The first successful circus in Australia actually originated from Hobart by an Englishman Robert Avis Radford in 1847. He used acts such as equestrianism, acrobats, and clowning, which mimicked the Astley circus in England. It was from this circus that James Henry Ashton, of the Ashton dynasty later established his own circus. The Ashton circus is the oldest continuing circus in Australian history. 

References

Trove newspapers – https://trove.nla.gov.au

Newspaper Article

https://www.smh.com.au/national/circuss-backbone-thrilled-with-his-feats-20111106-1n1wp.html

Fulford Family

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~jray/gordon/fullford/frederick.htm

Ashton’s Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Joseph_Ashton#:~:text=The%20circus%20was%20founded%20in,times%20of%20the%20nineteenth%20century.

PDF - HORSEMAN OR NO HORSEMAN: CIRCUS IN VAN DIEMEN’S LAND, 1847 TO 1851 by Mark St Leon

https://www.pennygaff.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ielapa.545898401156495.pdf

Music

Lone Harvest, Waltz of the Carnies, Super Circus by Kevin McLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Circus Music – Classic (no copyright)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pctluEhAqBQ

Facebook Group - Morpeth Moments

email: marleneduncan@bigpond.com

This episode contains information of the 5th hanging at Maitland Gaol, NSW. Michael Collihane was charged for the rape of Mrs. Ann Milsom, at Aberdeen, NSW, on 10th May 1851, and hanged thereafter at Maitland Gaol on 2nd October, 1851.

Michael Collihane obtained his Ticket of Leave with Passport, which allowed him to work on squatter's runs and so enabling him to obtain work with Thomas Simpson Hall at Dartbrook Station near Aberdeen, NSW. This was where he was working at the time of the crime.

Note: Thomas Simpson Hall recognised the need for quality working dogs. A cattle dog statue in Aberdeen, NSW commemorates Thomas Simpson Hall and his contribution to the breed.

Facebook Group: Morpeth Moments

Email: marleneduncan@bigpond.com

William Hayes was indicted for the willful murder of Benjamin Cott, at Dagworth, on the 13th November, 1850, by beating and wounding him with a certain blunt instrument, whereof the said Benjamin Cott instantly died. William Hayes was hanged at Maitland Gaol on the 25th April 1851.... but there is more to this story.

References:

Trove newspapers - https://trove.nla.gov.au

Poverty, inequality, and food riots in Limerick City in the 1830s.

https://www.theirishstory.com/2016/02/23/the-1830-limerick-food-riots/#.X2G8nj_ivZY

Lone Harvest, Long Note 3, Old Timey - By Kevin McLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Soundbible.com - free sound effects. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Email: marleneduncan@live.com

Facebook Group - Morpeth Moments

This is the second episode in the series - Maitland Gaol Executions by Hanging. The first two hangings were Melville and Long Harry, executed on 16th September 1843.

George Waters Ward was hanged at Maitland Gaol on 19th March 1849, for the wilful murder of Richard Connolly, otherwise known as Richard King.

I would like to thank my son Brennan, for providing the voice of George Waters Ward. It was his first podcast and I am delighted that he accepted my request to do the voice for me.

Long Road Ahead & Fantastic A - Kevin MacLeod

http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html, Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Trove: https://trovenla.gov.au

Email: marleneduncan@bigpond.com

Facebook Group - Morpeth Moments (has link to podcast and photos)

Maitland Gaol is in East Maitland, NSW and this location was first used as a gaol in 1843, even though incomplete. In the same year, two prisoners were hanged for murder. Sixteen executions by hanging were carried out at the Gaol at the front gates and at the rear corner behind the old kitchen. The hangings took place between 1843 and 1897 - all for rape or murder. First being Melville and Long Harry, the last being Charles Hines/Hynes.

The following episode recounts the crimes committed by Melville and Long Harry, detailed in the Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. It is an historical recount, telling the story of the circumstances that lead up to their execution at Maitland Gaol on 18th October 1843. (Some of the language may be inappropriate in todays era but I have kept some of the terms as used in the newspaper).

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that this podcast contains names of deceased persons.

Lone Harvest: Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Soundbible.com - free sound effects. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Email: marleneduncan@live.com

Facebook Group: Morpeth Moments

Law in Australia

https://wwwalrc.gov.au/publication/recognition-of-aboriginal-customary-laws-alrc-report-31/4-aboriginal-customary-laws-and-anglo-australian-law-after-1788/australian-law-as-applied-to-aborigines

A Short/Long Biography of Sir Alfred Stephen

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/stephen-sir-alfred-1291

Aberglasslyn and Hobler

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davey-moodie-familyhistory/4842420203

The first successful circus in Australia actually originated from Hobart by an Englishman Robert Avis Radford in 1847. He used acts such as equestrianism, acrobats, and clowning, which mimicked the Astley circus in England. It was from this circus that James Henry Ashton, of the Ashton dynasty later established his own circus. The Ashton circus is the oldest continuing circus in Australian history. 

References

Trove newspapers – https://trove.nla.gov.au

Newspaper Article

https://www.smh.com.au/national/circuss-backbone-thrilled-with-his-feats-20111106-1n1wp.html

Fulford Family

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~jray/gordon/fullford/frederick.htm

Ashton’s Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Joseph_Ashton#:~:text=The%20circus%20was%20founded%20in,times%20of%20the%20nineteenth%20century.

PDF - HORSEMAN OR NO HORSEMAN: CIRCUS IN VAN DIEMEN’S LAND, 1847 TO 1851 by Mark St Leon

https://www.pennygaff.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ielapa.545898401156495.pdf

Music

Lone Harvest, Waltz of the Carnies, Super Circus by Kevin McLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Circus Music – Classic (no copyright)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pctluEhAqBQ

Facebook Group - Morpeth Moments

email: marleneduncan@bigpond.com

William Maher arrived at John Green's selection at Burren Station on the day of the tragedy, (4th September 1894) having shaved his whiskers off. He got off his horse near the house and fixed his rifle together, having carried it in pieces. He spoke to John Green, who, not knowing him, said, 'You have the advantage of me.' Maher said, 'You have not got the advantage of me; my name is Maher; and I am going to shoot you.' 

References:
Trove Newspapers - https://trove.nla.gov.au

Music:
Lone Harvest, Long Road Ahead by Kevin MacLeod - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Cold Isolation by Fesliyan - Fesliyan Studios - Free music for non-commercial use from https://fesliyanstudios.com

Email: marleneduncan@bigpond.com

Facebook Group - Morpeth Moments

Charles Hines, condemned to death by the Chief Justice, Sir Frederick Darley, at the Circuit Court held in Maitland in April 1897, for a terrible outrage committed on his step-daughter, at a place called Gundy, near Scone, suffered the last dread penalty of the law within the precincts of the gaol at East Maitland on Friday, the 21st May 1897. He was in the ominous words of the Judge's sentence " hanged by the neck until he was dead." He died firmly and instantaneously.

References:

Trove newspapers:- https:trove.nla.gov.au

Music: 'Lone Harvest', 'Long Note Three', 'The Escalation': By Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
               'The Burning of the Piper's Hut': Pinniped - http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Pinniped/Demo-2016.-.01_The_Burning
_of_the_Pipers_Hut/Comments: -http://freemusicarchive.org/curator:ZiklibrenbiblicensesCopyright:Attribution-Noncommercial-Share_Alike3.0_United_States:  http:/creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us

Sound Effects: Soundbible.com – free sound effects. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Link for story about Robert 'Nosey Bob' Howard - Hangman
Robert ‘Nosey Bob’ Howard | The Dictionary of Sydney
https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/robert_nosey_bob_howard

Email: marleneduncan@live.com

Facebook Group: Morpeth Moments

Michael McMahon  was the 15th person hanged at Maitland Gaol on the 12th December 1871, for the murder of John Jones at Hall’s Creek. 
A magisterial enquiry was held at Denman, on the 8th of June, 1871, before G. A. F. Kibble, Esq, J P , touching the death of a man named John Jones, who was found dead under his dray, near Hall's Creek, on the 7th June. 
-At nine o clock on Tuesday morning, 12th December 1871, the convict Michael M'Mahon (or Mannion, as he called himself) was executed in Maitland gaol, in pursuance of the sentence passed upon him at the October sittings of the Maitland Circuit Court, where he was convicted before Mr. Justice Cheeke of the wilful murder of a man named John Jones, at Hall's Creek, on the 6th June last. 

References:

Trove newspapers:- https:trove.nla.gov.au

Further detailed account of execution - https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103920729?searchTerm=Michael%20McMahon#

Music: Lone Harvest, Grave Matters: By Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Sound Effects: Soundbible.com – free sound effects. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Youtube – Wagon train - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b9iQNvbc9I

Email: marleneduncan@live.com

Facebook Group: Morpeth Moments

There was a sigh of relief when the news got abroad in the middle of August, 1861, that the murderer, Black Harry, was captured. There was great excitement locally when, after his committal at Merriwa, he was brought on to Singleton; and placed in the local lockup. The people turned out in great numbers to get a glimpse of the notorious villain, whose atrocities shocked the whole colony. After a brief sojourn in the lockup here he was taken on to Maitland on the morning of September 7th, 1861.


Music: 
Lone Harvest, Peace of Mind, Long Note Three & Investigations by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.

link for Trove article
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspapers/article/13062400?searchTerm=Harry%27s%20Body%20Hamitlon

References
https://wwwqhrc.qld.gov.au/  data/assets/pdf-file/0013/10606/Aboriginal-timeline-FINAL-updated-25-July-2018.pdf
http://www.workingwithindigenousaustralians.info/content/ History 3 Colonisation.html

The Green family were very well known in the Hunter Valley. Walter Clement Green, vigneron, was the father of Frederick Davies Green, who was charged with the murder of Lilian Bridge, aged 16, daughter of William Bridge, employee of W. C. Green, on 14th April 1908.

References:

Trove newspapers: https://trove.nla.gov.au

Music: Lone Harvest & At Rest: by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Sound Effects: https://youtube.com/audiolibrary/

Website: Appendix H - Non-indigenous Heritage Study

majorprojects.planningportal.nsw.gov.au

History records the tragic tale of the murder of Lilly Bridge in 1908 somewhere between her home and Norwood House. It is thought that Frederick Green (son of Walter Clement Green - winemaker), ambushed Lilly, who had rejected his romantic advances, and murdered her. Lilly was 17 years old and had worked for Mrs. Green. Her father worked for Walter Clement Green and lived in a cottage near to the homestead. Part I details the crime and Part 2 details the conviction, sentence and aftermath of Frederick Davies Green. 

The Burke and Hare murders were a series of 16 killings committed over a period of about ten months in 1828 in Edinburgh, Scotland. They were undertaken by William Burke and William Hare, who sold the corpses to Robert Knox for dissection at his anatomy lectures.

Writing to the Weekly Scotsman, a Leith correspondent says : — ‘In your journal some time ago, I read a powerful narrative of the Burke and Hare atrocities in the West Port of Edinburgh, the writer of which was of opinion that Helen MacDougall had died unknown, and that the accounts of her death in different localities were unworthy of belief. Well, I can vouch for the currency of one rumour, at any rate.’

Resources:

Trove Newspapers & Gazettes:- https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/

Free Settler of Felon - Jen Willetts:- https://www.freesettlerorfelon.com/searchaction.php?page=5&surname=&ship=earl%20of%20liverpool%201831&firstname=

BDM – marriage

https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?3

https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-records/new-south-wales-parish-registers-christ-church-cathedral-newcastle

Court Record Search

https://www.scottishindexes.com/adentry.aspx?adid=830139

The Stentmaisters – Burke and Hare

https://falkirklocalhistorysociety.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/burke-hare-helen.pdf

West Port murders; : or an authentic account of the atrocious murders committed by Burke and his associates; containing a full account of all the extraordinary circumstances connected with them. Author Thomas Ireland

https://archive.org/details/b20443304

Music

Lone Harvest: by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Youtube sound effects

This story is an introduction to my next episode regarding Helen McDougal, paramour of William Burke. William Burke and William Hare committed 16 Killings over a period of about ten months in 1828 in Edinburgh, Scotland. They sold the corpses to Dr. Robert Knox for his anatomy lectures. Edinburgh was the leading centre of anatomical study in the early 19th Century, in a time when the demand for cadavers led to a shortage in legal supply.

The Body Snatcher - Haunted Places: Ghost Stories | Podcast on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5tPELSnFIC9XcU169EgNVt 

John Jones age 24, arrived in Australia on the ship ‘Mary Pleasants’ as a free man, on the 9th August 1857. This episode tells the details of the crime which ended his two year stay in the new country and ended all his ambitions to prosper and succeed as others did on the same journey.
Jim Crow was born in Clarence Town in 1837, south of Maitland, and it is believed he was a member of the Wonnarua people of the Hunter Valley. Little is known about his life prior to his crime, such as his Aboriginal name. 
Jim Crow's skull was kept in the Museum of Victoria for 120 years. Find out how he was found and what happened to him.

References:
Trove: https://trove.nla.gov.au

Repatriation of ancestral remains - Museums Victoria
Book tells of 19th century body-snatching and skull collecting (theage.com.au)
The skull, the phrenologist and the solution to a 150-year-old mystery - The Body Sphere - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Music: Lone Harvest: Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

In 1860, Francis Saville Kent, nearly 4 years old, was taken from his cot and cruelly murdered. His body was found in the privy at Road Hill House, Wiltshire, England. Five years later, Constance Emilie Kent confessed to the crime and served 20 years in prison. When she was released, she emigrated to Australia. For 20 years she was the Matron at Dr. Pierce's Memorial Home in Maitland, NSW under the alias Ruth Emilie Kaye.

References:
Trove newspapers: https://trove.nla.gov.au

Music: Lone Harvest, Darkest Child, Piano Music: By Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License - http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/3.0/

Email: marleneduncan@live.com

Facebook page: Morpeth Moments

Websites:
Murderpedia - Constance Kent | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
Dictionary of Sydney - Kaye, Ruth Emilie | The Dictionary of Sydney

Books:
Noeline J. Kyle: A Greater Guilt: Constance Kent and the Road Murder, Boolarong press, Salisbury, Brisbane, 2009
Barnard Taylor: Cruelly Murdered: Constance Kent and the Killing at Road Hill House, Souvenir Press, London, 1979

In the early decades of the early 20th Century, writes seemed to be looking back nostalgically at what had been lost during colonisation, and they attempted to recreate the past in their literary works.
One such reporter in the 1920's, was the journalist 'The Man in the Mask'. He or she wrote nostalgic stories derived from factual events and real people. This episode follows the case of Richard Darlington and John Johnston. Actual case occurred in 1840 - story written in 1924.

References
Newspapers & Gazettes Home - Trove (nla.gov.au)

Music: Lone Harvest & Walking Alone - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons. By Attribution 3.0 License

1920s AUSTRALIAN CHARLESTON - Ray Tellier san francisco orchestra - yes sir that s my baby - 1925 - YouTube

I have been doing a series about the 16 hangings that occurred at Maitland Gaol from 1843 to 1897. But there was an execution by hanging before the Goal was built and took place in the main street of Maitland in February 1838. 

References
Trove newspaper: - https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/

Music: Lone Harvest & Teller of Tales - Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons. By Attribution 3.0 License

Poverty and Prosperity - https://www.maitland.nsw.gov.au/document/poverty-prosperity-education-resource
Book: Exiled - The Port Arthur Convict Photographs - https://books.google.com.au/books?id=kFO-IsXQnp0C&pg=PA66&lpg=PA66&dq=william+moore+aurora+guernsey+1833&source=bl&ots=8heej-Npc9&sig=ACfU3U1qsTaURxHzs8Y2r4kwPFdT1FFRUw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwip4oDJt7vyAhWNILcAHRMICc4Q6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=william%20moore%20aurora%20guernsey%201833&f=false

On the 25 March 1925, a story appeared on page 3 of the ‘The Don Dorrigo Gazette and Guy Fawkes Advocate’ under the title of “Hunting the Bunyip of Hexham Swamp.”

It appears that three men, Sam Millgate, Bill Wallace and Billy Parkes, back in 1879 swore they heard, during an evening’s wild duck hunt in the Hexham Swamps, what resembled the “roar of a lion” and were terrified by the appearance of a creature with “eyes like golden orbs in the night.”

References:
Trove: https://trove.nal.gov.au
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article171842350
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163226566 

Lone Harvest: By Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

email: marleneduncan@live.com

Facebook group: Morpeth Moments - includes all images

The Australasian Bittern "Bunyip Bird" - NBN newreel youtube

Vicky Vo DIY – Bittern bird sound

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeAH30h9jxo

Bunyip  wikipedia
Bunyip - Wikipedia

Bunyip image
Bunyip | Cryptid Wiki | Fandom

This story was brought to my attention from a listener. The article that led to my investigation began as follows:- Year1897 - "There's a fatality about the Keep family. Yes a fatality. I was  up in Maitland about 15 years ago when a Keep was poisoned. His wife and mother-in-law were arrested on suspicion, and one of them died in gaol. . . . . .Well, there was another Keep a short time back . . .instead of 'whiskey in the jar', it was poison, and one of them died. . . . .And now we have the romance of Sarah Nagle's (nee Keep's) doom". Her skeleton was found in a cave at Heathcote Gully in 1897, five years after she disappeared from her home.

Email from a listener: ‘What is it about Maitland women and their love of strychnine?’

‘The Bishop’s Bridge story is interesting in that Sarah Nagle, store-keeper of West Maitland, was also involved in the Burton/Keep poisoning case, 16 years later. There was a witness in the Police court hearing that said that he had seen Sarah Nagle and Mary Nichols over his fence on the day before he found his dog poisoned. Sarah Nagle nee Keep was William Henry’s Keeps aunt’.

On 27 December 1866, Mary was brought before the West Maitland Police Court and charged with having administered poison to the water cask of Terence O'Brien at Bishop's Bridge. The case came to trial on 23 October 1867 and Mary was found guilty on the lesser charges. She was "sentenced to be imprisoned in Sydney gaol for the space of 18 months".

WARNING: Listener discretion is advised as this story contains information that informs accusations of animal cruelty.

References:
Trove newspapers: https//trove.nla.gov.au

Music: Lone Harvest & This House: Kevin McLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Email: marleneduncan@live.com

Facebook group: Morpeth Moments

William Ross and Jemmy the Chinaman were hanged at Maitland Gaol, NSW on 22nd November 1859. They were the 9th and 10th people to be hanged there.

References:
Trove: https://trove.nla.gov.au

Lone Harvest, Teller of Tales By Kevin Macleod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Xia-Yu by Guifrog https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Guifrog#contact-artist. Attribution 4.0 International (CCBY 4.0) 
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Chinese Judicial Culture: From Tradition to Modernity
http://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/217064399.pdf