A Ghost in the Adelaide Central Markets

A Ghost in the Adelaide Central Markets

The Adelaide Central Markets began when a group of gardeners and farmers met at the site in 1869 to sell produce. A year later the market became official and housed between 50 to 100 stalls, selling everything from fish to hay.

 It wasn’t until the 8th of February 1900 that the first permanent building was erected onsite.

In 1925, after two decades of successful trading and growth, the City Markets suffered its first setback when a fire tore through the north eastern section of the markets, destroying the livelihoods of many traders.

40 years later the then “City Markets” were officially given the title of “The Central Markets”, this period also saw the first refurbishment of the markets, adding a new rooftop carpark.

In 197 a second setback occurred, when another fire burnt through much of the southern section of the market. This setback was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed refurbishments, restricting and rebuilding, which took until 1983 to be completed.

 Today the Central Markets are still just as popular as when they first started, featuring over 80 stalls.

In 2014, The Adelaide Central Market management released a security footage tape of what they allege to be a ghostly presence in the market. A security guard doing his usual patrol reported something unseen brushing against him, so the CCTV cameras were checked, and a ghost like image was spotted walking through the Markets.

The incident happened at the intersection where Market Plaza meets the Adelaide Central Market.
 Johnny Carbone, the security guard who experienced the sensation of someone going past him, and later filmed the incident via the CCTV monitor onto his phone, stated the following in an Advertiser article printed in 2014:

 “I came in early on a Wednesday morning about 3am,” he said. “As I was doing my normal patrols of unlocking the market, I felt like something went past and touched me, so I looked behind me and there was no one there."

“I was like, ‘You know what, I’m just going to check the camera’, and as I checked the camera I saw that light."

“I couldn’t believe what I was watching ... I was just rewinding the footage and thinking, ‘Is that really what I saw?’

“I actually ran back downstairs to see with my own eyes if anything was there, but obviously there wasn’t."

“I’m not a believer, but then it makes you think twice ... sometimes I think maybe there is something out there, but you just don’t know.”

Recently, this article resurfaced, and I decided to take a closer look at the video, making the following notes.

Take a look at the following photo where I have added two rings to highlight my points.

The red circle; note the light source that is constant in this portion, and would directly correlate to the light that shines not only on the grill, but on the sign on the right, next to the white sign.

The purple circle; if you watch on full screen and look very closely, it appears the bottom of the grill/pull down door bends or arcs as the light moves across it, this would suggest, in my opinion, some video manipulation.

I have not personally spoken to Mr Carbone about his experience, very interested to hear him recount this event and any other factors missing from the original Advertiser news story.

What are your thoughts on the video? Real or fake?

Have you experienced a ghost in the Adelaide Central Market? Please feel free to comment on this story here on The Haunts of Adelaide, or over on our facebook page on the link below?

Researched and written by Allen Tiller.

© 2018 Allen Tiller

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide/

www.allentiller.com.au

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Bibliography:

Allan R & Mattsson D, 2014, The Adelaide Central Market releases never-before-seen security footage, which features an unexplained, ghostlike light, The Advertiser, viewed 12 Feb 2016, http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/the-adelaide-central-market-releases-neverbeforeseen-security-footage-which-features-an-unexplained-ghostlike-light/news-story/5cd5c3e890f50f4ab488dfae6d6f3e07

Allen Tiller, 2016, Adelaide Central Markets, Haunted Buildings in Adelaide, Adelaide City Council: “History Hub” Adelaide City Libraries, viewed 5 Jan 2018, https://onecard.network/client/en_AU/adelaide/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ASSET$002f0$002f1291669/one?qu=central+market+Haunted+Buildings+in+Adelaide+Residency+Collection&te=ASSET#

Adelaide Central Markets, 2016, The Market Adelaide Central Markets, , viewed 12 Feb 2016,  http://www.adelaidecentralmarket.com.au/marketmanagement/history/

5AA, 2014, PROOF OF ADELAIDE CENTRAL MARKET GHOST, Nova Entertainment, viewed 5 Jan 2018, https://www.fiveaa.com.au/show/proof-adelaide-central-market-ghost

The Court Case: The Murder of Hilda Jones. (Part III)

The Court Case: The Murder of Hilda Jones. (Part III)

Bruce Stapleton Neal, 19, was brought to trial for the gruesome murder of his girlfriend, Hilda Beryl Jones 16, on the 17^th of March 1924 at her place of employment.

The Coroner included in his report that Ms Jones, affectionately known as “Bob” or “Bobby”, had a small gunshot entry hole at the base of the skull. Her forehead was mostly missing, and her blood, bone and brain matter were scattered across the walls, ceiling and floor of the office.

The defence issued a statement that Mr Neal was an epileptic and that when the gun fired, he was in the middle of an epileptic state and unable to control himself.

When asked by the court to enter a plea, “Not Guilty” came the statement from the defendant.

Defence attorney Mr Smith stated “If you remember the dangerous position of the Injury to his head. If you remember his fits and the circumstances surrounding them. If you remember the circumstances attending the murder of Bobby and his condition afterwards, it is very easy to take a backward view over his past life, and to say that these fits are epileptic fits.”

 Mr Smith exhorted, “Our only defence is a plea of insanity!”

 The jury retired, and after an hour returned with their verdict. “Not guilty on the grounds of insanity”.

 Justice Parsons, presiding over the case, stated, “In order with the Criminal Consolidation Act, he would order Neal to be kept in strict custody in the criminal ward of the Parkside Mental Hospital during the Governor's pleasure.”

 Mrs Neal, who had been in the courtroom, and who had earlier given evidence in the case, fainted at the reading of her son’s sentence.

Hilda Beryl Jones is buried in the Glen Osmond, “Saint Saviour” Anglican Churchyard.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller.

© 2018 Allen Tiller

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide/

www.allentiller.com.au

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Bibliography

1924 'ADELAIDE MURDER.', Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 - 1954), 24 March, p. 2. , viewed 13 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102232120

1924 'CURRIE STREET TRAGEDY.', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 29 May, p. 9. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57389675

1924 'MISS HILDA BERYL JONES.', Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), 22 March, p. 37. , viewed 13 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170493300

1924 'MURDER CHARGE.', Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 - 1954), 29 May, p. 2. , viewed 13 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96099690

1924 'MURDER TRIALS.', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 27 May, p. 6. , viewed 13 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57389043

1929 'Obituary.', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 11 July, p. 44. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90051284

1924 'Hugged, Kissed, and Shot', Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900 - 1954), 15 June, p. 5. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198669988

Photo: 1924 'MISS HILDA BERYL JONES.', Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), 22 March, p. 37. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170493300

The Confession of Herbert Stapleton Neal: The Murder of Hilda Jones. (Part II)

The Confession of Herbert Stapleton Neal: The Murder of Hilda Jones. (Part II)

“About 1.15 P-m. I left work, taking the rifle with me. Before I left Bickford’s I placed five cartridges in the magazine.
I went outside and stood on the front doorstep for a while. I looked up at West’s window, and Bob beckoned me to come over.
 I went over and was standing near the stairs. Bob came up to me, and I said “Hello! How are you?” She replied, “I am all right”.
I said, “that’s good.”

Then I put my arm around her and kissed her.
We stood talking for some time. I cannot remember what the topic of conversation was. After I had been there for a while, the other girls went to dinner and left Bob and me in the passage together.
 I like Bob very much, and she returned the affections.
 I don’t quite remember what happened.

 I think I must have been frightened at the thought of our being parted because we were so attached to one another, and I must have been so alarmed at the thought that I might lose her that I must have at the moment lost my head and thought that it would be better if it were impossible to part us.

I have a recollection of firing the gun. I don’t know how many shots I fired, but I believe I fired only one.
 After that, I don’t remember anything much, except that there was a lot of blood standing about. And I think someone asked me my name, but I could not speak.
When I fired the gun, I saw her fall, and blood came from her.”

The statement concluded:

“I am not sorry for what occurred. But I don’t know what possessed me to do such a thing because we were very friendly. And had been for about 28 months. I was very much in love with Bob, and I didn’t want else to have her.”

 (Bob was Hilda’s nickname).

Continued next week

Researched and written by Allen Tiller.

© 2018 Allen Tiller

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide/

www.allentiller.com.au

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Bibliography on the last post in series.

Hugged, Kissed and Shot: The Murder of Hilda Jones. (Part 1)

Hugged, Kissed and Shot: The Murder of Hilda Jones. (Part I)

“Even as he kissed her ruby lips his teetering brain gave finally away,

And, a wreck at random driven, without one glimpse of reason or of heaven 

He raised his deadly rifle, raised it so that none should have her,

She never spoke, poor child.

 The smile faded from her eyes with the crumbling of her skull, 

shattered by that awful bullet, as she fell a maimed and bleeding thing upon the floor,

while he, ghastly, staring, stood over the body, 

waving intruders aside, until at last, the policeman came, and he swooned off in their arms.”

 - Truth (QLD newspaper) 15 June 1924.

On the 17th of March 1924, Hilda Jones went to work at her job at the offices of Mr W.A.A. West, Estate Agent and Horse Racing enthusiast, where she worked as a typist. The office was situated on Currie Street in Adelaide.

That same morning, Bert Neal arrived at his job at Bickford and Sons, Limited Wholesale Chemists on Currie Street. He arrived at 8am, and it was noticed straight away by his workmates, that he had with him a Lee Enfield Rifle.

Neal was known for his negative attitude, often coming across as morose or depressed, and this day his co-workers noted his disposition as “unusually quiet”.
During a break, Neal made his way to Bank Street, where he stopped at a gun dealer's shop and purchased 30 cartridges for his rifle.

 Lunch on Currie Street occurred for Ms Jones at 1:15pm, and on this fateful day, she found her boyfriend, someone who visited her home frequently, and who loved her very much, in the Currie Street offices where she worked.
 The two were seen together talking at 1:20pm, but for the next half hour, only Hilda and Bert know what happened.

At 2pm, Mr West's accountant, Mr Young, who was in his office, heard a loud crack as if from a rifle. He ran into the hallway and saw Neal, standing at the door of the office, with a rifle in his hands.
 Young asked Neal what was going on. Neal did not respond, instead, he waved frantically not to come near him, so Mr Young, ran out of the building to find a police officer to help.

 Only minutes later, Constables Easton and Stewart arrived on the scene. They headed towards Mr West’s office and saw Neal standing in the doorway, rifle in hand. Neal dropped the rifle and collapsed. He was taken to the Adelaide Hospital by the Constables for examination, with his only comment being “I am tired”.

Continued next week.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller.

© 2018 Allen Tiller

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide/

www.allentiller.com.au

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Bibliography on last post in series.

“Gone Postal” - Murder & Suicide at the Adelaide General Post Office

“Gone Postal” 

Murder & Suicide at the Adelaide General Post Office

Adelaide’s General Post Office (GPO) design came from the minds of Edmund Wright and Edward Woods who won a competition to design the new building that was replacing the old, much smaller post office further up King William Street. Designed in the style of Monumental Italianate, the Post Office is a grand cornerstone of Victoria Square and changed the face of that part of Adelaide when it was completed in 1872.

 Even before construction had begun, the building attracted a crowd, with the laying of the foundation stone by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Alfred on the 5th of November 1867. The event attracted an estimated 3500 spectators.

 The GPO also housed Adelaide’s first telephone exchange and is where our first message was received from the Overland Telegraph Line in 1872.

Extensions were made from 1891 until 1893 to house an improved telephone exchange.

 In 1926 the General Post Office became the scene of a horrific attempted murder shooting and suicide.  The day prior, employee James Hannagan was fired from his job for assaulting two of his fellow employees.

 Hannagan entered the General Post Office at about one o’clock in the afternoon and opened fire with a revolver. First, he shot Ernest Doble, a clerk, wounding him, before opening fire on the Post Officer Director, James Mason, shooting him in the chest. Hannagan, then fired shots towards the women’s clerical division, narrowly missing the working women with a volley of shots, before fleeing the building.

As Hannagan made his way down the steps, out into Victoria Square, a witness to the events, Mr J Beare, tackled Hannagan to the ground. The two men struggled in the street until Hannagan freed his revolver and shot himself dead in the gutter.

On Friday, October 28th, 1927, another horrific fatality occurred in the building when an unidentified man jumped from the interior balcony of the GPO and killed himself. His last words, spoken to an employee who had stopped to ask him what he was doing, were; "I'm going to commit suicide. Goodbye.”

 He jumped the railing and fell 30 feet onto the floor below.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller.

© 2018 Allen Tiller

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide/

www.allentiller.com.au

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Selected Bibliography

1926 '"YOU'RE KILLED FORTHWITH!"', News (Adelaide, SA: 1923 - 1954), 27 December, p. 1. (HOME EDITION), viewed 02 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129334986

1926 'POST OFFICE SENSATION.', Recorder (Port Pirie, SA: 1919 - 1954), 18 December, p. 1. , viewed 02 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article95968304

1926 'POST OFFICE TRAGEDY.', Recorder (Port Pirie, SA: 1919 - 1954), 28 December, p. 4. , viewed 02 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article95968855

The Curse of the Crown and Anchor Hotel

The Curse of the Crown and Anchor Hotel

Never before had there been a hotel in the South Australian colony so well known as a place of sin and debauchery as the Crown and Anchor Hotel in Adelaide’s east end.

Right from its humble beginnings in 1853, through to its present incarnation, it has attracted Adelaide’s downtrodden, the unusual and the misfits, but most would not have it any other way!

 The hotel has always been a popular venue but has had a tumultuous past, with the majority of its publicans between 1853 and 1953 being charged by police for illegal after-hours sales of alcohol, or illegal gambling.

The hotel also has a long history of death, with many fatal accidents happening in the street outside the hotel, or to its residents, as they were out visiting other locations in Adelaide. This earned the hotel a reputation for being cursed during the 1890s.

The Crown and Anchor was built in 1853 and later rebuilt in 1880. The hotel has a long and sordid history of being an illegal gambling den, but in recent times it is best known as a live music venue, with the colloquial moniker “The Cranka”.

The following are just a few of the notable crimes and deaths associated with the hotel;

 In 1871, the hotel's landlady was arrested for stealing another woman’s silk dress!
   In 1887, an inquest was heard inside the hotel concerning the death of James Dooley, who had been run over by a horse cart on the street outside. Dooley suffered a broken leg, broken hip, smashed jaw and smashed skull, it was assumed the cart, laden with 4 tons of wood rolled over his body and crushed him. There was an indication Dooley may have been murdered, but without sufficient evidence, his death was declared an accident.

Mr McLaren died in the hotel on the 4th of October 1885 after a long illness.

In 1894, Barney Miller, a Victorian staying in Adelaide for two months, drank himself to death in the Crown and Anchor. He was found dead in his bed, and later a Doctor declared he had died from heart failure from excessive drinking!

Death visited the hotel again in 1900 when Charles Siggers passed away in a private hospital nearby, and his wake was held at the hotel, with his funeral cortege leaving the pub for West Terrace Cemetery on the 8th of October 1900.

 In 1903, a resident at the Hotel, Marion Mackay was struck by a fire truck on King William Street, dying the next day from her extensive injuries.

In 1908, a painter named Robert Peters was found dead in a shed on the premises by owner Mrs Calnan. Later that same year, Mrs Calnan’s husband, John, passed away upstairs in the hotel at the age of 38, they had only been married for two years.

In 1927, another publican passed away in the hotel. George Owens died at the age of 53 from a heart attack, leaving behind his wife and three children to run the business.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller.

© 2018 Allen Tiller

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide/

www.allentiller.com.au

Selected Bibliography:

1894 'SUDDEN DEATH IN AN HOTEL.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 10 July, p. 7. , viewed 02 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25730227

1934 'TOOK BARREL FROM HOTEL YARD', News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), 17 October, p. 3. , viewed 02 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128411035

1941 'FINES IMPOSED ON EIGHT MEN', News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), 21 April, p. 3. , viewed 02 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131965630

1946 'FINES FOR HOTEL OFFENCES', News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), 1 July, p. 3. , viewed 02 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130850532

The Murder of Mary Legge

The Murder of Mary Legge

150 Hindley Street

“Lord save me” were the dying words of Mary Legge, laying on the floor of Gasons Lodging House, Hindley Street. Above her, as she breathed her last breath, stood her husband, enraged, with a knife in hand. He threw his knife at her as he calmly walked out the door, the only witness, a man named Roskilley who had fought against Legge, but had backed away when threatened with the knife.

 Legge hastily left the premises and headed down Hindley street. Roskilley also left, and found P.C. Irwin on the corner of Hindley and King William Street, and told him of the murder. Legge, upon realising he had been identified, sprinted away from the Constable, the two men running full pace west along Hindley Street.

 Another Constable, P.C. Allen, saw what was going on, and tackled Legge to the ground. Legge then stated to the two officers that he had stabbed his wife three times. The two Constables then escorted Legge back to the Police Station, and left him with the officer in charge, before heading back to Gason’s to evaluate the scene.

Mary Legge was lying in a pool of her blood, she had three stab wounds in her left shoulder blade, made by an ordinary bread and butter knife. One stab had punctured her left lung and another had pierced her heart, causing her to bleed out and die very quickly.

William Legge, was well known to Adelaide police as a habitual drunkard, but he hadn’t always been a heavy drinker. Only months prior he had run a successful painting business from Clarendon, and every mail from England (monthly) He received a hefty 16 pounds’ remittance from his wealthy parents.

 Legge and his wife, Mary, a “pleasant-looking young woman”, who had only been in South Australia for nine months, had been renting a room in Gason’s Lodging House. In the few months, they had been living in Adelaide, they had both become drunkards and were prone to physical altercations with each other. Mary was often heard swearing at William, and only a week previously had hit him in the head with a bottle, leaving a deep cut.

When the trial proceeded, the defence applied the “Temporary insanity” clause, and pointed out the constant beratement of William by Mary. It was pointed out that both were very drunk, and that William had quite calmly asked Mary to go to bed, and she had flatly refused then started abusing him. William had then stated, “If you don’t go to bed I will put an end to you”, Mary, again refused, and this was when William became so enraged (and according to the defence, temporarily insane) that he stabbed his wife to death.

William Legge’s charges were downgraded from murder to manslaughter, due to the temporary insanity defence, and instead of facing being hung for the wilful murder of his wife, he was sentenced to just ten years’ imprisonment.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller.

© 2018 Allen Tiller

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide/

www.allentiller.com.au

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Bibliography 

1870 'LAW COURTS.', The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), 18 May, p. 2. (SECOND EDITION.), viewed 02 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207720976

1870 'SHOCKING MURDER IN ADELAIDE.', Northern Argus (Clare, SA : 1869 - 1954), 25 March, p. 3. , viewed 02 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92777632

1920 'FIFTY YEARS AGO.', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 22 March, p. 6. , viewed 02 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62618178