Outback Graves Markers

Lucia POZZI (more)

Cause of Death: Prematurity of Birth

This little lady was a twin to Bernardo, who lived for just 24 hours. The twins were born prematurely. Two older siblings in this family also died at a very young age. They were Marianna, who died 8 July 1912, aged 2 days, and Eliza Elizabeth, who died 24 June 1913, aged 1 day. Both of these children are represented in this website. Both Bernardo and Lucia are buried in Plot 126 of the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery.

Richard PRIEST (more)

Cause of Death: Hit by a Tram

The deceased was accidentally struck by the Leonora to Gwalia tram and he was believed to have been unconscious at the time. At the inquest into his death, Dr Kerr, acting medical officer for the Leonora Hospital, sworn, stated that he held a post mortem on the body of deceased. He had a scalp wound about 2¼ inches long on the right side of the head, an abrasion on the face, and portion of the right ear was missing. There were bruises on both shoulders and body, whilst an examination of the head revealed a depressed fracture caused by some sharp substance, perhaps a piece of stone. There was a fracture of the inner table of the skull on the same spot which had caused some slight hemorrhage on the surface of the brain, otherwise the brain was normal. The lower jaw was fractured and the left side of the chest was crushed in, whilst the lung was punctured. The cause of death was injuries in the chest through shock and hemorrhage. In reply to Corporal Anderson, witness said that from his observations, he would say that the deceased had been drinking, but he couId not say to what extent. Further witnesses testified that he was slightly under the influence of alcohol at the time. James Evans, sworn, stated he was an engine driver employed on the Sons of Gwalia mine. He was on the tram for Leonora at 12. 5 a.m. when the accident occurred. After proceeding some little distance from the Gwalia terminus, he saw something like a parcel or some clothes some 3 feet from the line. On approaching closer, he noticed it was the body of a man. He called out to the motorman, who immediately shut off the power and applied the brakes. After going a short distance, he felt a pronounced bump as if the car had hit the body. In about 15 or 20 yards, the car was pulled up and he went back with the motorman, conductor, and a passenger named Gurr. The latter said he thought the man was dead. Witness went for the police and also for Dr McColl, who came immediately and pronounced life extinct. At the time of the occurrence the tram was going about three-quarter speed. The jury returned a verdict that deceased came to his death by an accidental blow from the tram car whilst in a state of unconsciousness, but there was no evidence to show how such unconsciousness was caused. They considered that that the tramway officials used every precaution to prevent the accident. The deceased is believed to have come from Broken Hill, New South Wales.

William George PRINCE (more)

Cause of Death: Convulsions

The child's parents were married in Boulder in 1921 (Marriage Registration 16/1921, Boulder). Little William George was their first born child. His siblings were: Ernest Donald, born 20 July 1925 (Birth Registration 13/1925, Mt Margaret) and Robert John born 1927 (Birth Registration 22/1927, Mt Margaret). Their father was born in Long Gully, Victoria in 1899. He died at 164a Boulder Road, Kalgoorlie, in 1988. His wife was born in Cornwall, England, also in 1899. She died in Perth in 1989. According to the Electoral Rolls, the family were still living in the Leonora-Gwalia area in 1943.

Annie PRISK (more)

Cause of Death: Gastric Ulcer

The deceased had spent 31 years living in New South Wales before moving to Western Australia. Mrs Prisk is buried in the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery, plot number 51.

Ernest William PUNCH (more)

Cause of Death: Marasmus

Mathew Ernest Punch was born 28 December 1868 in Redfern, New South Wales. Rose Ann McCarty was born about 1871 in East Ballarat, Victoria (Birth Registration 290/1871, Ballarat). The couple married in the Mt Margaret district in 1906 (Marriage Registration 25/1906, Mt Margaret). Their family consisted of 2 boys and four girls. They were: John James Greenway born 1907; Mary Frances born 1909; Clare Grace born 1910; Margaret Domenica born 1912; Joan Zita Rose born 1915. Rose Ann died in Perth in 1946 and her husband on 9 October 1938. Both are buried at Karrakatta in the Roman Catholic portion, section AC, grave number 0359.

Harold QUEEMAN (more)

Cause of Death: Nephritis and Broncho Pneumonia

The deceased is buried in Plot number 273 of the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery.

Thomas Joseph QUINN (more)

Cause of Death: Phthisis, Exhaustion

Known as Tom.

The deceased had spent 23 years in other Australian states before arriving in Western Australia.

 

Sarah Meana/Mena (O'NEIL) QUIRK (more)

Cause of Death: Acetone Toxemia

The deceased lady was admitted to the hospital and underwent an operation for an internal complaint. The operation was successful, but complications set in afterwards and the deceased passed away on Wednesday 16 June.

Mrs Quirk had been a resident of Gwalia for a number of years and was a former resident of Kookynie. On 21 February 1906, a fire took place in the Rose Dining Rooms at Kookynie. Sarah Quirk was the owner of the establishment at that time and her husband, Thomas Quirk, was the barman. After an enquiry into the cause of the fire, the verdict of the jury was: "We find that the fire that occurred in the Rose dining rooms was wilfully caused by some person or persons unknown." In late 1906, Sarah Quirk applied for a general publican's license at Koodynie under transfer, which licence was granted. In 1910, Thomas Quirk was charged by Sarah Quirk with using abusive language on May 2 and 4. The accused pleaded guilty and was fined £1 on each charge with costs, in default seven days imprisonment on each charge. The fines were paid. A further court case was held when Sarah Quirk was arrested, which she subsequently proved to have been a false arrest, after which she claimed and received a small amount of damages. Finally, Sarah owned and successfully managed a well-known Boarding Establishment, at the Sons of Gwalia Mine, Tower Street, Leonora, known as Quirk's Boarding House, for some years.

Although 'estranged' from her husband, he was instrumental in winding up her affairs after her death. Under a Letter of Administration, Sarah Quirk, left the amount of £534 to Thomas Joseph Quirk.

Pietro QUISTINI (more)

Cause of Death: Chronic Myocarditis and pulmonary embolism

Known as Peter.
Mr Quistini had followed prospecting on different fields since 1898, and for some time prior to his demise, was associated with the Messrs Fitzpatrick Brothers' mining property at Niagara.  Prior to that, he was well and favourably known at Kalgoorlie, Broad Arrow, Bardoc and Kookynie.
It was believed his relatives resided in Italy.

Joseph Josiah RATCLIFFE (more)

Cause of Death: Fell Down a Stope

The deceased was working on the Sons of Gwalia Gold Mine, Leonora, at the time of his accident on 2 December 1911. "Joseph Ratcliffe, who met with an accident at the Sons of Gwalia mine on Saturday evening by falling through a stope, died at the Leonora Hospital on Monday morning." The deceased appears to have fallen whilst descending the stope, and was terribly cut about the body. No hope of his recovery was entertained from the time he was admitted to the hospital. An inquest was opened on Monday afternoon before Mr. R. Stewart, J.P., acting coroner, and a jury comprising Messrs. J. Hamley, L W. Carter and F. Milner. After the body and the scene of the accident had been viewed, the inquiry was adjourned. Upon being reconvened, the jury found that the deceased came to his death by an injury received on December 2 by falling down a stope at the Sons of Gwalia mine, and that the occurrence was purely accidental. Joseph Josiah Ratcliffe senior, was born 23 September 1836 at Muddy Plains, Hobart, Tasmania. Joseph's mother, Mary McGarrigle, was born in 1840 in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland. She arrived in Melbourne on the "Oithona" on 7 December 1861, to work as a laundress. The couple married on 13 June 1862 at Tarraville, Victoria. The deceased was their third child and the eldest son of 9 children born between 1863 and 1879. The others were: Eva Susannah born 1863; Sarah Jane born 1865; John Stephen born 1868; Phoebe Elizabeth born 1870; William Marshall born about 1872; Llewellen (Lily) Austin born 1873; Robert born and died 1878; James Fergus born 1879. Mary McGarrigle died 1895 in Walhalla, Victoria. Her husband died 12 August 1914 at Melbourne Hospital, South Melbourne. The deceased married Julia Frances McCarthy, who was born 1864 at Sea, Sulawesi Tengah, Indonesia. All their children were born in Victoria. She died 4 December 1911 at Isabella Street, Kanowna. Their son, Michael Daniel, the younger twin to Ellen Catherine, died 19 June 1918 at Amiens, Somme, Picardie, France.

Alfred Ernest REID (more)

Cause of Death: Influenza, Broncho Pneumonia, Heart Failure

The third son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Reid, of Victoria Park, the late Mr. Reid spent his school days in Leonora, with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. J. Barlow. Previous to his leaving this district he was engaged at the Leonora Post Office, and later at the Road Board Office. He was of a retiring disposition and liked by everyone with whom he came in contact. His demise came as a great shock to his friends and relatives.
Quite recently, the late Mr. Reid journeyed to Perth to bring his wife and two children to Leonora.  He caught a chill on the train travelling, which developed into bronchial pneumonia.
Alfred was the third of eleven children born to Albert and Martha (Matilda) Reid, who married at Bunbury on 30 May 1907.  The family consisted of seven sons before finally a daughter arrived, followed by another son and two more daughters.  They were: Jack born about 1908; William born about 1909; Alfred Ernest; Mervyn Thomas born 1912; Roy George born Noggerup 28 September 1914; Robert Douglas born Noggerup 18 March 1916; Ronald James born 1917; Dulcie Jean born 10 August 1921; then possibly Kenneth born 1930 and 2 daughters.
Alfred's father, Albert Berthillian Reid, was born 10 February 1886 in Bunbury.  His wife, Martha Elizabeth, was born 27 July 1889 at Lilydale, Victoria.  He died 30 May 1948 in Perth, predeceasing his wife by some 32 years when she died 2 January 1980 at Subiaco.
Alfred's wife, Edith Musty, was born 6 December 1912 at Fremantle (Birth Registration 2700832/1912, Fremantle).  No further marriage for Edith Reid has been found. 

James REID (more)

Cause of Death: Thrombosis of the left coronary artery of the heart

A Coroner's enquiry was held following a post mortem of the body of James Reid, with the result being that he died from thrombosis of the left coronary artery of the heart.

The deceased is listed as being buried in Plot 292 of the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery.

James Charles REILLY (more)

Cause of Death: Result of being Hit by Fist

On the 4 September, a number of men were playing two-up at Gwalia. James Reilly was talking to John Peterson when Joseph Higgins approached and had an argument with Peterson. When Reilly tried to stopped the argument, Higgins struck him, knocking him to the ground, his head striking first. Reilly was taken to hospital where he died on the 6 September. At the enquiry into the death of James Reilly, Mr. Hunter, manager of the State Hotel, was permitted by the acting coroner to make an explanation, as it had been stated in the press that a "two-up" school was at the hotel. Mr. Hunter pointed out that the "school" was situated between the hotel and the A.M.A. office, and that it was impossible for the police to suppress it, seeing that there was only one constable at Gwalia, and the players had scouts stationed all round the place to give the alarm immediately a policeman was sighted. A large number of witnesses were summoned and Joseph Higgins was retained in the lockup charged with murder. At the magisterial inquiry concerning the death of James Reilly, at the Gwalia, evidence was given by several witnesses that they had seen Joseph Higgins strike Reilly on the jaw. The jury brought in a verdict that deceased met his death by a blow struck by Joseph Higgins, who was thereupon committed for trial on a charge of murder. At the trial on 30 November, the jury returned a verdict of guilty and added a recommendation that a heavy sentence should not be passed upon the accused. His Honour, who said that the circumstances in which death was caused warranted him in taking a lenient view of the case, bound the accused over on his own recognisance for £100. During the hearing of the case, Dr. Rowe, who made a post-mortem examination of the body of Reilly, was describing the condition of the deceased's internal organs when one of the jurymen fainted. On recovering, the juryman apologised to his Honour, and explained that the description furnished by the doctor had quite upset him. He was excused from duty and another juryman sworn in in his place. The deceased had spent 30 years in Victoria before moving to Western Australia.

Marjorie RHATIGAN (more)

Cause of Death: Acute Colitis

Marjorie was the only child of this couple who were married in Leonora in 1903 (Marriage Registration 1019/1903 Mt Leonora). Martin was born in County Longford, Ireland, in 1866. His wife was born 25 DEC 1876 at Kilcummin, County Kerry, Ireland. Sadly, little Marjorie died on her mother's birthday, of acute colitis, convulsions and exhaustion. Martin died on 18 November 1943 at Mount Lawley and his wife died 8 August 1951 at Claremont. The couple are buried in the Roman Catholic portion of Karrakatta Cemetery, Section HA, Gravesite 218.

Nicola RHO (more)

Cause of Death: Murdererd

Mr Rho died from a bullet wound inflicted on the 19 October by George Marovich.  George Marovich (33) was alleged to have shot Rho with a rifle after a heated argument on Sunday. Rho died In Kalgoorlie Hospital on the Tuesday night. Marovich was arrested on a charge of wilful murder.

The inquest on the death of the Italian miner, Nicola Rho, was held in the Leonora Courthouse on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 28-29, when 11 witnesses were examined by the Coroner, Mr. W. E. Lethlean, J.P., who conducted the inquiry without a jury. 
Arthur Lionel Matthews, taxi-driver, gave evidence that: "On 19 October I was conversing with Rube Taylor in front of Patroni's boarding-house at Gwalia.  I heard an argument in the dining room.  I know Rho and Marovich and recognised their voices. I heard Marovich exclaim "Stand back, or I'll shoot!". I jumped out of the car and proceeded to the scene. Marovich was standing at the door of his camp with a revolver in his hand. 14 or 15 men were there. I walked up to Marovich and said "Put the revolver away and come with me ". He answered "All right, Arthur, these chaps won't leave me alone, they've been teasing me all day. I placed my hand on his shoulder and again asked him, saying, " Come on, George, come with me."  Rho, apparently, came from the rear of the boarding-house and grabbed Marovich by the hair of the head and pulled his head down. Marovich shouted out to Rho to leave go or he would shoot. He (Marovich) repeated the entreaty three or four times.  The first shot was fired into the ground. Rho, still with a hold on Marovich's hair, pulled himself on to a box.  This was the position of Rho when the second shot was fired.  At that particular time, I had hold of Rho and I observed that the second shot had taken effect. I next pushed Marovich forward and the door closing, caused the light (not electric) to be extinguished.  There was a bit of a scrimmage which lasted about a minute and in the darkness, the third shot was fired. I did a "get-away" when the light went out. Marovich ran out of his camp and went in the direction of the police station. I heard him shout "Stand back, I have a license to carry this revolver!"  I did not see Marovich again until later the same evening. Rho, with assistance, walked to the car and I drove him  to the hospital."
Dr. H. E. Clarke, medical practitioner, deposed: Nicola Rho was brought to the hospital at about 7.30pm on 19 October by Rube Taylor and Arthur Matthews. I found the man to be wounded in the right thigh, a round punctured wound. I took it to be a bullet wound and concluded that the bullet was still in the body.  Rho was severely shocked and his condition critical.  There was every indication that Rho had been drinking, although this condition might have been accentuated by shock.  He (Rho) might not have been drinking that day, but the condition of alcoholism combined with shock induced alcoholic delirium.  I x-rayed Rho that night. I found the bullet in the lower abdomen. The following day, Rho showed a worse condition, indicating that peritonitis had set in. The police were notified. Rho died on the 21st October, at about 10.30am. 
I received instructions from the Coroner to hold a post-mortem examination on the body.  The same afternoon, the 21st, I made a post-mortem and found a track leading from the punctured wound on the upper part of the thigh, running superficially under the skin, tearing the pelvis, then running at right angles across the back to the spine, running thence down to the base of the spine, on the right side, to half-an-inch of the surface of skin at the back. I recovered the bullet in that position or spot, which I now produce. I also submit result of post-mortem examination with the reasoned opinion as to the cause of death, as follows:" From my examination of the body, I arrived at the conclusion that the deceased died from shock and general peritonitis, as the result of a bullet wound involving the abdomen and intestines. The bullet entered the right thigh, in the upper and outer third, four inches from Poupart's ligament and striking the under surface of this ligament, turned into the lower abdominal cavity, perforating the small intestines and grazing the wall of the bladder, passed through the lower ball and then striking the lower portion of the spine, travelled down to a point half-an-inch from the surface of the skin behind and two inches from the base of the spine on the right side."
To Detective Parker: In my opinion, Rho would have to been standing in front of the person who fired the shot, or more likely, standing over the shooter, or stooping forward.  Had the deceased been standing with one foot on a step, it probably would account for the course taken by the bullet. I am aware that George Marovich had been receiving treatment at the hospital for a badly cut foot, since the 22nd of August last. Marovich's injury is practically healed now.  On the date of the shooting, Marovich was able to walk, although there was a swelling about the joint.  I could not say if Marovich had been drinking.
To the Coroner: The condition of deceased prior to the shooting had no effect in regard to Rho's death.
After further evidence was heard and a retirement of 15 minutes, the Coroner's finding was delivered as follows: "Upon inquiry, I find that Nicola Rho, late of Gwalia, died at the Leonora Hospital, Leonora, on 21st October, 1930, from shock and general peritonitis, the result of a bullet wound inflicted on 19th October, 1930, at Gwalia, by Guro (George) Marovich. And I find that Guro (George) Marovich did murder the said Nicola Rho. On this finding Guro (George) Marovich was committed for trial on charge of the murder of Nicola Rho."
Marovich was taken by train which left Malcolm early the next morning for Kalgoorlie, at which place the criminal sessions were to be opened on the 26th November.  
Marovich was committed for trial on the charge of the murder of Nicola Rho.
At the Criminal Sessions held at Kalgoorlie in late November, Justice Draper presiding, George Marovich, for the alleged murder of Nicola Rho at
Gwalia on 19th October last, was acquitted on the charge.