What 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 South Australian 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,
lost horses and cattle, deserters from services and from families, escaped
prisoners, missing friends, lost and found items, and reports on those released.
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 persons
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
South Australia in the early 1900s. The CD contains all issues released during
1912 on a single CD.
Example entry taken from the 10 January 1912 issue
Stealing in Dwellings, from the Person &c.
On the 27th ultimo, from a dwelling at Gumeracha, a pair of dark tweed
trousers, light stripe in material, size 6, two front pockets and one hip
pocket, value 15s.; a watch chain, German silver, links in 1/2in. long, with
two or three small links between, new bar to chain, the chain has been
broken and rejoined near swivel; and a silver locket, design similar to
Maltese cross, worn thin on one side, the property of Albert Pople. -
(C.32.)
Example entry taken from the 17 January 1912 issue
Stealing in Dwellings, from the Person &c.
Vide Police Gazette, 1912, page 10 - Re Albert Pople's larceny from a
dwelling at Gumeracha on the 27th ultimo. A portion of the stolen property,
namely the watchchain, has been recovered, having been disposed of by a
swagman, name unknown. - (C.32)
This CD contains high quality scanned images of the whole of the year's
issues. It has been bookmarked for easy navigation. and pages can be searched,
browsed, enlarged and printed out if required.
