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

Barossa Junction Motel

Barossa Junction Motel

Earlier in the year (2014) Karen, Jayde and I were joined by Marie and Wayne from Overland Paranormal to investigate the soon to be closing Barossa Junction Motel.

The motel was somewhat of an icon on the road between Nuriootpa and Tanunda, with its train carriage hotel rooms, and train-themed restaurant.

We were very lucky to have a friend arrange our investigation, as the majority of the trains were to be auctioned the next day due to the centre closing its doors after 30 years of operation.

I had long heard of the rumoured hauntings in the train carriages and had always meant to stop in to ask about them, but time and life got in the way. So when the offer came the night before the complex was due to close, I hastily rearranged other projects to get over to the Motel and investigate!

We were greeted by the owner, an auctioneer and a crane driver, the men were working out how they would move the full-sized train cabins, which many years ago had been converted into luxury sleeping quarters.

We were basically told we could go anywhere we want, so we did, and began to explore carriages and the grounds of the location, which is vast! With 30 or more carriages, train memorabilia and a car museum, it was an immense undertaking.

Whilst Karen and Jayde conducted some EVP sessions in an old carriage, I went and explored in a different area with Marie.
 The owner's wife soon joined us, and showed us the swimming pool complex at the rear of the facility, and told us the story of a gentleman who had hung himself in there.
  We began investigating whilst she went to unlock another area, and noted some shadowy type movement near the entrance to the toilets, but no EVPs were captured in this area or anything more than a personal experience.

We were granted entry into the dining rooms and main Chevrolet car museum, which was an amazing spectacle of vintage cars and motorbikes, some in pristine condition, the display even contained some prototype vehicles!

Marie and Jayde tried some experiments with the Spirit Box, while Karen and I took photos, video and conducted some EVP sessions – whilst we didn’t get much activity during our investigation, we were really amazed by the collection, and ever thankful for the opportunity to investigate before the facility closed

Many thanks to the owners for the opportunity to investigate and explore before the closing of this Barossa Valley icon, and also to Overland Paranormal for joining us :)

© 2007 - 2014 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

www.allentiller.com.au

“ A Well Developed Bump” - Stories from the Adelaide Gaol.

“A Well Developed Bump”

John Joseph Challoner, not a name well known for criminal acts in Adelaide, but back in the late 1800s through to circa 1913, a name well known to Police and Prison guards all too well in Adelaide.
Mr Challoner was a serial lawbreaker, spending more than 40 years in prison for crimes ranging from larceny, unlawful possession of goods, false pretences, forgery and one charge of “An unnatural act”.
Challoner was described in The Advertiser in 1913 as “A tall man with pointed features and a small beard who has spent more than half his 76 years behind prison walls”

  Challoner began his life of imprisonment in 1867 when he was first sentenced and gaoled by a magistrate for six months. He was caught again, trialled and convicted for indecent assault in 1870, for which he received two years gaol.

Inside Adelaide Gaol - Photo by Allen Tiller

  Challoner was next convicted in 1874 for larceny and received another two years imprisonment. This was followed in 1876 with another six months imprisonment, which then led into another visit to the magistrate in 1876 for stealing.
Challoners law-breaking and imprisonments continued into his old age, when in 1913, aged 76 years old he was charged with stealing a silver plated teapot from Maria Attridge.

  Maria lived on Halifax Street in the city, she left for work as per usual on May 28^th at 10am, and returned at 4pm, to find her house had been broken into and her precious teapot gone. She dutifully reported the theft to the Police.
  Yetta Akolsen, a general dealer in Adelaide, reported to Police that Challoner had come into her shop and pulled a silver-plated teapot from under his coat. He stated the teapot belonged to him and his wife. Yetta, knowing no different, until after she had read about the theft in a newspaper later that day, paid Challoner a small amount of money for it.
  Challoner was arrested in Adelaide that evening by a police inspector.


  The court proceedings became a bit of comedy session when the defence for Challoner, upon questioning from the prosecution stated that Mr Challoner had a bad fall and cannot remember anything – proceedings reportedly went something like this:

Mr Muirhead; “Don't you know the accused had a fall?"

The Witness; “No”

Mr Muirhead;  “But hasn't he got a bump on the back of his head?"

Witness; “Yes, and it is pretty well developed, too.” (Laughter.)

Mr Muirhead;  “The accused pleads guilty, but that he does not remember anything about it. The other day he hurt his head, and he does not recollect what had occurred since."

Sub-Inspector Edwards; “He is suffering from sticky fingers." (Laughter.) .

Challoner was ordered another 3 months to his already lengthy prison record.
Challenor was then charged with having stolen an overcoat, an accordion, a shirt and a coat, valued at £2 10/, belonging to Henry J. Gardiner. For this crime, Challoner was sentenced to a further 6 months.

At this time, Challoner, for some reason only known to him, stated to the court that he had in his possession a floor rug that he had stolen "From an old woman’s place”, the judge sentenced him to a further 2 months imprisonment, to run concurrently, with an urge for him to be treated for Kleptomania...

© 2007 - 2014 Allen Tiller

www.eidolonparanormal.net

www.allentiller.com.au

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“Now prepare to meet your doom, For in this box there is room”

“Now prepare to meet your doom,

For in this box there is room”

  This is the inscription said to be on a box carried by a ghost in the Burra region circa 1906.

  Reports of a ghost witnessed in Burra began with a ghostly spectre seen on the darkest of nights, entering a stable, taking out a horse and putting its harness on. The ghost then rode off on said horse in the direction of Redruth Gaol.

The horse rustling spook was described as being clothed in white, with long white legs, long white arms, larger than normal eyes and a white cap, not totally unusual clothing for a ghost, but perhaps for a horse rustler?

  Another report soon came in of the ghost seen out on the Baldina Road by a young lady. The young school-aged girl reported the sighting to her Mother, but the Mother was more interested in knowing why her daughter had skipped school!
  The daughter explained to her mother why she had left. Still, the mother was unsatisfied with her explanation. Instead, the mother told the local constable about her daughter's truancy, and then forced the daughter to tell the constable of her ghost excuse. The embarrassed daughter did as she was told.
  The mother then exclaimed, “If my daughter is surrounded by all the ghosties in the world, she will not say one word about it!” and left the amused constable to his duties.

  The ghost made one more appearance in the town before its demise into the ever-long night. A man spotted it casually going about its ghostly business and went for a closer look.
“It would appear,” said the witness when reporting the ghastly ghoul, “That this 'spirit' has phosphorous upon its brow, and carries a wooden box with the inscription: 'Now prepare to meet your doom, For in this box there is room'”

The ghost disappeared into the night...

© 2007 - 2014 Allen Tiller
www.allentiller.com.au