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Foretold: Australia's Whiskey Au Go Go Fire - Part 3
Episode 116
John Stuart spent years insisting he had been framed.
Most people dismissed the claim as just another excuse from a career criminal with a long history of arrests, escapes, and bad decisions. But the attempted murder conviction that haunted Stuart's life may not have been as straightforward as it appeared.
In Part 3 of our Whiskey Au Go Go series, we examine the 1965 shooting of Sydney underworld figure Jacky Steele, the conviction that transformed Stuart into a deeply paranoid man, and the conspiracy he believed followed him for the rest of his life. Along the way, Stuart develops an obsession with alibis, begins documenting his movements through postcards, befriends one of Queensland's most respected detectives, and repeatedly warns nightclub owners about the growing threat of protection rackets.
As Brisbane's criminal underworld collides with allegations of police corruption, organized crime, and extortion, Stuart finds himself once again at the center of the story. The question is whether he's a whistleblower, a criminal opportunist, or something in between.
Because when the Whiskey Au Go Go burns, investigators will discover that John Stuart had been warning people for months that a nightclub was going to be firebombed.
The problem is that John Stuart was also the man they suspected of setting the fire.
Sources for this episode include Geoff Plunkett's excellent book, The Whiskey Au Go Go Massacre: Murder, Arson and the Crime of the Century, along with contemporary reporting and historical records. If you'd like a much deeper dive into the case, we highly recommend the book.
As always, keep your exits clear and your fire escapes free of storage.
CHECK OUT MY NEW AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.anauthornamedapril.com
The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.
Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments:
Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer, Laura Pisciotta, and Jason Wolfe for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes.
Listener discretion is advised.
Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated
Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com
Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.
If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.
SOURCES:
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By lilpyrogirl
5
5656 ratings
Episode 116
John Stuart spent years insisting he had been framed.
Most people dismissed the claim as just another excuse from a career criminal with a long history of arrests, escapes, and bad decisions. But the attempted murder conviction that haunted Stuart's life may not have been as straightforward as it appeared.
In Part 3 of our Whiskey Au Go Go series, we examine the 1965 shooting of Sydney underworld figure Jacky Steele, the conviction that transformed Stuart into a deeply paranoid man, and the conspiracy he believed followed him for the rest of his life. Along the way, Stuart develops an obsession with alibis, begins documenting his movements through postcards, befriends one of Queensland's most respected detectives, and repeatedly warns nightclub owners about the growing threat of protection rackets.
As Brisbane's criminal underworld collides with allegations of police corruption, organized crime, and extortion, Stuart finds himself once again at the center of the story. The question is whether he's a whistleblower, a criminal opportunist, or something in between.
Because when the Whiskey Au Go Go burns, investigators will discover that John Stuart had been warning people for months that a nightclub was going to be firebombed.
The problem is that John Stuart was also the man they suspected of setting the fire.
Sources for this episode include Geoff Plunkett's excellent book, The Whiskey Au Go Go Massacre: Murder, Arson and the Crime of the Century, along with contemporary reporting and historical records. If you'd like a much deeper dive into the case, we highly recommend the book.
As always, keep your exits clear and your fire escapes free of storage.
CHECK OUT MY NEW AUTHOR WEBSITE: www.anauthornamedapril.com
The Crime to Burn Patreon - The Cult of Steve - is LIVE NOW! Go join and get all the unhinged you can handle. Click here to be sanctified.
Inner Sanctum Acknowledgments:
Eternal gratitude to our Inner Sanctum patrons, Melanie Curtis, Jenny Mercer, Laura Pisciotta, and Jason Wolfe for helping us bring light to the stories others would rather leave in the ashes.
Listener discretion is advised.
Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated
Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com
Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review.
If you need a way to keep your canine contained, you can also support the show by purchasing a Pawious wireless dog fence using our affiliate link and use the code "crimetoburn" at checkout to receive 10% off. Pawious, because our dog Winston needed a radius, not a rap sheet.
SOURCES:
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