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Thursday 12th August 1886Attempted Criminal Assault in a Railway Train.Send us Fan Mail
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.Send us Fan Mail
This episode contains two reports from the devastating floods in the Hunter Valley in 1893. One is of the description of its effects in Maitland and the surrounding area. The other is an extract from the log book of the S. S. Maitland, whilst anchored at Morpeth from the 8th to 13th March, 1893. Following these reports, is the recount of the 1955 flood at Morpeth, NSW as told by Mr. John Wright, resident of Phoenix Park and a descendant of the First Fleeters.Send us Fan Mail
The tendency of the Hunter River to overflow its banks has always been a source of anxiety to the residents in its vicinity. This episode tells 3 stories of its many flood occurrences. One on 1864, one in 1870 and the other, the aftermath as told by a witness, of the 1955 flood at Maitland. Included, is the story of Tiddalick, based on a traditional Aboriginal Dreamtime story and information about some of the Aboriginal sites in the Hunter Valley.Send us Fan Mail
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.Send us Fan Mail
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.Send us Fan Mail
This episode covers the life of Patrick John Kelly, who was for a short time affiliated with the bushranger Frederick Wordsworth Ward, better known as Captain Thunderbolt. In 1865, Fred joined up with Patrick John Kelly and Jemmy the Whisperer and went on a bushranging rampage in the north-western districts.Send us Fan Mail
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.Send us Fan Mail
This episode relates the story of the Wollombi Ghost as reported in The Maitland Mercury in 1857 by Mrs Laskett who lived on the Quorrobolong Estate owned be Mr Edward Charles Close (Jnr.) at the time. Was it a true recount? Did the overseer have something to hide?Send us Fan Mail
Violence against women is one of the world's most intractable problems. Historically, Australian society has told men they need to be physically and mentally tough, which normalised male aggression. During the 19th and 20th century, housewife manuals routinely instructed women, as the 'gentle sex', that it was up to them to manage the moods of the men around them. Warning: This episode may be distressing to some listeners. On the 2 March 1851, Patrick McNamara went to his brother-in-laws hut at Aberglassyn, where his wife Rose was staying and murdered her.From the publisher's feed