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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 – James Lithgow – 17th January 1887

Police file – James Lithgow – 17th January 1887

[The following is the transcription of two cyphers. The first being a telegram to the Supt. of Police sent by W.C. Lawrence in Roebourne and then a reply. The first cypher did have spelling errors.]

**********

Electric Telegraph Western Australia
Time 12.37pm January 17th 1887
The following telegram received from Roebourne Station.

To Supt of Police

as lithgow any forther statement grate sospecion here against hbornng making enquiries re lithgo statement which he made to me in Perth.

W.C. Lawrence
Sub Inspector

_________________________

Yes rather different – now says not with them not asked join – saw about midnight three men pass Hotel go to bank – saw Bevan – heard name Pontt – did not know other. McRae not mentioned. Bevan had tomahawk. Heard crash and heavy fall. Men at Bank fifteen minutes. Saw man come out back bank and go to McRae’s store – other two came out front go towards Thompson’s stockyard. Then Lithgow got horse and went to Woolhouse’s – ostler at Thompson’s served him that night with drinks. Thinks he was Dutchman. Thinks Bevan was in shirt sleeves.

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