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A Remarkable Protestation of Innocence and other Documents…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
5-Dec-2014
Lot No.
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Description:
A Remarkable Protestation of Innocence and other Documents relating to the Colin Ross 'Gun Alley' Murder case, including: 1. An envelope addressed to 'Mr C. Ross / Melbourne Gaol' initialled and dated lower left corner 'Hb 17/4/22', inscribed in pencil verso 'Dear friends outside, a few words from Colin Ross who is going to hang an innocent man. I appeal to the people of Australia to see that I get justice. My life as (sic) been sworned (sic) away by Police and wicked people. I ask you this because if they will do it to me they will do the same to you take this to some paper office for me please, I am a (sic) inncocent man' 2. A memorandum on 'The Governor / H.M. Gaol' headed paper, dated 28th June, 1922 to 'T. Kelynack Esq, 'Herald' office' reading ' attached please find envelope you were good enough to lend the Inspector General for the purpose of his inquiry. I am sorry it was detained so long', signed 'H. Barclay', 1 p. with corresponding envelope 3. A 'The Herald' staff pass in the name of 'T.W. Kelynack' including a black and white photograph of Kelynack. The protestation of innocence was discovered by a man named William Dooley on the outside of the perimeter wall to Melbourne Gaol on 18 April, 1922. Dooley passed the note on to Herald journalist Thomas Kelynack who then delivered it to the Governor of Melbourne Gaol Henry Barclay. The note's contents were published in the Herald and its discovery caused much embarrassment to the prison system who were at a loss as to how Ross had managed to get his message to someone on the outside. A full inquiry resulted. Colin Ross was hanged six days after his desperate plea of innocence was found by Dooley. Colin Ross was tried and convicted for the murder of Melbourne schoolgirl Alma Tirtschke. The 'Gun Alley Murder', as it became known caused widespread panic amongst the public and as a result the police force were under immense press to make an early arrest. Despite flawed evidence, Colin Ross was arrested and convicted, largely based on forensic evidence linking Ross to the crime. However, the case was re-opened in the 1990s when the prosecution's case was found to be flawed and forensic tests made at the time proved inaccurate. Based on this new evidence in 2008 Attorney General Rob Hull announced that a miscarriage of justice had occcurred and Colin Ross was granted a posthumous pardon. This was the first pardon ever to be granted to a judicially executed person in Australia. Literature: Morgan, Kevin: gun Alley, Murder, Lies and Failure of Justice, Simon & Schuster, 2005. 'Writer pushes the envelope to note injustice of infamous Melbourne execution', the Saturday Age, 17 June, 2006, p.9.
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified