The Burton Incident

 

 In 1927, the township of Burton was described by many as a hamlet on the road to Virginia from Salisbury. At the time, it had few houses, and a small school run by Miss Violet Handley.^[1]
 

 On Friday 2 December 1927, Harry Bruce McDowell of Alberton, arrived at the Burton school early in the morning in a taxi. He found Miss Handley and entered the schoolroom, where they had a short conversation. He then left the room. Fearing the situation would escalate further, Handley dismissed the class, except for one strong lad. McDowell came back into the room and pushed Handley into a corner where he hit her repeatedly. He then pulled a revolver from his pocket and screamed at her, “I’ll shoot you and your mother as well!”^[2]

 Handley pleaded to McDowell to be sensible and promised him she would meet him that evening to discuss matters. She gradually got up, and still talking to McDowell, led him outside to the taxi he had arrived in. She pleaded with the driver for assistance, as it looked as though McDowell was not going to leave. The taxi driver convinced McDowell to leave, and they left again for Adelaide.

 Miss Handley, fearing that McDowell would return that day, posted some of her male students outside the school to keep watch for McDowell. Just after midday, he returned, asking the taxi driver to park further from the school.
 One of the students alerted Miss Handley. Another student ran to a nearby farm to get help. Miss Handley ran from the school and locked herself in a room of the nearby Methodist Church.

 Farmers, Mr White, and Mr Barcroft rode to the school on their horses, there they found McDowell outside the room Handley had locked herself in. He had in his hand a loaded revolver. Barcroft, disarmed McDowell, taking his revolver.
 The police were notified, and Mounted-Constable T.H. Northridge of Salisbury arrived. He took the loaded revolver and a packet of bullets found in McDowell’s coat. He then charged him for threatening to shoot Miss Handley.^[3]

The case came before the Salisbury courts, where it was alleged that Miss Handley and Mr McDowell were long term friends. It was alleged Miss Handley’s mother had influenced her daughter to end the friendship, and therefore McDowell had become enraged.
 Harry Bruce McDowell was charged with ‘unlawfully and maliciously threatening to shoot Violet Amelia Handley, schoolteacher, at Burton.’^[4]

 The case was to be presented before Magistrates W.H. Neal and J. McGlashan. The prosecution read the charges, and as soon as they had finished, Miss Handley spoke; stating she had no intention of proceeding with the serious charges presented to the court, on that she withdrew, substituting instead, with a less serious charge of common assault.

 She then presented that the accused had arrived at the school and grabbed her, then tried to kiss her. She had resisted.
McDowell in his evidence offered that he was extremely drunk at the time, and had no intention of harming Miss Handley.

 The Bench inflicted a fine of £3, and costs, £8 7/6 in all.^[5]

Mr McGlashan, the presiding justice, said the case was the most unsatisfactory that he had ever had to deal with.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2022

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[1] 'Threatened To Shoot.', The Kadina and Wallaroo Times, (3 Dec 1927), p. 2., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110144809.

[2] "I'll Shoot You and Your Mother."', The Advertiser, (3 Dec 1927), p. 18., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47436245.

[3] "I'll Shoot You and Your Mother."', Chronicle, (10 Dec 1927), p. 68., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90090424.

[4] 'Alleged Threat.', The Advertiser, (5 December 1927), p. 17., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47436690.

[5] 'SCHOOL SENSATION.', The Register, (5 Dec 1927), p. 9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54934981.

John Martin the Celebrity Delinquent: Part 4: Flown the Coop.

 

John Martin the Celebrity Delinquent: 

Part 4: Flown the Coop.

 

   Friday 2nd November 1894, and 15-year-old John Henry Martin has flown the coop again. This time Martin escaped from Mr Burton’s truant school at Glanville. He had been locked in a room and escaped. His escape had only been discovered when someone had sought him to do some work, finding the locked room he was supposed to be in, empty.^[1]

 The Port Adelaide police were notified of Martin’s disappearance, with word put out on the street that they were searching for him. At about 10:30pm that night, a message was sent to the police station stating that Martin was seen laying on tracks at the Port Adelaide railway yards.
 Constable Schell went to investigate and found then arrested Martin. Martin was no longer dressed in his reformatory uniform, instead, wearing clothes he had borrowed from another boy. He was wearing blue serge trousers and a tweed vest, missing his hat, work coat and one boot. When asked by police why he changed clothing, he stated, “I’m not going to let anyone see me with a uniform coat on." (referring to the reformatory uniform).
 Martin was taken to the Port Adelaide police station and put in the cells, all the while protesting vigorously that he had done nothing wrong and did not deserve to be locked up.
 Mr Burton, who had taken charge of the boy, decided that he, and his reformatory, would no longer accept the boy and that he should be placed back into State care. ^[2]

 

 

Next Week: John Martin the Celebrity Delinquent: Part 5: Cardigan Castle

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2020

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[1] 'A NOTORIOUS JUVENILE.', South Australian Chronicle, (10 November 1894), p. 7., http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article93853575.

[2] 'A NOTORIOUS JUVENILE.', The Advertiser, (3 November 1894), p. 6. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25740901.

John Martin the Celebrity Delinquent: Part 1: Bold Bad Boy

 

John Martin the Celebrity Delinquent: 

Part 1: Bold Bad Boy

 In March 1894, John Martin was charged with breaking and entering and theft. He had escaped from F. Burton’s Glanville Reformatory and made his way to Magill. There, he had broken into Mr Moseley’s house and stolen a gold watch and chain, a gold ring, a gold locket, and other valuables.

 Martin was presented to the Supreme Court, presided over by Judge Bundey. In that period, boys were judged and sentenced as men. If convicted, the boys were sent to a prison hulk at Largs Bay, or if their crime was deemed too offensive, sent to Adelaide Gaol.

 Much was made in the newspapers of Martins general appearance in court. He was described as a ‘short thick-set sunburnt little fellow’ by one journalist. Martin was wearing at his hearing, a man’s coat and transfers, which were much too big for him, requiring him to hold them up with one hand.

Harry Nelson, the warder at the reformatory, stated in court that he had checked on Martin in the evening. Martin was on the third story and shackled by the ankle to his bed. At the 2am check, Nelson found Martin had escaped.
 Martin was arrested at Charles Street, Norwood by constable Garland. Moseley’s valuables found in his possession. Martin, when asked if he had anything to say, said, "I can't stop at that school". [1]

 While standing before Judge Bundey, Martin began to sob, stating he had stolen the goods from Moseley with the idea of being sent to gaol. In his young mind, he believed he would be treated better in the Adelaide Gaol than he was in the reformatory.
 Bundey took pity upon the boy, stating “Martin, yours is a peculiar case, now if I send you to a good kind gentleman, who will treat you well, look after and train your better, will you behave yourself, and remain with him?”

Martin, holding back tears stated, “yes, sir”.

Bundey: “I have never seen anything like your case here. You are under fifteen years of age and have shown extraordinary boldness and energy. You have escaped from the Reformatory fourteen times. Now what I should like to do would be to treat you not as a bold bad boy, but as a bold good boy. a bold boy with elements of good in him. You are approaching the years of manhood, and if rightly directed may make an extremely useful man. If I were the commander of a man-of-war, I would like to take you on board my ship and put you under strict discipline, which would bring out your best qualities, and tone down your evil tendencies.”[2]

 In 1894, John Martin would become somewhat of a celebrity escape artist in Adelaide. His escapades, crimes, and court appearances would be published in almost all South Australian newspapers. Such was this 15-year-olds notoriety, his exploits made national news.

 

Next Week: John Martin the Celebrity Delinquent: Part 2: Escape Artist

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2020

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[1] 'A Daring Youngster.', Evening Journal, (30 March 1894), p. 2. (SECOND EDITION), http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200770875.

[2] 'Law and Criminal Courts', Evening Journal, (3 April 1894), p. 2. (SECOND EDITION), http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200771138.