701. Muriel Strickland
BULL-STRICKLAND -July 17, at St Phillip's Church, Sydney, by the Revd. H. T. Langley, William Alexander, eldest son of H T R Bull, of Mosman, to Muriel, only daughter of J R Strickland of Forbes.
Source: The SMH 7 Aug 1907
Bank Accountant Shot. SYDNEY Monday.
What is believed lo be an accidental shooting case resulted in the death of Mr, William Alexander Hull, accountant at the Commercial Bank, Forbes. - Shortly before one o'clock on Saturday a shot was heard and deceascd was found on the floor, the trunk revolver, with one chamber discharged, lying near his hand. There was a wound reaching from under the right jaw to the left side of the head, but the medical evidence showed that there were no marks on the face of bursts from the powder. The occur rence is supposed to have been accidental, as deceased was in good health and spirits, and his accounts were balanced. Mr. Fletcher, acting Police Magistrate, held an inquiry, the rerdict being to the effect that death was due to gunshot wound, whether caused accidentally or otherwise there was not sufficient evidence to show.
Source: The Monaro Mercury and Cooma and Bombala Advertiser 4 Nov 1907
1705. Nellie Alexander Bull
Romance Of Social Figures Comes To End
MAN ABOUT TOWN BECAME A PHILANDERER — Beauty In Flat Covered With Eiderdown
SWIFTLY turns the wheel of circumstance, coincidence, fate, destiny call it what we will. Love becomes indifference, the warming glow of romance, its glamor gone, fades and a man, once in love with his wife, finds that his heart has turned to another woman. Life plays tricks like that. Nor was charming Mrs. Nellie Alexander learning, despite her sheltered live and position in social circles that people often call exclusive, saved from the gloom that comes with a husband's philandering. Who of the invited guests and there were many whose names often appear in the social register among the 400 who thronged the Church of St. Mark, at Darling Point, one sunny January day in 1932, imagined for a moment that the groom, William Patterson Gunning, handsome young clubman, merchant, and man about town, always sartorially resplendent, one day was to turn philanderer; and that the blushing bride, bewitching in her silks and satins, one day was to sit with bowed head in a divorce court this last week while the story of her husband's carryings-on and discovery in a luxurious Edgecliff flat with a nude and beautiful young woman was being told to a judge
STILL, changes often come quickly. A business trip to England, the awakening of a shipboard romance in which Gunning better known to his intimates as 'Bill' met Nell Cunningham, Venus-like in her proportions and finely featured, saw Nellie Gunning fastly sent to join that legion of women who have lost husbands to the arms of other women. It could have been fate, or just plain coincidence, that brought together the young man and Nellie Cunningham, said to be a wealthy young Queensland woman interested in a society shop in Sydney. They were seen on the Monterey. Sydney bound, towards the end of last year. By December, Dunning had definitely cast himself into an unconventional love affair with her, and on Christmas morning, while his wife was holidaying with a house party at Southport, Queensland, was found in his Edgecliff flat under circumstances that left no doubt about the friendship, and brought the sad eyed wife before Mr. Justice Pike last week to sue for a divorce on the ground of his adultery with Nellie Cunninghani. All anflutter. Most news travels fast. The more scandalous it is, the quicker it is noised about. And it was little wonder that society devotees were aflutter as 1934 drew to a close when the gossips became busy, and it was learned over the tea cups and at cocktail parties that things weren't as they should have been with Bill Gunning and the charming Nellie, his wife. Gunning, a member of the Australian Golf Ciub, was always to be met where the happy hearted young men of his set gathered. But he was too fashionable, and the wife was left larmenting. In March last year. Gunning, in business for himself as a merchant in York-street, went for a business trip to England. He returned via America on the Monterey which arrived on August 13 - fateful 13th. Of course, the wife, thrilled by the thoughts of a happy reunion, was down at the wharf to greet him. But it was a different husband who was homing no longer the warm attentive man who had gone away. He was with Nellie Cunningham. The wife, with usual womanly intuition, couldn't help but notice that they seemed interested in each other. But she was interested, too. And later she asked her husband who the girl was. Frankly, he told her she was Nell Cunningham. Why, the two Nells had been to school together. But his wife couldn't remember. However, she did notice that he had changed, he was no longer so affectionate towards her. 'He seemed to be just indifferent,' said Mrs. Gu ning, to her counsel, Mr. T. P. Mac Mahon (instructed by Messrs. Allen, I Allen and Hemsley.) The wife went to Southport. But by then, she had formed definite opinions, and had become highly suspicious. She made a confidant of her step-father, Cecil Vernon Cobcroft. And it was Cobcroft who drew the curtain aside of the husband's doings during his grass widowerhood. Cobcroft with his wile, James Wil liam Bear, private inquiry agent, and an assistant, caught the young husband in the Edgcliff flat with Nellie Cunningham. Thus found out, a day after the raid, Gunning wrote to his wife from the Royal Automobile Club, where her husband had taken up quarters. 'Dear Nellie,' the letter ran, 'you have doubtless been advised at great length by your family of tbe episode that occurred on Monday night last, so I need not give you any details. 'You have all the evidence you require for a divorce, and you probably will commence proceedings at an early date. You can say what you like about me. ' but all I ask you is that Nellie Cuuningham's name be kept out of it. She personally is only considering her family, who are particularly well known and most respected in Queensland. And what were those details of which he spoke in his letter? They were given both by her step-father, with whom she lives in Manning road, Double Bay, and Bear. On the information supplied by his step-daughter, Cobcroft moved. But first he noted with considerable interest a par in the social columns of a Sydney paper announcing that Miss Nellie Cunningham was down from Brisbane, and was staying at King's Cross. Cobcroft watched on Christmas Eve. Taking up a position near Ocean-street, Woollahra, about nine o'clock, he saw Gunning drive along Edgecliff-road, then go along and stop in front of the place where Nellie Cunningham was staying. Before Midnight. The fair and frail Queensland visitor was picked up, and the pair drove into town, Nellie was dropped in Martin place, and Gunning was lost in the traffic. However, Cobcroft knew exactly what to do. First he got in touch with Bear, and they started a vigil near the Gunning apartment in Edgecliff-road. They were there from some time after 10 o'clock. Just before midnight, Gunning drove up with Nellie Cunningham. Both were in evening dress. The car pulled in at the side of the flats, and they disappeared. The stepfather knocked at the door. In a moment, without any delay, a light was switched on in the hall with in, and Gunning's voice was heard to inquire, 'Who's there?' He was readily informed, and he opened the door. A quick inspection by the arrivals showed that all he had on was a silk dressing gown. : 'You have a woman in this flat. Where is she?' demanded Cobcroft. Gunning made no reply. They decided to see for themselves. They hurried along a passage, and entered a bedroom, the bed in which, they noted, had been disturbed. There was no wo man there. But there was in the adjoining dressing room. She was partly hidden by a wardrobe. She was in the nude. The raiders looked around them. Her lingerie— shoes, stockings, and undies were scattered everywhere. In a heap was Gunning's clothes. Gunning next asked if he could have a talk with Miss Cunningham. They agreed. And. bv the time you come back, I would like her to put something on, Bear told him. The pair went away for five minutes, and returning said that they would sign a confession. He took Bear into another room. Forlornly, Nellie Cunningham was found seated there with an eiderdown quilt wrapped around her. The confession was made out and signed. 'I, William Patterson Gunning.' It read do hereby confess that at 12.35 a.in on December 25, 1934, I was found in a bedroom at this address with Nell Cunningham. of Queensland, and we were accosted in the said bedroom by private detective Bear and Mayo, and Mr. and Mrs. Cobcroft, my father and Mother-in-law. 'Mrs. Crobcroft took possession of certain feminine attire, but private detective Bear suggested that if this confession was signed and a receipt given, the clothes and property be handed back. Miss Cunningham was naked. Signed William Patterson Gunnlng Nell Cunningham. According to Bear's testimony, Gunning was perfectly sober, but there were signs of drink on Miss Cunningham, though she was not drunk. A formal charge of adultery was made. 'That is obvious,' said Gunning. The man had cast the die. Coincidence or destiny had turned the wheel. The romance of 1932 was over. The decree nisi granted by the judge came as the climax. And with bowed head, no doubt with tears in her eyes, the wife left the courtroom, victim of the foibles that, will turn a man's love into indifference and send him to the arms of another woman.
Source: Truth 6 Oct 1935
Suffocated by Nitric Acid Fumes.
Penrith, Wednesday —
John Lennox, one of the oldest guards on the railway, died at the Penrith Hospital at about half past 5 o'clock this morning. He was guard of the goods train going west. The train had a push up engine behind it. About 2.30 this morning, near Woodford Station, 51 miles from Sydney, the driver of the rear engine noticed that the brakes had been applied and smoke was issuing from the brake van. The rear driver then whistled to the front driver, and the train was brought to a standstill. Lennox, who appeared to be thoroughly exhausted, was trying to get out. It was found that a vessel containing nitric aoid had burst, and the fumes had overpowered him. He was at once , brought on to the Penrith Hospital, Dr. Higgins and Dr. MacMaster were in attendance. Lennox died five minutes after being admitted. He leaves a widow and a large family.
Source: The Scrutineer and Berrima District Press 2 Jan 1904
ACQUITTED.
Edward Alexander Wesala pleaded not guilty to a charge of feloniously receiving four pairs of trousers, two hats, two pairs of shoes, a rug, three shirts, and other articles, the property of Henry Gregory Murray, at Freshwater, on April 19. Accused was found not guilty, and discharged
Source: The SMH 10 Nov 1922
1718. John J Lennox
Deaths
John James Lennox.
There died, at his mother's residence, Victoria street, Rookwood, on Friday of last week, the eldest son of Mrs Sarah and the late John Lennox, of Penrith, aged 16 years. The lad was smart and intelligent, and gave great promise to his widowed mother, wife of the late Guard John Lennox, who died from the effects of leaking chemicals in his breakvan whilst on duty. Master Lennox was a nephew also of Mrs W Lennox, of Penrith.
Source: Nepean Times 12 Aug 1911
1728. Edward Josiah Stanton
REMANDED
Edward Josiah Stanton (29) and Robert Wm. Dunlop (20), at Parramatta Police Court yesterday, were charged with having broken and entered the store of Claude William Davis, at Seven Hills, on July 12, with intent to steal. Applying for a remand, Sergeant Hart said that the inquiry into the death of the man who was shot in conection with this alleged offence would be held next Tuesday. The defendants were remanded until July 29. Bail was fixed at £80 in each case.
Source: The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Adocate 23 July 1931THEFT AT STORE
Sequel at Sessions
Three men visited the store of Claude William Davis, at Seven Hills, early in the morniog oh Tily 10 One, William Carroll, was shot by the storekeeper. The other two - Edward Josiah Stanton (29) and Robert William Dunlop (20) appeared at the Parramatta Quarter Sessions on Tuesday, and pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering the store and stealing groceries and other articles Stanton was sentenced to eighteen months hard labor; Dunlop, to nine months
Source: The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate 8 Oct 1931
1731. Edward John Stanton
Divorced in 1922