Gawler Underground - Rudall and Rudall

Rudall & Rudall 

25 Murray Street - Gawler

25 Murray Street was built for the South Australian Banking Company (later known as the Bank of South Australia) by builder Henry Brown. It was designed by architect Thomas English, who would later become Mayor of Adelaide and a Member of the Legislative Council. It opened on the 4th of April 1859.[1]
The South Australian Banking Company operated from the premises between 1859 and 1892. The second owner of the building was the Union Bank of South Australia, between 1892 and 1928. It was then occupied by Rudall and Rudall circa 1928.

Rudall and Rudall was founded by John Rudall (1820 – 1897) in 1854.[2] John Rudall was Gawler’s first Town Clerk a position he held until 1881 when he was appointed the resident Gawler Magistrate. Samuel Bruce Rudall (1859 – 1945), John’s son, took over the position of Town Clerk in 1881, a position he held until 1914. He was also a State MP between 1905 and 1915. Samuel’s son, Reginald John Rudall (1885-1955), was a Rhodes Scholar in 1908. He was a state MP from 1933 until 1955, including a seven-year term as Minister for Education, and nine years as Attorney General under the Playford Government. Reginald and his wife suffered greatly during World War two when both their sons, Jon and Peter, were killed in action.

In 1955, the Rudall connection to the law practice ended when Reginald died. Lawrence McAusland Bills (1913 – 1975) then took over the law firm. He served Rudall and Rudall from 1937 until his death in 1974. His son, Anthony ‘Tony’ McAusland Bills (1941-2010), then took over Rudall and Rudall. Peter Ryan and Nick Pullman are today the partners of the firm and are supported by seven associate lawyers and seven legal assistants, making it the largest legal firm in the Gawler region.

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Researched and written by Allen Tiller

[1] 'The Bank of South Australia', Bunyip (), (15 April 1892), p. 2.
[2] Rudall and Rudall Lawyers, History, (2024), https://www.rudalls.com.au/about/history/.

The Murder of Mrs Martin: Ghosts of Gawler: Part 7

Ghosts of Gawler: The Murder of Mrs Martin

Tragedy struck Gawler on Wednesday the 24^th of June 1925, when a 14-year-old Gawler High School student, a young man by the name of James Keats, shot and killed Mrs Martin, his boarding house owner, then killed himself.

Northern Times Carnarvon, WA, Friday 26 June 1925, page 3

The tragedy shook the then small country town and made news headlines right around Australia.

James Robert Keats was described as a normal boy with a tendency to over-study his school work.

Events that transpired that day came to light via witnesses prior to the event, and the only survivor, a little girl, the daughter of the victim, Ms Silvia Martin.

Earlier in the day Keats and another lad, one of the victim's sons, had set off to go to school sports. Keats got as far as the old cemetery (what is now known as Pioneer Park, across from Coles), and had to turn back as he had forgotten some books.

Bunyip Gawler, SA 1863 - 1954,
Friday 26 June 1925, page 2, 3

Keats at some point returned to the home, and wrote a small incomplete note, that read: “Dear Mum – Just a few lines to let you know I have found out...”

Either while writing, or very near after writing, Keats took his Boy Scout knife and stabbed Mrs Martin so viciously he broke some of her ribs, Keats then struck Mrs Martins daughter, Silvia with the butt of a rifle he had taken from the wardrobe of Mr Martin.

He threw a coat over the girls head at some point and struck her again. The coat, according to the girl's testimony, then lifted enough for her to see Keats lift the rifle, point it at his own chest, and shoot, killing him.

The young girl then ran into the street seeking help, which she found with a nearby neighbour.

Border Watch Mount Gambier,
Friday 26 June 1925, page 3

The case hit the courts and the headlines, with a number of interesting theories as to why the boy, who left no clues, and had no motive, would kill Mrs Martin, then himself. 
One of the more “interesting” theories came from long-standing Gawler Lawyer, Mr Rudall who’s theory was the boy had “over-studied” therefore creating a temporary “brain-storm” of derangement that led to the murder-suicide.

The case was never concluded satisfactorily, and still remains a mystery as to why Keats did what he did, the Coroner put Keats actions down as “ A loss of reason” on the part of the boy...

Will we ever know what truly happened on that fateful afternoon in Gawler?

© 2013 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au