homicide, Consorting and Special Breaking, and the Special Weapons and Operations Section.
When promoted to Assistant Commissioner, he had responsibility for Police Rescue, Air Wing, Water Police and State Emergency Service Personnel.
He was given the command of the South West Region when the Service was regionalised in 1987, and was instrumental in consolidating the concept of community-based policing into that region’s operations.
The pilot of a twin-engine commuter airliner collapsed at…
SYDNEY, Australia — The pilot of a twin-engine commuter airliner collapsed at the controls Sunday but was revived in time to safely land the craft, the Transport Department reported.
Officials said pilot Peter Bell collapsed about 30 minutes after his Beechcraft King Air 200 plane left Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea on a flight to Sydney, 435 miles to the southwest, with two passengers, Lance Stirton and Ronald Squires.
Authorities said the plane was flying at 27,000 feet when Bell went into convulsions and collapsed unconscious over the controls. The pilot is believed to have suffered from food poisoning and was unconscious for 40 minutes, officials said.
‘The plane was on automatic pilot at the time because we were flying in good weather,’ said Squires, 34. ‘I remember thinking, ‘Thank God for that.”
Squires said Stirton, a police inspector, came to the cockpit and began giving Bell mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while he called on the plane’s radio for help.
Pilots of another Advance Airlines commuter plane and a Qantas jet nearby began describing the aircraft’s operations to Squires in case he had to try to land it.
‘About 30 minutes out of Sydney, Inspector Stirton managed to revive Capt. Bell, who finally brought the plane down safely,’ Squires said.
[alert_blue]? is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED
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Funeral location:
Allan John COWAN
| 07/04/2015
Allan John COWAN
Western Australia Police Force
Regd. # 8806
Rank: Senior Constable
Stations: ?
Service: From ? to ?
Awards: National medal – granted 22 June 2001
Born: ?
Died on: Thursday 26 March 2015
Cause: cancer / brain tumour
Age: ?
Funeral date: Thursday 2 April 2015 @ noon
Funeral location: West Chapel of the Pininnaroo Valley Memorial Park, Whitfords Ave, Padbury
Buried at: ?
Funeral Location:
[alert_yellow]ALLAN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
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COWAN (Allan John):
The Commissioner of Police and all members of the Western Australia Police regret the passing of our colleague Allan Cowan Registered Number 8806.
Deepest sympathy to all his loved ones.
This Guest Book will remain online until 5/05/2015.
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
COWAN (Allan John):
The Commissioner of Police and all members of the Western Australia Police regret the passing of our colleague Allan Cowan Registered Number 8806.
Deepest sympathy to all his loved ones.
Published in: The West Australian
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
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COWAN (Allan):
Senior Constable 8806. Deepest sympathy to Brenda and families on the passing of a colleague. Staff at Crash Vetting and Police Crash, Midland. You have fought the good fight. Rest In Peace.
COWAN:
The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of the late Mr Allan John Cowan of Ellenbrook will be held in the West Chapel of the Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park, Whitfords Ave, Padbury at 12 noon THURSDAY (2.4.2015).
No flowers by family request. Donations in lieu to either Solaris Care or The Ryan Marron Foundation.
Stations: ?, , Five Dock ( 1972 ), Fairfield ? ( 34 Division ), Burwood
Service: From ? to 23 January 1999 = 29 years Service
Awards: National Medal – granted 3 September 1985
1st Clasp to the National Medal – granted 7 May 1994
Born: ?
Died on: Friday 27 March 2015
Cause: ?
Age: 71
Funeral date: Thursday 2 April 2015 @ 11am
Funeral location: Broulee Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, 195 Broulee Road, Broulee
Buried at: ?
There will be no formal police involvement at the funeral service however the family do invite all friends and former colleagues to attend if they wish.
[alert_blue]DONALD is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_blue] * NOT JOB RELATED
Location of Funeral:
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HALL, Donald Campbell (Don)
27th March 2015
Aged 71 years.
Late of Dalmeny.
Dearly loved husband of Helga, stepfather of Steven and Kevin (dec).
DON’S relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his Funeral to be held at the Chapel of Broulee Memorial Gardens Crematorium, Broulee, with a service commencing at 11:00 am on Thursday the 2nd of April 2015. By request, no flowers. In lieu, donations to Kids with Cancer Foundation.
Narooma Funerals
Family Owned Est 1969
A.F.D.A. 4476 3888
Published in The Sydney Morning Herald on Mar. 31, 2015
THEY were the untouchables, an elite band of Australian Federal Police, some of whom insiders say were no better than “gangsters with police badges”. Their headquarters were Redfern’s landmark TNT twin towers, where extramarital conquests and drunken “happy hour” parties were common. It was the 1980s and, as one former officer of the 35-strong AFP Sydney drug investigation unit recalls, it was like “living inside a grubby episode of Miami Vice“.Memories of the heady days of the twin tower crew have been revived because of the charges laid against one of the squad’s alumni, senior NSW Crime Commission investigator Mark Standen.Following his arrest on drug charges this month, insiders have told The Sun-Herald some members of the unit were compromised and beyond control.
Michael Anthony Wallace – convicted of stealing $20 million worth of seized heroin in 1990 and then of murdering girlfriend Zoe Zou and dumping her body in the Blue Mountains in 2006 – was one.
Another was Allan Gregory McLean, sentenced to 16 years’ jail for helping import millions in heroin from India hidden inside a consignment of soccer balls in 1988.
Others were named at the NSW Wood Royal Commission over filching $200,000 from a Sydney cocaine dealer in 1983.
But with authorities infatuated with rogue NSW cop Roger Rogerson, some of the officers went bad and started trafficking drugs, taking bribes and ripping off crooks.
Ensconced on the lower floors of the TNT block, the unit was run for a time by chief inspector Cliff Foster, who committed suicide after a battle with depression in 2001.
It can now be revealed he had been under investigation for supplying heroin and was linked to an organised crime syndicate shipping huge amounts of hashish into Australia from New Zealand.
In the days after charges were laid against Standen, AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty was forced to deny claims that he and Standen worked side by side at Redfern and were once daily jogging partners.
Standen, who left the AFP to join the Crime Commission in 1996, is now accused of trying to smuggle in by sea enough pseudoephedrine to make $120 million worth of ice. He is due to face court again on August 6.
Mr Keelty said he and Standen had only ever been stationed together at the AFP‘s Sydney city headquarters in Goulburn Street.
They “might have been involved in some of the same operations” but were not close.
Page 2 of 2
Mr Keelty also said he was unaware Standen had admitted to the 1982Stewart Royal Commission that he once flushed 18 foils of cannabis down a toilet instead of declaring it as evidence. Former NSW detective turned University of Western Sydney academic Michael Kennedy said another member of the unit was allowed to take up a government job after admitting to stealing a kilogram of seized heroin displayed at a media conference. Another detective resigned after being confronted with allegations he was using and dealing cocaine. He eventually went to work for standover man Tim Bristow, who died in 2003.One-time head of AFP internal affairs Ray Cooper says security at the TNT offices was a disgrace.”Operational details were being leaked to the crims,” Mr Cooper said. “As a result, I warned the hierarchy that we needed to keep an eye out.”
Mr Cooper said his investigation into the Foster allegations was taken from him and deliberately derailed to avoid a public scandal.
He was denied permission to use phone taps and several witnesses against Foster were kidnapped and threatened by other corrupt federal detectives.
Wayne Sievers, who worked at the Redfern towers between 1983 and 1988, likened the experience to “living inside a grubby episode of Miami Vice”.
“You were looking at a group, some of whom were simply cowboys with huge egos, who were allowed to drive around town in fast cars with guns, doing whatever they wanted.”
Mr Sievers said the same day he reported being offered payola by a more senior officer he was transferred to non-operational duties.
Following a raft of AFP corruption claims at the Wood Royal Commission, a federal inquiry chaired by Sydney barrister Ian Harrison was set up in 1996-97.
Mr Cooper gave evidence but has since criticised the proceedings.
No public hearings were held and all findings were classified. Dr Kennedy and Mr Sievers also testified but believe little was achieved.
All three have called for the inquiry report to be opened.
Last week, NSW Supreme Court judge Harrison said it would be inappropriate for him to comment.
Service: From ? to 22 June 1987 – 30 years Service
Awards: National Medal – granted 14 July 1977
Born: 23 June 1927
Died on: 8 March 2015
Cause: ?
Age: 87
Funeral date: 13 March 2015 @ 10am ( already held )
Funeral location: Blue Mountains Funerals, Leura Memorial Gardens, 17 Kitchener Rd, Leura, NSW
Buried at: ?
[alert_yellow]WILLIAM is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
Location of Funeral:
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With regret I advise the death of William MIDDLEMISS, 87 old, former Regd. No. 8662, A Veteran Member of the Penrith Blue Mountains Branch of the RPA.
William passed away on 08/03/2015 and a private family funeral has been held.
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William (Bill) MIDDLEMISS
passed away on 8 March 2015.
Late of Glenbrook, aged 87 years.
Loving husband of Janet and their children Gordon, Jennifer, Julie, Jackie, Judith, Jody and Scott.
Grandfather of 13 and Great Grandfather of 3.
“Grumblebum”
was taken too soon and is now at peace.
A private service was held on 13 March 2015
Tom & Asha Dooley’s
BLUE MOUNTAINS FUNERALS
Springwood-Wentworth Falls-Emu Plains
4751 6166
[alert_yellow]BERNARD is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
Location of funeral:
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RAMPANT:
WA Police Union Members are invited to attend the Funeral Service for our late retired member Bernard Raymond Rampant 2975 at Utakarra Cemetery GERALDTON on TUESDAY (17.03.2015) at 12:30pm.
RAMPANT Bernard Raymond (Bernie):
06.10.1929 – 10.03.2015 Passed away peacefully at St John of God Hospital Geraldton.
Loving Husband and best friend of Margaret for 60 years.
Loved and respected Dad of Kenneth, Donald, Charles, Michelle and Christian. Loved Father-In- Law of Thelma, Linda and Jason. Grandfather of Joshua, Kathleen, Stacey and Jeremy, Josh and Amanda, Anne-Marie and Josh, Cassie and Michael and Cameron. Great Grandfather of Michelle, Tyson, Corie, Aaron, Zoe, Seth, Rubi, Alyssa and Elizabeth.
Special thanks to Dr. Heather Wilkinson, Helen and to all the doctors and staff at SJOG Palliative Care Unit for your care and compassion. Special thanks also to Geoffrey, Maureen and family for your support.
[alert_yellow]JOHN is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance[/alert_yellow] *NEED MORE INFO
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The Argus ( Melbourne ) Saturday 16 August 1856 page 5 of 8
DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.
SUICIDE OF AN EX- DETECTIVE OFFICER
Early yesterday morning it was discovered that John Elsey, late of the detective force of this city, had committed suicide by cutting his throat. The deceased was lodging in the Galway Arms Hotel, in Flinders-lane, and on his not making his customary appearance at breakfast, some person went to his room, and found the unfortunate man lying on his face on the floor, with his throat cut, and quite dead.
The deceased was about thirty years of age, a married man, and a native of Kentucky. Some time ago he left his wife behind him at Castlemaine, and went home to America. On his return, it appeared that she had formed an acquaintance with another man, by whom, it is alleged, she had two children.
Elsey obtained a situation in the detective force but was soon after summoned to Castlemaine to provide his wife with a maintenance, and the Bench made an order of £1 per week. This award the deceased was dissatisfied with, and as Mr. Smith, the late superintendent of the detective force, wished, to keep back from his salary the amount awarded by the Bench to his wife, the deceased left the force. This happened about a month ago.
Since that time Elsey appears to have been harassed by applications on the part of the man who is living with his wife for the award of the Castlemaine Bench for her maintenance, and the deceased had since given way to dissipation, and formed acquaintances with disreputable women. His health appears to have broken down, and those circumstances together are supposed to have led to the committal of the rash act.
An inquest will be held over the body this morning.
Empire ( Sydney ) Friday 22 August 1856 page 6 of 8
The following extraordinary case of suicide by a detective officer is from the “Herald ” of the 10th instant : —
” Yesterday, Dr. Wilmot, City Coroner, held an inquest at the Galway Hotel, Flinders-lane east, on the body of John Elsey, who was found dead in his room with his throat cut that morning. The deceased had been a well-conducted member of the detective force, and the circumstances which led him to commit suicide were of a very painful nature, as will be seen from the following evidence given at the inquest :– Abraham Fenton, sergeant of police, said that he knew the deceased as belonging to the detective force, and hearing yesterday morning that he had committed suicide, he went immediately to the Galway Hotel, and found him lying on his face on the floor of the room, with a razor in his right hand, which was underneath the throat. On the dressing table there was a bottle labelled “laudanum,” and in his trunk, amongst other documents, he found the following paper, in the handwriting of deceased : —
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” Galway Hotel. August 11, 1856.
This is a correct statement of John Elsey. My name is John Elsey. I was born in the county of Norfolk, England. My people emigrated to the United States when I was only one year old. My mother died about six months after landing.
The first of my experience was working with a farmer for my board and clothes. At twelve years of age I went to drive on the Erie canal ; from that coasted out of New York till I came to this colony, which was in 1852. I came out as ordinary seaman in the brig Augustas ; I ran and left the ship three days after she arrived. I went to Gisborne and worked on the roads for two months, after which I went to Castlemaine, and joined the police.
I was promoted to sergeant, and made plenty of money, and on the 11th of February, 1855, commenced my troubles. I married a girl about sixteen years of age. She turned out very bad, so much so that I concluded to go home till she forgot. I went home, and was gone twelve months. When I arrived in this country again I joined the detective police. I had not been in them more than (?) before my wife summoned me to Castlemaine, and the bench of magistrates ordered me to pay the sum of 25s per week. I could not afford to pay the same. I went and saw the Chief Commissioner of Police, and he told me he would suspend me for the period of which I was gone to Castlemaine to find proof against my wife, and when I come back from Castlemaine he should immediately take me on again. When I came back from Castlemaine I went to him, and he told me he would take me on. After detaining my time for two weeks, he would not do it.
And now for that reason I am about to commit this : and may the great God cast a punishment on him that will make him feel that he has got this most abominable sin to answer for. I cannot do hard work, and there is nothing else left for me to do ; and before having to knock about the country like some, I will commit suicide.
Given under my hand this 14th day of August, 1856.
JOHN ELSEY.
14th August — I state that I owe nearly the sum of £3 for board which I wish to be awarded out of my effects.
JOHN ELSEY.
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Patrick Kelly, landlord of the Galway Hotel, said that the deceased had been a lodger at his house for about three months, with the exception of a few weeks’ absence.
On his return to the house on the 31st of July, after being away for a few weeks, he observed a change in his appearance, and deceased told him that he had been unwell ever since he left his house, and was getting worse. He only complained of a cold, and about a week ago said that he had again joined the detective force, but had leave of absence for a week in order to get rid of his cold. The last time he saw him alive was on Thursday at mid-day, when he appeared the same as usual. One of the lodgers saying that he had knocked at the door of deceased without receiving any answer, he sent up to ascertain the fact, and subsequently forced open the door, when he saw deceased in the state in which he then lay. To his knowledge deceased was not addicted to drinking.
Patrick Boyle, teacher, had known the deceased for the last fortnight, and had opportunities of seeing a great deal of him. For the last eight or nine days he appeared very dejected in mind, and said that he was very unwell. For the last three days he could hardly go up and down stairs, and seemed to have lost the power of his limbs, and to have been very absent in mind. He had never seen him under the influence of liquor.
Henry White of the detective force, had known the deceased since March last, when he was in the detective force, and was a steady well conducted man. He resigned in June, and proceeded to Castlemaine, where he had been summoned by his wife for maintenance, and he was ordered to pay her a weekly allowance.
He felt greatly aggrieved at his wife living with another man. He then resigned the force, and had since been leading a very irregular life. The last time he saw him alive was on Monday, the 12th instant, when he seemed very low in spirits, and said he thought he should rejoin the force. He traced all his troubles to the conduct of his wife, which preyed heavily upon his mind.
The jury, by their verdict, found that John Elvey(sic) had died from a wound inflicted by his own hand by a certain razor across the throat, whilst in a state of temporary derangement.”
John Elsey, a native of Kentucky, and an ex-detective officer of the Melbourne Police, committed suicide by cutting his throat, on the 15th inst., in the Galway Arms Hotel, Melbourne, where he had been lodging.
The Age ( Melbourne ) Thursday 17 April 1856 page 3 of 4
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
The Assault on the Detectives. — George Pickering, the oyster-dealer, who, on Tuesday, created a serious disturbance in Little Bourke street, and was secured with great difficulty, made his appearance on Wednesday, with his head and face severely mauled and blood-stained.
On Detective Elsey’s announcing his authority to arrest him, he said that he never went without a fight for it, and immediately struck the detective a violent blow in the chest.
In self-defence he drew and wielded his neddy vigorously, and, besides contending with the prisoner, had to withstand the attacks of a whole host of pick pockets and oyster men, the friends of the prisoner. At last, by the aid of Detectives White and Randall, he was hauled off to the lock-up.
His wife, at whose instance he had been arrested, appeared against him.
She supports herself by washing, and on the present occasion had a considerable quantity of clothes in the house. Pickering, just out of gaol, went into the house, and after brutally ill-treating his wife, threw all the clothes out of the window into the street.
She has two children by the prisoner, who broke the leg of one of them in a fit of drunkenness, some time previous. The prisoner was sentenced to three months’ hard labor, and at the conclusion of that term he was ordered to find two sureties of £25 each, to keep the peace towards his wife for twelve months.
The Argus ( Melbourne ) Monday 12 May 1856 page 4 of 8
THE ARGUS Publish Daily.
MORE STURT’S JUSTICE
Another sample of this very peculiar commodity has been exhibited at the Melbourne Police Office during the past week.
Four ” fast ” young men, named James Bruce, William Bruce, Henry Younger, and John Ford were charged on Tuesday with having the previous evening created a disturbance at the Theatre Royal, and assaulted Detective Elsey in the execution of his duty.
The evidence of the detective was to the effect that, hearing James Bruce making use of disgraceful language he (Elsey) desired him (Bruce) to desist.
Bruce hereupon first abused and then struck Elsey, who tried to arrest his assailant, but the latter was immediately reinforced by the other three prisoners.
Elsey was severely beaten among them, his clothes torn, and a ” gold nugget pin ” plucked from his breast and flung away.
Ultimately Elsey received succor, and the brawlers were arrested. On being brought before the Police Court the next day, James Bruce, William Bruce, and Henry Younger were sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, Ford being released on payment of a forty shilling fine, his participation in the disturbance having been small.
