Ku-ring-gai Clippings Vol 6

Ku-ring-gai Clippings
Being a collection of 19th and 20th century newspaper articles with a connection to the Municipality of Ku-ring-gai.

Compiled by: R.N.Whitaker
email: whitsend1@optushome.com.au

Volume 6

Pioneer Merchant Dead

Sydney, The Canberra Times, Thursday 30th August 1951

SYDNEY, Wed. - Founder of the well-known Sydney hardware firm of Nock and Kirby, Mr. Thomas Nock, died today, aged 91, at his home in Stanhope Road, Killara. He founded the business 51 years ago with Mr. H. Kirby, who survives him.

Under the chairmanship of his son, Sir Norman Nock, the company now employs about 750 people.

A DARING OUTRAGE.

WESLEYAN MINISTER STUNNED AND ROBBED.

Sydney, The Adelaide Advertiser, Thursday 22nd August 1907

An assault and robbery of a serious nature at Warrawee, on the North Shore line, was reported to the police this morning.

A Wesleyan minister, the Rev. James Hindson, living at that place, was set upon at an early hour this morning, stunned, and robbed of valuables. It appears that Mr. Hindson arrived at the Warrawee station by the last train, and was proceeding to his home not far away, when he was suddenly assailed.

He remembers little of the affair, but on regaining consciousness he found that his gold watch, some money and a bag he was carrying had been taken.

With some difficulty he managed to make his way home, where he now lies in a serious condition.

D.F.C. AWARD FOR CHATSWOOD PILOT

Sydney, The Canberra Times, Thursday 25th February 1943


Exploit in Tripoli Advance

Leading an RAAF, squadron with great distinction during the British advance into Tripoli, Acting Flight-Lieut. Frank Ronald Schaaf, of Chatswood, N.S.W., destroyed three enemy aircraft in combat and, while attacking Castel Benito, destroyed an enemy machine on the ground.

For these exploits he has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the citation for which was released by the Minister for Air (Mr. Drakeford) yesterday.

Mr. Drakeford said that on another occasion Schaaf led a formation attacking five Fockewulfes, three of which were destroyed.

KILLED BY A TRAIN

Sydney, March 29th 1916 – The Adelaide Advertiser

A railway fettler, Mr. Daniel Booth (35), who resided in Chatswood, was run down and killed by a train between Artarmon and Chatswood early yesterday morning.

THE CHATSWOOD TRAGEDY - A TERRIBLE STORY.

WHAT NEIGHBOURS SAW AND HEARD.

SYDNEY, April 27 1910, The Mercury

The inquest on the body of" Florence May Phillips, the victim of the Chatswood murder, began today.

Mrs. Phillips, mother of the child, gave evidence as to her husband William Phillips, and, she going to Sydney on the afternoon of April 17, and to his drinking.

Dr. Palmer, the Government medical officer, deposed to making a post-mortem examination of the deceased's body, and finding a fracture of the skull and a cut in the throat, which divided the ' windpipe, the right carotid artery, and the right jugular vein. There were ether injuries which would support the theory that the child had been outraged.

Mary Jane Foslin deposed that Phillips arrived home about midnight on April 17, caught her bv the throat, and nearly choked her. She screamed, and got away. "Wickie" called out from the bedroom, and said she would tell "musser on daddy," and Phillips said to the child, "I'll cut your-throat." Running into the other room he caught "Wickie'' by the hand, and the witness, becoming frightened, ran home.

Elizabeth Morris, known in the case as Mrs. Bundy, said she remembered Phillips coming to her house between 1 and 2 o'clock on Sunday morning. He asked where his wife was, and she replied, "She went into town to look for you."

Phillips then said his wife gave him the slip in town, and when he left to go home he said, "I'll burn the - house down, and I'll take care that the kiddies are in it when I set light to it." Later on the witness's little girl came into her room and said that Phillips's house was on fire. She looked out and saw a flare in tho direction of Phillips's house, and told Bundy to go and find out what it was. Bundy replied that it was only Chinamen burning rubbish.

Phillips returned to the house about10 a.m., and when questioned regarding the flare said he had been burning blankets. Witness's little girl Olive told her that Dolly Phillips, the second child, was saying something, and witness on going on to the verandah, heard the child speaking as if to herself. "Poor Wickie', daddy hit her on the head with a bottle."' She asked the child what had become of Wickie, and Dolly replied, "Daddy take her away to bush."

After further evidence tho inquiry was adjourned.

WILLOUGHY TRAGEDY

PHILLIPS FOUND GÜILTY AND GIVEN THE DEATH SENTENCE.

Sydney, September 14th 1910 The Advertiser

The trial of William John Phillips on a charge of having murdered his eight-year old daughter at Willoughby on April 17, was continued to-day. The judge occupied two and a half hours in summing up. He referred to the callous manner which Phillips exhibited when the body of the little girl was unearthed, and asked if any reasonable person would come to the conclusion that the blankets were burned on Sunday (when they could not be replaced) because they were vermin-infested, or because they had stains on them which would have led to the detection of the crime.

The jury, after a couple of hours deliberation, found the prisoner guilty.

Phillips had nothing to say.

His Honour said-"You have been found guilty of a most foul and cruel murder, and it is my duty to pass sentence upon you." Phillips was then sentenced to death, his Honour's concluding remark being, "May the Lord have mercy upon you."

Phillips, in a low voice, said, "Thank, you," and was then removed from the dock. On hearing the verdict Mrs. Phillips, the prisoner's wife, who had left the court just before the jury came in, fainted.

THE WILLOUGHBY TRAGEDY

PHILLIPS NEVER TO BE LIBERATED.

Sydney, October 25 1910 The Advertiser

The New South Wales Executive Council this afternoon commuted the death sentence upon William John Phillips, who murdered his eight-year-old daughter at Willoughby, to penal servitude for life. It is not intended that Phillips shall ever be liberated.