• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Roebourne Bank Murders

Roebourne Bank Murders

The 1885 murders of William Anketell and Henry Burrup at the Union Bank Roebourne and the ensuing investigation and controversy.

  • Home
  • Summary of Events
  • Witness accounts of murder scene
    • by F.C. Broadhurst
    • by W.M. Thomas
  • Police File
  • Depositions
  • The murder trial
  • Newspaper Articles
    • The West Australian
    • The Fremantle Herald
    • The Argus
    • The Enquirer
    • The Eastern Districts Chronicle
  • Motive and musings
    • Prejudice and rumours
    • The Motive
    • The psychology behind the murders
    • My Musings
    • Who did it?
  • Roebourne in 1885
  • Roebourne maps and photos
    • Western Australia
    • 1885 Roebourne Town Map
    • Early Maps of Roebourne Townsite
    • Roebourne and Surrounding Country
    • Early photos of Roebourne
  • Biographies
    • Thomas Anketell
    • Henry Thomas Wood Burrup
    • Frederick Bevan
    • Charles Warburton
    • James Lithgow
    • The Pontt Brothers – William and Augustus
    • Caroline Platt
  • Memoir Extracts
  • Can you help with these names?
  • Bibliography
  • Acknowledgements

Police file – George Stevens – 11th – 19th July 1890

Police file – George Stevens – 11th – 19th July 1890

Police Department Sub-inspectors office
Bunbury WA
11.7.90

I have to inform the Commissioner of Police on 7th July Mr G.M. Stephens who represented one of the men that was charged with the Roebourne murders informed me that he thought the murderer would come to light. He had a long talk with the Chinaman San Qui. Mr Stephens states that he would be willing to go to Roebourne if the Government employed him as a private detective but should organise to have full power to [?], but not to be known that he was at Roebourne for that purpose. He says that he is of opinion that the guilty person is at Roebourne, he also tells me that he has spoken to the Manager of Union Bank at Bunbury some days back. I have seen the [?] and find that what Mr Stephens said is correct and he will be visiting [?]

*****

Sub Inspector Back

Having received this information from Mr Stephens you should have interviewed San Qui and have ascertained upon what terms he would go to Roebourne, for how long and when he would be ready to go.

It is to be regretted that he did not communicate direct with you instead of this third party. As it is the chances are that it will become known and that a rumour will reach Roebourne and the object of San Qui’s presence become common property.

Geo Phillips
Commissioner of Police
16.7.90

*****

E.G. Back
Sub Insp.
11.7.90

I think you must have misunderstood that it was Mr Stephens said he would go to act as a private detective if the government would like to employ him. I do not know what information he is in possession of. The Chinaman would be prepared to go at any time if he could get the means to go. He is next door[?] to [?] and told me if he had the means he should go at once to Roebourne.

E.G. Back
Sub Inspector
19.7.90

Primary Sidebar


This website was selected for preservation by the State Library of Western Australia. It is now listed in perpetuity on PANDORA, Australia’s website archive established by the National Library of Australia.

Copyright © 2023 · Fran Yeoh. All rights reserved.