Locked Up With History

Angus Murray was the last man to be executed on the gallows of Old Melbourne Goal in 1924.

His life began in Adelaide and would see him incarcerated in 4 states - South Australia, Western Australia NSW and Victoria.

He became a master thief, a conman and a bigamist.  

Murray's last job after his audacious escape from the Geelong Gaol would see him at the end of a noose for the murder of bank manager Thomas Berriman, despite the fact he had not pulled the trigger.

This episode is about the life, criminal career and execution of Angus Murray.

Christmas is supposed to be the season of giving and family and presents.

But it is not everyone's favourite time of year.

A quick look through the newspapers of the day revealed no less than 16 murders and 2 attempted murders here in Victoria, Australia.  And I am sure there are many more interstate and overseas.

This episode is a brief overview of some of those stories.

The Hassett family have their origins in Birdhill, Ireland and is just one of the families with links to the Geelong Gaol.  Over a period of 40 years, at least 4 members of the family have been prisoners of the Geelong Gaol.

It was initially thought this story was of one prisoner who took his own life. But further research showed a family story that linked back to the Geelong Gaol over consecutive generations.

This is a story of a family who arrived in Australia as convicts with branches that are still in existence today. 

Join Deb from the Geelong Gaol Museum and Twisted History to hear the story of the Hassett's just one of the families who graced the inside of the Geelong Gaol!

In 1889, two wily old convicts named Frederick Clarke and Christopher Farrell made the most infamous escape in Geelong Gaol history.  Overpowering a warder in the middle of the night they used a skeleton key to make good their escape over the wall.

Join Deb from the Geelong Gaol Museum and Twisted History to hear the full story of this great escape!

In this episode we head back to earlier and perhaps simpler times to 1854 and Little Bourke street in Melbourne.  Luke and Mary Lucas had immigrated to Australia in 1849 with hopes of a better life.  

But by November 1854, both Mary and Luke would be dead leaving three children as orphans.

What happened to cause Luke to take up an iron bar against his wife resulting in Mary's murder and Luke's execution.

Was it the debauched life they both led in keeping a brothel or the intemperance pointed out by Judge Redmond Barry.

Join Deb from the Geelong Gaol Museum and Twisted History as we explore the story of Luke and Mary Lucas.

What drove a man to murder his neighbours wife and his very own son and leave his wife in a pool of blood clinging to life.

James Ross would be executed for his crimes at the Geelong Gaol, becoming the first regional execution following the passing of the Private Executions Bill, taking executions from the public streets to behind the Gaol walls.

Join Deb from the Geelong Gaol Museum and Twisted History on this episode to hear the full details of the murder of Elizabeth Sayer and the execution of James Ross.

The story of Edward Fuller and his sister in law Ellen is one of jealousy, infedility and murder.  

The events of May 1869 in a small house in Noble Street, Chilwell led to the death of one man and set in play a series of events that led to the entire Fuller family ending up behind the walls of the Geelong Gaol, some as prisoners and some as inmates of the Myers Street Industrial School.

What was it about these events that still echo through the cells and halls of the Geelong Gaol today

Join Deb from Geelong Gaol Museum and Twisted History to hear the full story of her favourite ghost, Edward Fuller!

In this episode we have a look into the life and crimes of one of the more cheekier escapes from the Geelong Gaol.  

John McHenry or James Clark as he was originally known grew up in the streets of Shoreditch in London.  Before coming to Australia he would see the inside of some of the most notorios prisons in England.

McHenry was transported to WA before eventually making his way to Victoria with his family.  It would be here he was introduced to the Geelong Gaol as a prisoner.

In October 1863, Elijah Dixon alias Charles Alfred Dives took an axe and murdered his wife and two small daughters just outside Ballarat.  The couple's two sons were left alive.

What made a husband and father take this course of action - what is jealousy over his belief his wife was being intimate with other men or was it a case of insanity.

Within two years of the murder only one member of the family was still alive .....

On August 21st, 1918 in a tenement in a low class area of Carlton, the body of Roma Smith was found brutally murdered with her throat cut so severly it broke one of her vertebrae.

To this day, the perpertrator of this murder has not been found.  Who was it that left this young woman dead in her own bed.

After listening to this episode on your favourite platform, join us over on the website of Facebook group for any of the media and to discuss the current episode

In 1853, Trooper John Goldman shot his superior Corporal William Harvey in his tent at Buningyong following an altercation with a local shopkeeper over some boxes.  Harvey died 24 hours later and Goldman disappeared for 9 months before being arrested.

Goldman was convicted of wilful murder and was sentenced to death.  It was to be the first public execution in the town of Geelong.

But many people were uneasy with the sentence and appealed to Governor La Trobe which were denied.  The day before the scheduled execution, a local Cobb and Co man rode for Goldmans life with a last ditch appeal.

Listen to find out the full story of John Goldman and what happens next ....

Once you have listened to the podcast, join us over on Facebook to ask any questions or check out the website for any additional information and pictures.

In 1865, two prisoners were let out of the cooks cells to make their way to the kitchens to cook for the rest of the prisoners.  But these two men had other ideas - for one man it would result in him never returning to the Geelong Gaol.  For the other his freedom was shortlived.  This is the story of the escape of William Thompson and Thomas Reynolds.

For over 170 years, the old Geelong Gaol has overlooked the township of Geelong.  It has been a place of incarceration of men, women and children during its 138 years of operational history.  Some of the roles it has been used may surprise you!  In this episode we revisit the history, the building and some the uses it has had!

Join Deb from the Geelong Gaol Museum/Twisted History team as we step back in time and explore the darker side of Victoria's history so those who have come before us are not forgotten or ignored.

Once you have listened to the episode, join us in our Locked up with History Facebook group for more information, photos and to ask whatever questions you have!

So you have come across Locked Up With History amongst your podcast offerings?!  

Welcome!  

But who are we, why are we doing with this podcast, why would you want to listen to me!  Join Deb in this episode for all these answers and much more including what you can expect from future podcasts.

Once you have listened to the podcast, join us in the Locked up with History Facebook group to discuss the episode and ask any questions that you may be keen to have answered!

New episodes fortnightly 

Locked Up With History is our brand new podcast brought to you by the team at Geelong Gaol Museum and Twisted History.  

In this episode we give you a brief overview of some of the topics we will be exploring in upcoming episodes with topics such as the History of the Geelong Gaol, The Near Death of John Goldman, the exploits of Frederick Deeming and ghosts and paranormal investigations.  This together with interviews with historians, mediums and much more .... 

After the podcast, join us in our Facebook group to further discuss each episode.

See you on the darker side of history!

New episodes each fortnight

Connect with us at any of our webpages or in the Facebook group