William Edward Brough, 1913

Below also see: William Edward Brough, 1925,
William Edward Brough, 1929 – Buggery
Brough v. Brough, 1930 – Divorce,
William Arthur Henry Paul, 1934,
William Edward Brough, 1939 – Buggery
William Edward Brough, 1948

 

Barrier Miner, Sat 24 May 1913 ¹

ABOUT TEA.

…
    On May 17, at 39 Wolfram-street, Railway Town, Mr William Edward Brough, who boxes under the professional name of “Sailor O’Dea,” was married to Miss May Victoria Wilcox. The ceremony was performed by the Rev AJ Tuck. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore white silk and orange blossom. The bridesmaids were Miss Lizzie Wilcox and Miss Ellen Foster and the best man Mr William Wilcox. Mr Tom Dunne was groomsman. After the ceremony a pleasant evening was enjoyed by those present. The bridge was the recipient of many costly and pretty presents. After the honeymoon the newly married couple will reside at Railway Town.

 

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William Edward Brough, 1925

The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers’ Advocate, Tue 26 May 1925 ²

THE QUARTER SESSIONS
———◦———

…
    Of the five men arraigned at the Parramatta Quarter Sessions on Monday, two pleaded guilty, and a third was granted an adjournment.

    Judge Rowland presided, Mr BV Stacy prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
…

TALE OF TWO MINERS.

    The arraignment of William Edward Brough was the sequel to a disturbance at Yerranderie on Anzac Day.

    Brough was charged with having assaulted Arthur Herbert Cook, thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm. There was a second count of common assault.

    Both Cook and Brough are miners, and the evidence showed that relations between them had been strained.

    Cook stated that Brough attacked him without provocation, knocking him down and inflicting injuries that necessitated his absence from work for a fortnight.

    Brough’s version was that Cook had struck him first, after calling him a mongrel. “I then struck him several times in the face,” added Brough, “and he fell to the ground. He rolled over and said, ‘I don’t want any more; you’re the best man’.”

    The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy.

    The accused was bound over in the sum of £40, with surety, to come up for sentence if called on within twelve months, and to be of good behaviour for that period.

 

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William Edward Brough, 1929

Evening News, Thu 1 Aug 1929 ³

FIVE YEARS GAOL
————
ABOMINABLE OFFENCE
————

“ON your own statement you are unspeakably filthy,” said Judge Curlewis, at Darlinghurst Sessions this afternoon, when he sentenced William Edward Brough, 40, laborer, to five years imprisonment, for having committed an abominable offence against a young boy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 2 Aug 1929 ⁴

QUARTER SESSIONS.
(Before Judge Curlewis.)
Crown Prosecutor, Mr VH Treatt.

…

SERIOUS OFFENCE.

    William Edward Brough, 40, labourer, was charged with having committed a serious offence [buggery] against his nephew, [William Arthur Henry Paul], a boy 13 years of age, at Campsie, on July 2.

    Mr P Roach appeared for the accused, who was convicted and sentenced to five years’ hard labour.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

William Edward Brough, Gaol photo sheet ⁵

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Gaol Photo Sheet - Transcribed Details

No. 24005

Date when Portrait was taken: 2-8-1929

Name: William Edward Brough

Native place: Tasmania Year of birth: 2-10-1889 Arrived       Ship: in Colony }   Year: BS Trade or occupation previous to conviction  } Stoker or Pugilist Religion: C of E Education, degree of: R & W Height: 5' 6½" Weight     On committal: 162 in lbs     } On discharge: Colour of hair: Brown Colour of eyes: Grey

Marks or special features: Basket of flowers and snake outside left upper arm. Sailor & female figures outside left forearm. Female figure inside right forearm. Wreath of flowers & leaves on chest

(No. of previous Portrait ... )  CONVICTIONS
Where and When				Offence.	Sentence
Goulburn PC Parramatta Q.S Sydney Q.S.	1 26   1	7 5 8	1912 1925 1929	Resist Police Assault occasioning actual bodily harm Buggery	£6.11.0 or 2 months HL £2 or 21 days HL   |  Paid fines Bound over to appear for sentence if called within 12 months 5 years P.S.

 

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Brough v. Brough

Barrier Miner, Thu 18 Sep 1930 ⁶

SYDNEY DIVORCE CASE
———◦———
FORMER BROKEN HILL BOXER
IS THE RESPONDENT
———

Sydney, Thursday.

    Almost unprecedented was the ground on which May Victoria Brough sought a dissolution of her marriage with William Edward Brough, laborer and former boxer of Broken Hill, in the Divorce Court yesterday. In August, 1929, Brough was convicted of an unnatural offence for which he is now serving five years’ penal servitude. It was on this ground that his wife sought to have the marriage dissolved.

    Brough, who appeared in the custody of gaol warders, conducted his own case. He alleged that he was wrongly convicted and also alleged adultery against his wife.

    At the conclusion of the evidence Brough asked that his wife should be put in the witness box, but the judge refused to allow this, as she had given no evidence against her husband.

    A decree nisi was granted returnable in three months.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Thu 18 Sep 1930 ⁷

IN DIVORCE.
(Before the Judge in Divorce, Mr Justice Owen.)

…

Brough v. Brough

    An offence for which respondent was serving a sentence was the ground upon which May Victoria Brough (formerly Wilcox) sought a divorce from William Edward Brough. They were married at Broken Hill on May 17, 1913, according to the rites of the Church of Christ. His Honor granted a decree nisi, returnable in three months.

    Mr HR Hunt appeared for the petitioner. The respondent appeared in person.

 

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William Edward Brough, 1939

Shepparton Advertiser, Fri 24 Feb 1939 ⁸

EX-BOXER FOR TRIAL
———◦———
Alleged Offence
Against Boy
————

 

    Charged with serious offences against a fourteen year old boy, William Edward Brough, 40 years, who described himself as an ex-fighter, was committed for trial by the Shepparton Court of Petty Sessions yesterday.

    Evidence was given by the lad that when riding on a bicycle from Benalla to Shepporton [sic] on Sunday, February 5 accused met him on the road and took him to a hut by the roadside where the first of the alleged offences was said to have been committed. The witness also detailed alleged offences in a waggon at Lake Victoria and at a local boarding house. The witness said accused had told him he was formerly a fighter under the name of “Sailor O’Day.” The said that accused had given him a ladies gold wristlet watch. He had given accused £3 to buy a wireless set.

    Detective R Bickley related how he had interviewed accused and of statements made.

    Bail was not applied for. Messrs JD Mitchell and JH Wilkinson J’sP, were on the Bench.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Age, Thu 16 Mar 1939 ⁹

LAW LIST—This Day

…
    CRIMINAL COURT.—(Before Mr Justice Duffy, at 10.30)
…
    William Edward Brough. Not Before 2.15;

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The Argus, Thu 16 Mar 1939 ¹⁰

LAW NOTICES—(This Day)

…
    CRIMINAL COURT.—Before Mr Justice Gavan Duffy.—
…
    William Edward Brough. Not Before 2.15;

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Age, Fri 17 Mar 1939 ¹¹

LAW LIST—This Day

…
    CRIMINAL COURT. (Before Mr Justice Duffy, at 10.30). William Edward Brough (part heard);

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The Argus, Fri 17 Mar 1939 ¹²

LAW NOTICES—(This Day)

…
    CRIMINAL COURT.—Before Mr Justice Gavan Duffy.—At 10.30—William Edward Brough (part heard), Charles Smith, (part heard).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Age, Fri 12 May 1939 ¹³

LAW NOTICES—(This Day)

…
     CRIMINAL COURT.—(Before Mr Justice Duffy, at 1030).
…
    William Edward Brough;

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The Argus, Fri 12 May 1939 ¹⁴

LAW NOTICES—(This Day)

…
     CRIMINAL COURT.—Before Mr Justice Gavan Duffy.—At 10.30.—Breach of recognisance, Patrick Farren. For sentence: Desmond Patrick Maher Toole, William Edward Brough, Clarence Richard Skinner, Stanley Clarke, Raymond Douglas Higgins, James Robinson Fairburn, Ernest Royal Henry.
…

MALLEE SCHOOLS

    Sir,—While sympathising to a certain extent with the views expressed by “North West Mallee,” I do not think they apply in any way to the big, or fairly big, towns in the Mallee or Wimmera, where the schools are large, airy, and very much cooler than the small, hot homes in which the majority of the children live, and in which they would be compelled to spend the long, tedious, hot afternoons. There are few children who would relax and rest, and in most cases they would be running about the streets in the hot sun, instead of sitting quietly, interested in the light school work.—Yours, &c,

MALLEE HEN.

————

    Sir,—I often wonder if there is any place in the world where white women work longer hours under more trying conditions than the mothers in the Mallee during the summer months. Our pioneer grandmothers did not work so hard, because efficient and cheap labour was usually available. Any help that can lighten the burden of these brave women and their self-reliant, courageous children should be generously and quickly given. Surely, if mothers are aware that their children are attending school under conditions as pleasant as possible it lifts one worry from their minds.—Yours, &c,

Glenrowan.

LHE

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Age, Sat 13 May 1939 ¹⁵

OTHER SENTENCES

    Other sentences imposed by Mr Justice Duffy in the Criminal Court yesterday were:—
…
    William Edward Brough, 56 years, cook and axeman, no fixed place of abode, who pleaded guilty to three charges of having committed an offence, and admitted a prior conviction for a similar offence, was sentenced to a total of six years’ imprisonment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Argus, Sat 13 May 1939 ¹⁶

PRISONERS SENTENCED

    Sentences imposed by Mr Justice Gavan Duffy in the Criminal Court yesterday included:—

    William Edward Brough, aged 56 years, cook and axeman, no fixed address; three charges of having committed unnatural offences; imprisonment for six years. Brough admitted one previous conviction for a similar offence.

    Stanley Clarke, aged 28 years, of Dandenong, labourer; three charges of having committed an unnatural offence; imprisonment for two years.

    Ernest Royal Henry, aged 20 years, of Lygon-street, North Carlton, lacquer-sprayer; two charges of arson and two of shopbreaking; imprisonment for six months.

    Patrick Farren, of Victoria-street. Richmond, labourer; breach of recognisance; imprisonment for 12 months.

    Raymond Higgins, aged 19 years, of Breese-street, Brunswick, radio mechanic, three charges of having been an accessory after the fact of car stealing; imprisonment for three months.
…

NURSE TRAINING
———◦———
Act May Be Amended

    To relieve the shortage of trained nurses legislation may be necessary empowering the Nurses’ Board to alter training conditions.

    The problem can be solved partly by the amendment of existing regulations, but Parliament’s approval may have to be obtained for some of the board’s proposals which were approved by matrons of metropolitan training hospitals at a conference on Thursday. They include reduction of the minimum training age from 18 to 17 years and the fixing of standards of a preliminary course of instruction.

    The board will make detailed recommendations soon to the Minister for Health (Sir John Harris).

————
“REVOLUTIONARY”

    “Nothing short of revolutionary,” was how many nurses described the Nurses’ Board proposals.

    At present 75 per cent of the nurses have not had a chance to make their attitude known to their leaders, but most of them think that the proposed changed should be given a trial.

    Miss Pitchford, the registrar of the Nurses’ Board, said last night that one suggestion was that the training of country nurses should be confined to the country.

    Nurses looked forward also to some scheme for superannuation at 55 years under improved conditions. There was a shortage not only of trainees but of trained staffs in the hospitals.

————————
FETE FOR THE BLIND

    “The home established for Catholic blind people at Prahran has been a great success from the beginning, and its inmates are a happy family of sightless people,” said Archbishop Mannix in opening a fete in St Francis’s Hall yesterday afternoon.

    The fete, which was organised by the Catholic Braille Writers’ Association, will end to-night, and the proceeds will be devoted to reducing the liability on the home.

    After having been welcomed by the Rev Brother PG O’Neill, president of the association, Archbishop Mannix said the establishment of the home was largely due to Rev Brother O’Neill, who, having lost his own sight, realised all that was due from sighted people to those who were sightless.

    The oldest person at the opening ceremony, Mrs E Martin, of Essendon, who is aged 87 years, was introduced to Archbishop Mannix. She said she was born on the site of the Oriental Hotel in Collins street.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Shepparton Advertiser, Fri 19 May 1939 ¹⁷

SENTENCE CONFIRMED
———◦———

    An appeal by William Edward Brough who was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for a grossly indecent offence at Shepparton, was dismissed by the State Full Court.

 

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William Arthur Henry Paul, 1934

 

 

The Argus, Thu 18 Oct 1934 ¹⁸

LAW COURTS
———◦———

…

YOUTH ON MURDER CHARGE
———◦———
SHOPKEEPERS’S DEATH IN
SYDNEY
——
ALLEGED STATEMENT BY ACCUSED

    William Arthur Henry Paul, aged 18 years, appeared in the City Court yesterday to answer a charge of having on September 1 at Waverley (NSW) murdered Paul Drasdoff, a shopkeeper. A remand to October 19 was granted.

    Applying for a remand pending the arrival of a police escort from Sydney, Senior-detective NJ Sloan said that Paul had made a statement in which he had admitted the crime. It was believed that Paul and another man entered Drasdoff’s shop in Fitzgerald street, Waverley. Paul presented a revolver. When Drasdoff called for his wife a shot was fired, and Drasdoff fell dead. When Paul was arrested on Monday and questioned regarding the murder, he had said, “Yes, I did shoot him, but I did not mean to kill him.” He had then made the statement.

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The Canberra Times, Thu 18 Oct 1934 ¹⁹

WAVERLEY MURDER
———◦———
YOUNG MAN CHARGED
————

Melbourne, Wednesday.

    At the City Court to-day William Arthur Henry Paule [sic] (18) was charged with the murder of Paul Drasdoff, a Russian shopkeeper, at Waverley, NSW, on September 1.

    Giving evidence, Senior Detective Sloan said that Paule had made a statement that he shot Drasdoff, but he had not intended to kill him.

    Sloan said that the police alleged that two men entered Drasdoff’s shop, and bailed him up at revolver point. When Drasdoff called out to his wife to ring the police, a shot was fired, and the Russian was fatally wounded.

    Paule was remanded until October 19, pending the arrival of an escort from Sydney. Paule, together with another man, was on remand in Melbourne Court on Monday, charged with vagrancy. The police state that the young men informed Constable Coystt that they had walked to Melbourne from Sydney.

CONFESSION PROVES
FALSE

Sydney, Wednesday.

    Although William Arthur Henry Paul, 18, is allege to have confessed to the Victorian police that he shot Paul Drasdoff, at Waverley, on September 1, the Sydney police announced to-day that they were convinced that his story was a fabrication.

    Shortly afterwards a message was received at the CIB from Melbourne stating that after close interrogation Paul had admitted that he had nothing to do with the murder.

    He is still in custody, however, on the murder charge, and will appear before the Court to-morrow, when the charge will be formally withdrawn. It is not intended to bring him back to Sydney.

    The motive for the “confession” is not yet clear.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Advertiser, Sat 20 Oct 1934 ²⁰

CONFESSES TO MURDER
HE DID NOT COMMIT
———
YOUTHFUL “VAGRANTS’S” STRANGE
ACT

Melbourne, October 19.

    Asking for permission to withdraw a charge of murder which had been preferred on Wednesday against William Arthur Henry Paul, 18, Senior Detective Sloane told Mr Bond, PM, in the City Court to-day that Paul had admitted that his statement that he had murdered Paul Drasdoff, a Russian shopkeeper, at Waverley (NSW), was a fabrication.

    The Sydney police, Senior Detective Sloane continued, had found that Paul was working at the time that Drasdoff was killed. Paul had also been unable to answer certain questions relating to the locality of the crime. He had then said, “I didn’t shoot Drasdoff. I read about it in the paper. I wanted a cheap ride back to Sydney.”

    In granting the application for the withdrawal of the charge, Mr Bond said that Paul had taken up the time of the police, and should be punished for it.

    Senior Detective Sloane said that Paul would appear at the Malvern Court on Monday on the charge of vagrancy on which he was first arrested.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Argus, Sat 20 Oct 1934 ²¹

CONFESSED TO MURDER
———◦———
YOUTH WANTED A FREE
RIDE

    Asking for permission to withdraw a charge of murder which had been preferred on Wednesday against William Arthur Henry Paul, aged 18 years, Senior-detective Sloan told Mr Bond, PM, in the City Court yesterday, that Paul had admitted that his statement that he had murdered Paul Drasdoff, a Russian shopkeepers [sic] at Waverley (NSW) was a fabrication.

    The Sydney police, Senior-detective Sloan continued, had found that Paul was working at the time Drasdoff was killed. Paul had also been unable to answer certain questions relating to the locality of the crime. He had then said:—“I didn’t shoot Drasdoff. I read about it in the paper. I wanted a cheap ride back to Sydney.”

    In granting the application for the withdrawal of the charge Mr Bond said that Paul had taken up the time of the police and should be punished for it.

    Senior-detective Sloane said that Paul would appear at the Malvern Court on Monday on a charge of vagrancy on which he was first arrested.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 20 Oct 1934 ²²

WITHDRAWN.
———◦———
MURDER CHARGE.
——
UNTRUE “CONFESSION.”
——

Melbourne, Friday.

    Asking for permission to withdraw a charge of murder which was made on Wednesday against William Arthur Henry Paul, 18, Senior-detective Sloan told Mr Bond, PM, in the City Court to-day that Paul had admitted that his statement that he had murdered Paul Drasdoff, a Russian shopkeeper, at Waverley, New South Wales, was a fabrication.

    The Sydney police, Senior-detective Sloan continued, had found that Paul was working at the time Drasdoff was killed. Paul had also been unable to answer certain questions relating to the locality of the crime. He had then said, “I did not shoot Drasdoff. I read about it in the papers. I wanted a cheap ride back to Sydney.”

    In granting the application for the withdrawal of the charge, Mr Bond said that Paul had taken up the time of the police and should be punished for it.

    Senior-detective Sloan said that Paul would appear at the Malvern Court on Monday, in reply to the charge of vagrancy on which he was first arrested.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

The West Australian, Sat 20 Oct 1934 ²³

A BOGUS CONFESSION.
———◦———
MURDER CHARGE WITHDRAWN.

    MELBOURNE, Oct. 19.—Asking for permission to withdraw a charge of murder which had been laid on Wednesday against William Arthur Henry Paul (18), Senior-Detective Sloan told Mr Bond, PM, in the City Court today that Paul had admitted that his statement that he had murdered Paul Drasdoff, a Russian shopkeeper at Waverley (NSW) was a fabrication.

    The Sydney police, Senior-Detective Sloan continued, had found that Paul was working at the time that Drasdoff was killed. Paul had also been unable to answer certain questions relating to the locality of the crime. He had then said: “I didn’t shoot Drasdoff; I read about it in the paper. I wanted a cheap ride back to Sydney.”

    In granting the application for the withdrawal of the charge Mr Bond said that Paul had taken up the time of the police and should be punished for it. Senior-Detective Sloan said that Paul would appear at the Malvern Court on Monday on a charge of vagrancy, on which he was first arrested.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Argus, Tue 23 Oct 1934 ²⁴

YOUTHS ON VAGRANCY CHARGE
———◦———
Court Orders Return to Sydney

    Two youths, who told the police that they had walked from Sydney to see the Melbourne Centenary Cup, were convicted and discharged on a charge of vagrancy by Mr Clarke, PM, at the Malvern Court on Monday. They were William Henry Arthur Paul, aged 18 years, and Horace Hayden Drexel, aged 19 years.

    Mr T Clark, an officer of the Prisoners’ Aid Society, told the Court that he had made arrangements to have the youths sent back to Sydney.

    Sergeant Dower, who prosecuted, said that the police were chiefly concerned with having the youths ordered to leave Melbourne. Inquiries had been made regarding them in Sydney, where it was ascertained that Paul had a bad record.

    Plain-clothes Constable Coysh said that he arrested Paul and Drexel in Glenferrie road, Malvern, on the night of October 7. They said they had walked from Sydney to see the Cup. The youths had been in gaol for the fortnight since their arrest.

 

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William Edward Brough, 1948

Advocate, Tue 17 Aug 1948 ²⁵

BIRTHS

…
    BROUGH.—At the Devon Public Hospital, Latrobe, on August 15, 1948, to Mrs WE Brough, wife of Sailor O’Dea (the boxer), a son (Max William).

 

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¹     Barrier Miner, Sat 24 May 1913, p. 7.