You've heard of them ... but what really is a Police Gazette?
Compiled to be distributed amongst the Police Force only, Police Gazettes
contain details and information that can not be found anywhere else. Produced at
regular intervals (usually once a week), it was a way of making information
available to all in the Police Force throughout the whole state.
What information can be found in a New South Wales Police Gazette?
The information contained in the Police Gazettes does vary a little from
year to year, but overall you will find details of any changes within the police
force which are all listed (promotions, demotions, discharges, resignations,
deaths), information is also given on housebreak-ins, robberies, arson, murders,
rewards, warrants issued, lists of those arrested and discharged, lost horses
and cattle, deserters from services and from families, escaped prisoners,
missing friends, lost and found items, inquests, prohibited immigrants, and
publicans licences. Notices from interstate police gazettes are usually included
if it was felt that the person may be heading towards that state.
How can this help me?
Anyone researching their family will have a 'lost' family member or two! You
may well find them listed here, being on either side of the law. Or maybe they
were a Policeman who transferred to another department or division, or someone
that was a victim of a crime. You can find the physical details on people listed
here, missing, wanted or released, which helps to paint a picture of them (name,
aliases used, age, height, colour hair, colour eyes, distinguishing features,
even colour clothing worn).
Far from being just a unique and extremely fascinating resource for local,
family and social historians - they are useful for anyone with an interest in
New South Wales in 1913. The CD contains all issues that were released during
that year.
Example entries taken from the 4 June 1913 issue:
Murder
Muswellbrook.-Alfred Brown (45) and
Gladys May Cribb (18 1/2), charged with the murder of an infant named Cyril
Cribb at Muswellbrook, on or about the 17th April, 1913, have been arrested,
Cribb by Sub- Inspector Somervaille, West Maitland Police, on information
supplied by Constable Holby, Muswellbrook Police, and Brown by Detective
Surridge and Constables Holby and Webb, Newcastle and Muswellbrook Police.
Committed for trial by the Muswellbrook Coroner at the Newcastle Circuit
Court.
Attempted Murder
Yass.-Etbel Armstrong (28), charged on
warrant with feloniously attempting to administer poison to Elizabeth
Armstrong (her mother-in-law) with intent to murder, has been arrested by
Constable C. Leonard, Hydney Polite. Remanded to Yass, and committed for trial
at Yass Sessions. Bail allowed.
Robbery Under Arms
Vide Western Australia Police Gazette, 1913. page 103
FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS REWARD.
Bullfinch.-Whereas, during the night of the 2nd May instant, a quantity of
retorted gold, of the value of about £3,000, was stolen from the premises of
the Bullfinch Proprietary (W.A,), Limited, at Bullfinch. Notice is hereby
given that His Excellency the Governor will be advised to extend a free pardon
to any accomplice, not being the person, or one of the persons,
who actually committed the above offence, who shall first give such
information as shall lead to the apprehension and conviction of the actual
offender, or of one of the actual offenders. And a notice is further given
that the Local Secretary of the Bullfinch Proprietary (W.A.), Limited, has, on
instructions from the managing director Mr. D. L. Doolette, offered a reward
of Five hundred pounds (£500) for recovery of the stolen gold. Information
to the Officer-in-Charge Criminal Investigation Branch, Perth, or any Police
Station.
R. CONNELL,
Commissioner of Police.
Far from being just a unique and extremely fascinating resource for local,
family and social historians - they are useful for anyone with an interest in
New South Wales in 1913. The CD contains all issues that were released during
that year.
High quality scanned images of the whole years worth of issues. This CD has been bookmarked for easy
navigation, and pages can be searched, browsed, enlarged and printed out if required.
