George Massey Allen

George Massey Allen

George Massey Allen was one of the most controversial newspaper editors South Australia has ever had.

In 1860, Allen worked for The Advertiser but decided he wanted more and left to form the first English language newspaper in the Mid-north, The Northern Star at Kapunda. (The only previous newspapers in the Barossa Valley and Mid North had been German-language newspapers).

Allen was a man of principle, but also very outspoken, which often got him in serious trouble with the law.

His newspapers were often very controversial as he preferred to voice his own opinion, without considering the consequences of his actions.
 This eventually led Allen into a liable case in Kapunda, in which he was declared guilty of liable and slander. His newspaper was cancelled after his conviction, which came with a 6-month gaol sentence.

 After serving his gaol sentence, Allen returned to Kapunda to find that his newspaper The Northern Star had been replaced in his absence with The Kapunda Herald. The new newspaper was incredibly popular and far outsold his former local paper.

Instead of going back into the newspaper business, where his opinions would most likely see him Gaoled again, he instead went into the Hotel business, buying a local Kapunda pub, in which he could voice his opinions all he wanted.

Pub life wasn’t what Allen desired though, and eventually, he moved back to Adelaide in 1867 and founded a new newspaper called The Satirist.

The Satirist was in direct competition with another newspaper The Register, and Allen's former employer, The Advertiser.
 The competition did not phase Allen though, and on at least one occasion, his newspaper outsold both his bigger rivals.

Allen had trouble keeping his opinions to himself. His newspaper lampooned local politicians, events and his rival newspapers and because of Allen's unwillingness to reel in his satiric tongue,  he eventually found himself in court again charged with liable. Not having the finances to keep hiring lawyers, and prosecuted again, with a gaol sentence, he eventually had to shut his newspaper down.

The prospectus of the South Australian satirist read:
“The lamentably abject condition of the daily Press of South Australia, its want of political principle, its hypocritical fear and timorousness, has forced upon the proprietors of the Satirist the palpable necessity of launching forth upon the unimpassioned waters of honesty, truth, and fearless independence, a journal whose aim shall be to guide, not truckle to, the public opinion of this colony. ... What, then, is the demand of the hour? To find and to sustain a fearless advocate of the people's rights and requirements, one who will dare to speak and teach the truth ...” (27 July 1867, p. 2)

 Allen was incarcerated for six months by Judge Wearing, his wife and six children, who needed his income to survive, became destitute and relied on the kindness of others.
A parliamentary enquiry ensued, and eventually, a Parliamentary Intervention happened, releasing Allen from Prison.
  Judge Wearing declared he had probably misinterpreted the law somewhat harshly but stated: "the great social advantage which has, I believe, resulted to the public by the cessation of so infamous a print as the Satirist." (South Australian Parliamentary Paper no. 145, 1868/69)

Allen and his wife didn't enter into the media again, instead, they took up another Hotel, The Alexandra Hotel in Rundle Street and lived out the rest of their lives as publicans.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller ©2014

Gaol or Hospital? Stories From The Gladstone Gaol: Part IV

Gaol or Hospital?

Stories From The Gladstone Gaol: Part IV

  Gladstone Gaol was built in 1879 at great expense to the colony, and many questioned why such an imposing building was erected in such a remote location. During its many years of operation, it rarely housed hardened criminals, other than those awaiting transfer to Adelaide Gaol. There were no long-term serious offenders kept within its walls. Those serving lengthy sentences were transported to Adelaide Gaol, while Gladstone was used primarily to house drunks, debtors, and other low-level offenders.

Looking down on the inside of the tower
© Allen Tiller

More often than not, however, the gaol housed the sick, the elderly, and the disabled. It became common practice to transfer frail and ill prisoners from Adelaide Gaol and other prisons throughout the South Australian colony to Gladstone to spend their final days. Many were elderly women who would ultimately pass away within its walls.

One such example was reported in the following newspaper article. I also mentioned Eliza Evershed in Part One of this series. She, too, was transferred from Adelaide Gaol and died at Gladstone. It seems to have been a common theme, doesn't it?

The South Australian Advertiser

Tuesday, 1 December 1885 – Page 5

"Caroline F. C. Grahlow, an old woman, died in gaol yesterday. An inquest on the body was held at the gaol by Mr Ingram J.P., Mr Stewart being foreman of the jury.

The evidence of the doctor, matron, and the keeper was taken, and a verdict was returned that death occurred from natural causes.

The woman's age was 65. She was sentenced in Adelaide to four years' hard labour for burning a dwelling-house and had served nearly eighteen months of the term. She had been ailing ever since her arrival here, and a fortnight ago the doctor asked for a remission of the remainder of her sentence owing to her suffering, but the order for her release only came here this morning. Up to the time of her death, she did not acknowledge the crime for which she was sentenced.

Mrs Rofran, sister of the deceased, arrived by train from Adelaide this afternoon with a coffin, and the remains were taken back on this evening's train for interment in Adelaide. It seems that the Government will persist in weeding out all cripples and dying people from the Adelaide Gaol to this one.

Since its establishment, the Gladstone Gaol has been nothing better than a hospital, and many complaints have been made, but to no purpose. It is said that most of the prisoners here are invalids from Adelaide. The case of the poor woman who died yesterday is a most pitiable one and should be enquired into."

Between the walls of Gladstone Gaol
© Allen Tiller

By the end of 1885, little had improved at Gladstone Gaol, as this article from the South Australian Weekly Chronicle demonstrates.

South Australian Weekly Chronicle

Saturday, 19 December 1885

"Another Sick Prisoner from Gladstone Gaol"

"Gladstone, December 16.

A prisoner has been released from the gaol in order to go into the Adelaide Hospital. The poor woman had to be carried into the train this morning. She is utterly helpless and in a pitiable state.

A male and a female warder from Adelaide came for her, and under their charge the prisoner was taken away. Dr Hamilton ordered her removal. This is another instance of sending prisoners here in a frail condition, making this prison an asylum for sick criminals."

Although Gladstone Gaol was built to house prisoners, it appears to have spent much of its existence functioning as a hospital and transfer station for the sick, the elderly, debtors, and inebriates, rather than as a prison for serious offenders.

While there were several escapes over the years, only one escapee was never recaptured. The gaol also witnessed a number of deaths within its walls—but none were the result of execution, riots, medical experimentation, or firing squads.

Construction: Stories From The Gladstone Gaol - Part 2

Construction:
Stories From The Gladstone Gaol -Part 2

In South Australia's Mid North, approximately 221 km from Adelaide, sits the town of Gladstone. On Ward Street, on the western side of town, stands the imposing Gladstone Gaol.

The gaol was constructed between 1879 and 1881 at a total cost of £21,640. Its grey slate floors were made from slate quarried at Mintaro and transported to Gladstone by bullock dray.

Many people question why the gaol was built in such a remote part of South Australia, especially so close to where three railway gauges met, offering what many believed would have been an easy escape route.

B Wing - Gladstone Gaol
© Karen Tiller

A story published in The Mail on 8 August 1881 refers to the building of the gaol and also mentions the first female prisoners to be imprisoned there:

8 August 1881 – Gladstone Gaol

On 8 August 1881, two months to the day after it had opened, Gladstone Gaol received its first female prisoners. Sometime before 1879, Charles Mann, MP for the district, was asked by local residents what he could do for the town. He asked them whether they would like a gaol, and two years later, Gladstone Gaol—described by one writer as having "a gloomy solidity"—was opened.

Sunset Through The Bars
© Allen Tiller

Mr Pollett, from the Redruth Gaol at Burra, was appointed head keeper, and the gaol accommodated  60 male and female prisoners. It appears that it rarely held a full complement of inmates, and its only "lifer" was a cat named Lady Jane Grey.

Rumours have long circulated that the Gaol was a political stunt, orchestrated because a former government minister, who later became Attorney-General, wanted to see government funding directed into Gladstone. Whether true or not, the result was the construction of a prison capable of housing 60 inmates in a town with a population of about 900 people.

Because of its distance from Adelaide, the gaol was rarely used for serious offenders. Instead, it primarily housed debtors and inebriates—in other words, people who couldn't pay their bills or who had alcohol-related offences. Much of the time, the gaol stood empty. In fact, when inebriates elected to serve their sentences at Gladstone Gaol, they were reportedly paid an allowance equivalent to £26 per year.

Probably the only time the gaol came close to full capacity was during outbreaks of measles or other highly contagious diseases in Adelaide. At such times, Gladstone Gaol was converted into a makeshift hospital and quarantine station.

During the Second World War, Gladstone Gaol was used as an internment camp for people of Italian and German origin, as well as prisoners of war who were regarded as security risks to the nation. During this period, it also housed soldiers who had gone AWOL (Absent Without Leave) from their military postings.

From 1943 until 1953, the prison stood dormant and empty.

NO ONE WAS EVER HANGED AT THIS GAOL.

Sorry about the capitals, but I wanted to emphasise this point. Despite all the conjecture, rumours, misinformation and local legends, no one was ever hanged at Gladstone Gaol, either officially or unofficially.

Next week, we'll take a look at the new extensions to the gaol!

Allen Tiller (C) 2014

The Maria Massacre - 25 July 1840

The Maria Massacre - 25 July 1840

  Maria, a 136-ton sailing ship left Port Adelaide headed towards Hobart, Tasmania on the 20th of June 1840, when it was blown off course and floundered at Cape Jaffa on a reef. (near Kingston SE, South Australia)
Maria's passengers and crew consisted of the following 25 people:

Captain William Smith and his Wife.

Samuel Denham and Mrs Denham and their five children (Thomas, Andrew, Walter, Fanny and Anna).

Mrs York (sister of Mr. Denham), who had recently been widowed and her infant.

James Strutt who had been hired as Mrs Denham's servant.

George Young Green and Mrs Green.

Thomas Daniel and Mrs Daniel.

Mr. Murray

The ship's mate and crew:

John Tegg

John Griffiths

John Deggan

James Biggins

John Cowley

Thomas Rea,

George Leigh

James Parsons.

  When the Maria hit the reef, the passengers and crew made their way ashore with the goal of making their way, by foot to Encounter Bay to seek help aide for the now-abandoned ship.
  The party came across local indigenous people and asked them to lead the party to safety. Along the way, a path heading inland was discovered, and it is believed the party split in two at this point, with the Captain making his way inland, and some of the crew and passengers choosing to follow the shoreline back to Encounter Bay.

Somewhere along the shoreline, some of the travelling party decided they would prefer to re-join the Captain, and left the walking party to find the Captains inland party. Now there were three groups of settlers trying to make their way back to Encounter Bay.
Not one of the passengers or crew members of the Maria, was ever seen alive again.

Eventually, someone happened upon two bodies, both of which had weddings rings used to identify who they were.
Soon rumours began to emerge of an alleged massacre by Aboriginal people of the passengers and crew of the Maria.

 More bodies were discovered in different areas in close proximity to the Maria wreckage. Also, the Maria's logbook and some of the passenger and crews clothing were found amongst local indigenous people.
As the rumours grew into a crescendo of upset with settlers in the colony, Governor Gawler, South Australia's second Governor, ordered Major Thomas O'Halloran to head south and investigate the situation, and to uphold the law in the region.

  O'Halloran left Goolwa with the mounted troop on the 22nd of August 1840, headed toward cape Jaffa, whilst a small boat set sail to search the coastline.
 On 23 August, the force ran into a number of Aborigines and rounded up 13 men, 2 boys and 50 women and children. They shackled the men and set the others free, though they voluntarily remained nearby their men.
  Two of the terrified Aboriginal men tried to escape their capture by swimming out to sea but were shot and wounded by O'Halloran's men. A man named Roach, who had two years prior been arrested in the area by O'Halloran, led the mounted troop to a wurley where blood-stained clothing, passengers belongings, and the Maria's logbook had been stored.
  O'Halloran followed Governors Gawler's instructions to the letter, and at 3pm on the 25th of August, hung the two men who had tried to escape earlier.
Governor Gawler's instructions to O'Halloran were very clear:

"...when to your conviction you have identified any number, not exceeding three, of the actual murderers...you will there explain to the blacks the nature of your conduct ...and you will deliberately and formally cause sentence of death to be executed by shooting or hanging"

  The hangings caused quite the stir in Adelaide, and in London. The press had a field day with accusations of murder, corruption and miscarriages of Justice. “The Aborigines Protection Society” argued that South Australian law could not be used in this case as the Aboriginal's of the area had not pledged allegiance to the Crown.

The case was brought into the public eye on the 10^th of April 1841 when Mr Richard Penny was guided by members of the Tonkinya peoples to the grave of a white man who had died at sea. It was thought the body would be that of Captain Collet Barker, who was speared to death in the region in April 1831. However, Penny would find four of the five bodies still unaccounted for from the Maria wreck.

The bodies were in a bad state, and it was clear that they had been beaten to death. The Tonkinya people then went on to tell Penny how the killings had happened.

Major O'Halloran's expedition to the
Coorong, August 1840

It seemed the Sailors and passengers had promised blankets and other goods for safe passage back to Encounter Bay, they had promised to return with the goods. The Aboriginal mob was unhappy with this arrangement and wanted something now that they could use. The sailing party refused, and a fight broke out, of which the white men lost.

Maria's hull was never found, it is thought she broke up on the reef. However, her cannon was found and would later become a garden ornament at Victor Harbor's Adare Castle, fired every New Years Eve as a family tradition!