Our History: Mayhem the mark of the past | September 21

Part 1 appeared in Tuesday’s Crookwell Gazette, following is Part 2:

In the year of 1887 the shire was plagued with an outbreak of diphtheria and typhoid fever.

It affected both young and old and in some cases complete families died.  

One could write a 500 page book on all the crimes, tragic deaths, accidents, suicides and murders that have happened within the shire. 

People died tragically by fires, falling from horses, suffocation, drowning, and cave-ins in mines, floods, shootings, hangings stabbings, bashings and poisonings.

Some stories are well publicised, like the reports of Ellen Monks from Phil’s River who murdered her husband Thomas Monks.

She was consequently found guilty and hanged in Goulburn on May 8, 1860. 

Her body was placed in a coffin, and with her were deposited the burnt remains of her husband for whose death she was responsible.

Another well-publicised murder trial was held in Crookwell in October 1909, the murder of prominent citizen, Patrick Laurence Francis Gilmartin.

Patrick Gilmartin was 33 years old when he died. He was born at his parents’ property on the Laggan Road, Laggan.  

In 1890 his father, Francis Gilmartin, became the licensee of the Criterion Hotel.

Patrick’s interests were in politics and he was to become a strong advocate of the Labour Party in both State and Federal politics.

His first efforts at journalism were in 1903 when he wrote a number of letters which appeared in the Crookwell Gazette.

It was later in 1903 that he and WJ Smith established the Argyle Liberal and District Recorder newspaper, under the title of WJ Smith & Co.

It was a partnership that continued until 1907 when Mr Smith retired and Mr Gilmartin continued to run the newspaper himself.  

He took a lively interest in the Crookwell refrigerating company, but fell afoul of this venture through its not having been established on a purely co-operative basis for which he was a strong advocate.

He, however, never took an active part in local matters.

He was a follower of district sport and his firm donated a cup in connection with the football competition under the CDRF Union. 

He will be remembered for his association with the formation of the New South Wales Potato-Growers’ Association.

He was a member of the NSW Press Co-Operative Ltd.

On Monday, October 18, 1909 around 7pm, Mr Gilmartin was standing under the verandah of Kelly’s barber shop in Goulburn street, when Christopher (known as Matt) Stephenson struck Gilmartin and he fell back striking his head on the footpath.

Patrick was taken unconscious back to the Criterion Hotel and Sgt Tower went and arrested Stephenson, charging him with having assaulted Patrick Gilmartin thereby occasioning him bodily harm.

Stephenson was to appear in court twice and kept on remand. Patrick Gilmartin died on October 24, 1909.

Christopher Stephenson appeared before the Goulburn Quarter Sessions before his Honour Judge Rogers. 

It was found that Patrick Gilmartin died from the effect of his injuries received through being struck by Christopher Stephenson who was committed to stand trial at a date to be fixed by the Governor; bail was refused.

Stephenson was also initially charged with maliciously wounding James Alexander Thurlow on August 3, 1909 and committed to trial on October 20, which was postponed because of the Gilmartin case.  

On, November 23 the Gilmartin case was heard in Cootamundra and Stephenson was charged with manslaughter and pleaded not guilty. 

Following the trial the accused was sentenced to two years hard labour in Goulburn Gaol.