Correspondence with the Colonial Secretary's Office

[two oval stamps, top left corner]

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, QUEENSLAND No. 6047 / NOV 23 1883

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, QUEENSLAND 6400 IBl OCT 30 1883

[written diagonally, over letter] ??? 23/11/83

[centred, in pencil] Comiss: Police

Cloncurry N. M. P. Camp

October 17th / 83

Sir

I have the honor to inform you in reference to the leave asked for by Sub: Insp: Clerk, it is almost imperative that it should be granted to enable him to proceed South and consult Medical Authority as he is suffering from secondary symptoms and his body is covered with sores. Under the present circumstances he is totally unfit for duty and cannot patrol. There is no medical man in Cloncurry therefore little chance of him progressing towards convalescence so under these circumstances I earnestly recommend his leave be granted, more especially as it will be impossible to proceed to Lake Nash until after the wet season. I have sent in requisition for supplies for that station to be forwarded to Burketown care of Police Magistrate. Mr Costello the owner of Lake Nash Station has promised to forward all stores and rations by his own teams at current rates of carriage by the time the wet season is over and teams can travel no doubt Sub Insp: Clerk will have completely recovered and will be able

[written diagonally in pencil, bottom-right corner] 24 . 11 . 83

[written diagonally, bottom-left of page]

B.C. 1433. [initials, in pencil] [?] The Hon The Colonial Secretary [written in pencil] 21. 11. 83

The Commissioner of Police [signed] R.Gray B/C [initials] DTS Com Pol

[written lengthwise, in left margin] I would recommend that Sub Inspector Clarke [sic] be dismissed. It is not likely that he will ever on account of his intemperate habits, recover sufficiently to perform police duty - He is a confessed drunkard. [signed] D.T. Seymour CP

*part leave of absence* - report again after advise

*[written in pencil] Advise Sub Insp Ahern by wire [initials] W.F. 4. 12. [A?] -------------- [Away?] 4. 12. 83 ---------------

2517 Police Department Inspector's Office Normanton 20th October 1911,

Suicide of 1st class Constable Edward Patrick Smith of Turn-off-Lagoons on the 13th September 1911. I have the honor to forward herewith copy of the depositions taken at an inquiry into the cause of death of 1st. class Constable Edward Patrick Smith, who committed Suicide by hanging himself in the Police Station Paddock at Turn-off-lagoons on the 13th September 1911. From the evidence adduced at the Magisterial inquiry held before Francis Hugh Myddleton Esq. J.P. at Burketown on the 22nd September last I am of the opinion the deceased committed the rash act while in a State of temporary insanity. It can I think be concluded from the following extracts of the evidence given at the inquiry by the deceased wife Mrs. Smith that whatever was in the correspondence he received on the 7th September seemed to upset his mind. The extracts are in the following terms: -- A " Mr Smith received the Commissioners letter on the 7th instant, after reading his mail

Commissioner of Police Brisbane. ----------------------------------------

INSPECTOR OF POLICE
10 NOV 1911
No.....685....
TOWNSVILLE.

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COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
25001 2-NOV. 1911
[2 or 3 words illeg]

Commis. of Police From Insp Quilters report of 4/9/11 and the evidence taken at the Inquiry into the death of Const Smith it appears to me that Inspc Sweetman's report of 9/7/11 as to Const Smiths ownership of dealings in cattle was made upon insufficient or inaccurate information and seeing that the same witnesses who gave evidence at the Inquiry were accessible to the Inspr I am afraid as much[?] was not done in the way of [notification?] as might have been -- I recommend that the papers be referred to the Inspr FC Urquhart 3/11/11 Chief Insp.

B/C Approved. Return papers for further report. [initials] 14/11/11 11/30116 Insp Sweetmans report dated 19.1911 referred to Inspr Brett 18/18/11

the verandah "and told me he was very Sick". and said "I may die anytime" and asked me to put my hand on his head I did so and told him your [sic] good yet, He then asked me if I thought the Burketown doctor could cure him. I said yes. Mr. Smith then said Bob you think you can drive me to Burketown (Bob is also known as Johnnie} Bob said yes boss. I stayed with Mr. Smith till 2.5. a.m. then Mr. Smith Said to me you go home and sleep as tomorrow you will have plenty to do. I think Mr. Smith was unsettled in his mind as he could not keep quiet".

E. Extract from Corporal Jonnie's evidence. I am a Tracker Stationed at Turn-off-Lagoons. I remember the day Mr. Smith hanged himself. The night before I was at the Police Station. I saw Mr. Smith there, he was walking about. I think he was mad. we had to watch him all night. he was running about the yard and garden singing out. I heard him ask Mrs Smith for a revolver. but she did not give it to him. just before daylight he told me to get the horses up as he might get better in the bush. I went for the horses he was at the house then. I brought the horses up and as I Came up I could here crying. it was Mrs. Smith and the gins. My gin Kitty met me and told me. Boss dead, I went over to where they were and saw Mr. Smith dead on the ground. I am certain it was Mr.

Mr. Smith I saw dead.

F. Mr. Smith has never had any cattle or worked among cattle during the two years I have been with him. I have never Known him drink grog."

As can be seen from the above extracts taken at the inquiry. Both Mrs. Smith and Corporal Johnnie, in their evidence, (the former on oath and the latter by affirmation) stated that 1st Class Constable Smith had no cattle at Turn-off-Lagoons.

I asked Corporal Johnnie. who is now here how Mrs. Smith get milk at Turn-off-Lagoons. he replied plenty goats.

According to See Too Hee's evidence Turn-offLagoons Station. where he is employed as Cook, is only about 80 yards from the Turn-off-Lagoons Police Station.

| I may mention in passing that Inspector | Sweetman. left here for Townsville on transfer, on | the very day the inquiry was being held at | Burketown into the cause of death of Smith.

The reason I have given only a portion of the evidence taken at the inquriy in this report is that the epitomized portion contains I think a clear conception of Smiths condition before he hung himself, and that the Head Office may grasp the principal facts without having to wade through the whole depositions.

There are reports from Acting Sergeant Gilchrist and Constable Logan attached which are I think immaterial but under the circumstances I am forwarding them,

I have the honor to be Sir, your most obedient Servant, Geo. Brett Inspector.