The Execution of William Henry Feast

The Execution of William Henry Feast

In 1955, the battered, beaten and bloodied body of Unice Flora Gwynne, aged 78, a widow, was found partially hidden in a mangrove swamp near Port Adelaide. Half of her clothing had been removed and she had been “criminally assaulted”

Police started to investigate the matter, and it did not take them long to become suspicious of one William Henry Feast, a 42-year-old Wharf Labourer, but William had skipped town and headed to Victoria.

Mr Feast was eventually hunted down, the brutality of his crime to an old woman earned him no reprieve from the criminal element of the State of Victoria, and Police eventually caught up with, and arrested him.

On January 2^nd, South Australian Police sent over Detective Sergeant E. Canney, a Police Escort to accompany Mr Feast back to Adelaide to face his murder charge in courts. There was a slight hitch in the plan, which made national news at the time, Two major Australian airlines, TAA and ANA, would not allow Mr Feast nor his Police Escort to board their flights on the ground that their paying passengers would be safe, and be somewhat endangered by having this man on their flight. Feast was eventually brought back to Adelaide via the train service.

Feast was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to hang in Adelaide Gaol, his execution by hanging took place on March 23^rd 1956

© 2007 - 2014 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

www.allentiller.com.au

“Goodbye, and Meet Me in Heaven” - The Murder of Norma Plush.

“Goodbye, and Meet Me in Heaven” - The Murder of Norma Plush.

"The end is now drawing near, and I wish to make my last statement. When I purchased the revolver it was for the purpose of shooting Otto if I saw him misbehaving with the girl Norma, as I looked upon her as a sister. I carried the revolver loaded for a fortnight, and once drew it to cover Otto with. This plan failed, and I was ordered to leave the place and then I shot the child to protect her from evil. After this, I tried to shoot myself, but the revolver would not go off. I then gave myself up to the police. I am sorry for what I have done. Good-bye."

Above is the last written and signed statement of Carlos Bonello before he was taken to the Gallows at Adelaide Gaol and hung at 8am on May 5^th 1910

Bonello, a Portuguese immigrant was sentenced to death on April 7^th after the shooting murder of 13-year-old girl, Emma Norma Plush (known as Norma) in the Barossa Valley town of Nuriootpa.
Bonello had been working as the Gardener around Emma's home, in March he reported to Mrs Plush that he witnessed a young man named Otto be “unduly familiar” with Norma.

Norma's parents dismissed the notion entirely.
On March the 5^th, Bonello walked into the kitchen of the Plush home and said to Mrs Plush, “you don't believe my word!” He then pulled out a gun and fired at Norma, narrowly missing her.
 Mrs Plush and Bonello struggled as she tried to disarm the enraged man. Another shot rang out, this time fatally wounding Norma. Norma had been in the kitchen too, and upon Bonello's entry, had moved out of harm's way, but not far enough.
Bonello fled the scene back to his sleeping quarters, which were also on the property, before giving himself in to the police later the same day.

In Adelaide Gaol, Major Williams of the Salvation Army began to visit the murderer on a daily basis, he reported to the courts that he thought the man was eccentric, but his heart in many ways bound to doing good, and that this murder was a mistake.



Bonello became very remorseful and tried to make his peace with God, confessing his sins to his creator, and, reportedly, feeling somewhat better for it.
Before his death, Bonello repeated the parable of the ten virgins and then said “My Lamp is trimmed and burning brightly. I have the oil of grace in my soul". He then sang “Nearer My God To Thee”.

His last words as he stepped upon the scaffold were “Goodbye, and meet me in heaven” (spoken in Italian)

© 2007 - 2014 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.net

www.allentiller.com.au

AN ADELAIDE GHOST STORY.

AN ADELAIDE GHOST STORY.

  In 1868, Mr Cleary, a sailor on the “Persian Empire” sailing ship, which was about to leave Port Adelaide for London, suffered terrible dreams about his death at sea.
  He dreamed of the upcoming Christmas Day, being out at sea and nearing Cape Horn. Cleary and the rest of his watch were ordered to secure a boat hanging in the davits during a heavy gale. He and another sailor got into the boat when a fearful sea broke over the ship, washing them both out of the boat into the sea, where they were both drowned.

  On Christmas Eve, the Persian Empire neared Cape Horn and Cleary's dream that night was identical to the first time he had it. Clearly an omen about his impending death, the poor man became distraught with worry. He screamed in horror at the thought of it, and was heard muttering “I know it will come true!”

  On Christmas Day, Cleary's dream, particulars became reality, precisely as he had foreseen. Cleary and his watch were ordered to secure a boat hanging in the davits. Clearly flatly refused.
He was summoned to the lower decks and the Captain's Quarters, where he stated that he had refused as he knew he would drown if he went down into that boat.
 His refusal to discharge his duty was noted in the ship's log. The Chief Duty Officer, Mr Douglas, went to sign the paperwork, and Clearly exclaimed: “I will go do my duty, for now, I know the other man in my dream!”.
The two men walked back up on deck and Clearly explained his dream to Douglas, who listened intently, never uttering a word.

  They got into the boat, and when they were all making fast, a heavy sea struck the vessel with such force that the watch crew would have been washed overboard had they not clung to the mast. The boat was turned over, and Douglas and Cleary were flung into the sea. They swam for as long as they could but were soon overcome, drowning at sea.

It was just three months after Cleary had dreamt of his death before leaving Adelaide.  

© 2007 - 2014 Allen Tiller

www.allentiller.com.au

The Demolition of the Julia Farr Building

The Demolition of the Julia Farr Building

Instead of a writing blog, today I am sharing a group of photos I took whilst visiting the Julia Farr Centre while it was being pulled down.
Adelaide paranormal enthusiasts would know the extensive problems the owners of the old hospital building had with the vandals, urban explorers, thrill-seekers and other members of the public who would break into the derelict and condemned building in search of cheap thrills, and in some cases, in search of ghosts.

 I do unfortunately know a couple of stories of local paranormal investigators who trespassed in the building in the search of evidence, I DO NOT condone this type of behaviour, nor partake in it - if you DO NOT have permission, please don't take it upon yourself to enter anywhere, places like this one were extremely unsafe, and I am still surprised no "explorers" lost their lives.

Rumours abound about the hauntings in this building, but before it was emptied and become condemned, there were next to no stories in the public forum about ghosts residing here. Rumour and urban legends soon changed that, with the most common stories being the usual Nurse and Doctor stories, phantom medical staff walking the hallways, mostly unfounded, and never investigated by any paranormal teams. Unfortunately now, with the building torn down, there is nothing much left to investigate, and the Julia Farr Centre ghost stories become urban legends from an iconic location lost to progress...

 Anyhoo, here are some photos from the day they pulled a wing down - enjoy.

All photos by Allen Tiller

© 2007 - 2014 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

www.allentiller.com.au