Outback Graves Markers

Alfred George LEFTWICH (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever, Haemorrhage

The deceased was the third son of Susanah and Richard Leftwich, of Kangaroo Point, Queensland.

The deceased's father, Richard William Leftwich, was born 16 April 1833 at Rotherhithe, London, England.  He married Susanah Wynn on 19 September 1857 in Sydney, New South Wales.  Alfred George was the fifth child in a family of six born to this couple.  His siblings were: Richard William born 1858; Frederick Henry born 25 May 1860 in Sandridge, Victoria; Harriet Grace born 1 July 1862 in Sandridge; Charles Edward born 3 March 1864 at Paddington, New South Wales; Alfred George in 1865 in Brisbane; Arthur Frank born 6 November 1867 in Brisbane.  

Their mother, Susanah, died 8 September 1890 in Kangaroo Point, Queensland, aged about 58 years.  He husband, Richard William, died 22 July 1916 in Brisbane.

 

Dorothy Coverdale LEWIS (more)

Cause of Death: Enteritis

The child has been suffering with her complaint for ten days before she died.

Her parents were married in Southern Cross in 1895 (Marriage Registration 285/1895).  Dorothy was their firstborn.  Their other children were: Wallace Urbane at Malcolm in 1899 (Birth Registration 2685/1899); Dorothea Olive at Malcolm in 1900 (Birth Registration 3101/1901); Percival William at Leonora in 1904 (Birth Registration 3858/1904); Doreen Coverdale in Leonora in1906 (Birth Registration 4300039/1906, Mt Margaret).

Miles Lewis died in Leonora in 1907 (Death Registration 4300037/1907, Mt Margaret).

John MALONY (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever, Inflammation of the bowels

The deceased came from Providence, United States of America, but it is not known which state.

Luigi MARLO (more)

Cause of Death: Suicide by gelignite

Known as Lui.

The charred body of Lui Marlo was found in his camp late on Tuesday 1 August.  The townspeople heard an explosion and then saw flames.  It was found that Marlo's head had been blown off.  The police believed that he put a detonator in his mouth and then lit the fuse after setting fire to his camp. He had threatened to commit suicide for some weeks. He suffered from wart injuries and miner's phthisis.

Lui enlisted into the AIF, Service Number 1232, joining 13 Reinforcements, 18 Battalion Mining Corps, Sapper 2, at the age of 27 years. He served from 1915 to 1919.

Marlo received a pension of £14 a month. A married son was living in South Australia at the time.  Lui had been in Australia for 28 years and applied for naturalization in April of 1939.
On 1 September 1936, after 15 minutes' retirement, a jury in the Criminal Court at Perth brought in a verdict of not guilty in the case in which Lui Mario was charged with having unlawfully wounded John Francis Burke at Sandstone on May 16 1936. 

John MCCULLOCH (more)

Cause of Death: Typhoid Fever

Mr McCulloch suffered through 20 days of Enteric Fever before his death.

Peter MCINCH (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever, Pneumonia

Two weeks was all it took for Peter McInch to expire from enteric fever and pneumonia.

John MCINNES (more)

Cause of Death: Believed to have been speared by Aboriginals

Mr John McInnes, brother of W.W. McInnes, was lost on 8 December 1896 on his way through the bush from Menzies to Donkey Rock.
From Mr Thomas Willett, of Donkey Rocks, in December 1897, it was learned that another attempt was shortly to be made to discover the remains of his partner, John Mclnnes. who it was believed perished in the bush some twelve months before in journeying on foot from Menzies to Donkey Rocks.
In September 1898, the supposed remains of McInnes were discovered buried in the bush, with a startling suspicion of murder.
John Mclnnes, who, with his partner, owned two wells and kept a store at the Donkey Rocks, came to Menzies for the purpose of attending the Licensing Court, at which he had made an application for a general publican's licence for his premises at the Donkey Rocks. His application was granted and he started back for home across the bush on foot. He was early leaving Menzies and went out past the Kensington mine.  He was last seen alive at the Federal lease at about midday, where he obtained something to eat and, having filled his water bag, started off through the bush for home, proposing to go straight across the head of the Goongarrie Lake.
Not turning up at his home in due course, his mate became anxious and sent into Menzies to enquire if there
was anything the matter with him. When it was discovered that he had not reached home, numerous search parties started out to scour the country in the hope that they would yet find the unfortunate man alive. As it was known that Mclnnes was a thorough bushman and a good walker, no fears were entertained that he was lost, but the surmise was that some accident had befallen him, such as a sprained ankle, and that he was stuck up somewhere and unable to proceed on his journey. However, as days went by and the country had been scoured in all directions and still no trace came of the missing man, the suspicion that foul play was the cause of his disappearance began to gather strength.
Shortly after his supposed death, Mclnnes' brother came across from Victoria and took charge of his brother's
affairs and avowed his intention of never leaving the country until he had solved the mystery of his brother's disappearance.
By about Tuesday 20 September 1898, Mr Suiter, of the 18 Mile Hotel on the Niagara-road, hearing from a Aboriginal boy named Tiger, who was employed by Messrs Whitford and Perry tailing cattle, that he had seen the skeleton of a man and some clothes beside it near the Bullarchi Rocks, Mr Suiter set out next morning in his buggy for the purpose of visiting the spot described by the boy but returned unsuccessful at nightfall, having failed to discover the spot indicated.
However, Mr Suiter, in company with Mr A. E. Roberts and an Aboriginal boy, once more started out to find the remains referred to and at midday, their efforts were rewarded by finding the skeleton, which lay in a hole about a foot and a half deep in the ground. A bundle of clothes much decayed, comprising, a shirt, flannel, drawers, and a pair of trousers were found in a heap about 10 yards away, from the body. A fire had also been made close to the spot, which seemed to indicate that the unfortunate man had thrown off his clothes and camped for the night, when he had been come upon unawares, murdered, and afterwards buried.
Mr Suiter and his companion then returned to the 18-mile, leaving everything undisturbed, and at once informed
the police at Niagara of the fact of having found the skeleton. He had sent word to Mr Mclnnes' brother at the Donkey Rocks on the previous day when he first heard the news and Mr McInnes duly arrived at the 18-Mile.
Early in the morning, the police, in company with Mr E. Mclnnes, brother of the deceased, and Mr Suiter, were to leave the 18-Mile for the scene of the supposed tragedy to bring the remains to Menzies. Mr Mclnnes believed he
could positively identify the clothes which his brother was wearing when he was last seen alive. 
Mr Albion Roberts, who was with Mr Suiter when the body was discovered, arrived in Menzies late on the Thursday
night. Seen by a representative of the Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper, Mr Roberts stated that they found the remains under a clump of trees about two miles east of the Bullarchi Rocks. Some of the bones were buried about 18 inches under the ground, whilst several of the bones were scattered about close to the hole. He was of the opinion that the remains were those of a man who had been murdered and buried but that the rude grave had been disturbed by dingoes, which accounts for the bones lying about.
The Bullarchi Rocks are situated about nine miles from Suiter's Hotel in a southerly direction and about 12 miles
from Menzies to the east.
The remains were taken in a box to the Niagara Police Station.  There were no traces of paper or money belonging to the deceased.  The Police and the party were concerned that the deceased had been killed by Aboriginals.
A subsequent Coroner's Inquest heard that the deceased was about 5 foot 10 inches tall, about 11 and a half stone in weight, aged 36 years, healthy and active and well-accustomed to bush life.
Herbert John Frederick, medical practitioner, practising at Niagara, stated he had examined the remains produced which were those of a male that had been about 5 foot 10 inches high and should have been about 11 stone, 8 pounds in weight.  The bones and skull were not those of an Aboriginal native but of a white man.  There were no visible signs of murder or violence.  The end of the left thigh bone or pelvis had been burned or charred, and also some of the other bones.  The bones were burned after death had taken place.  Found near the scene was a table knife of the type owned and used at the hotel owned by Mr McInnes.
The Acting Coroner, having summed up the evidence, the jury retired to consider their verdict which was that: "Although we may be of the opinion that the remains are those of John McInnes, yet we can give no other verdict than that the deceased was found dead in the bush and that there is insufficient direct evidence to establish the identity of the deceased."
OGM researchers have found no further evidence to indicate whether the body was subsequently buried in the Menzies Cemetery.

Alexander MCLEAN (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever and Collapse

Alexander McLean, late of Menzies, left an estate to the West Australian Trustee, Executor and Agency Co., Limited, to the value of £104 19s. Id.

He is buried in the Menzies Cemetery.

Norman Geoffrey MCSWAN (more)

Cause of Death: Inanition due to premature birth

1896 was a very sad year for Alice and Donald McSwan. Donald's brother, Norman John McSwan, died at Coolgardie hospital from typhoid on the 16 February 1896. He was buried at Coolgardie Cemetery. The very next day, Alice and Donald's only child, a six month old girl named Bessie Marian, also died of typhoid at her mother's home in MacKie St.  Bessie was buried at the East Perth Cemetery.  Alice fell pregnant later that year and gave birth to a son prematurely on 3 December 1896.  Norman Geoffrey died 4 days later and is buried in the Menzies Cemetery.  Alice gave birth to another son in 1898 who they also named Norman Geoffrey. This son survived and lived to be 79 years of age when he died. 

Michael MORRISSEY (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever, Pneumonia

This young man, another victim of the typhoid epidemic, is buried in Menzies Cemetery.

Ellen Sarah (JENKINS) MOYLE (more)

Cause of Death: Valvular Heart Disease; Heart Failure

Mrs Moyle passed away shortly before midnight, on Friday, 14 December, at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. Ed. Schmidt, of Comet Vale. She had been in indifferent health for some time but passed peacefully away in the presence of her children. The remains were taken to Menzies by train on the Saturday evening and laid to rest beside her husband, in the Methodist portion of the Menzies cemetery.
She was widowed three times, losing each of her husbands and three sons and a daughter.  Each of her marriages were in Eaglehawk, Victoria and it was with her third husband that she came to Western Australia.

Robert NETHERCOTT (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever, haemorrhage

Constable Nethercott's father was a Police Sergeant in Galway, Ireland.  Young Robert was taught in Dublin, where he received a superior education, eventually securing a position as assistant schoolmaster to one of the Irish regiments. He relinquished this position to seek his fortune in Australia.  He secured an appointment as warder at one of the Sydney lunatic asylums but he resigned about a year before his death to join in the western exodus.  He was associated with the Railways Department for a couple of months, then he was accepted as a recruit in the Police Force.

He was first stationed in Perth but around Christmas, was transferred to Menzies.  For some time, he acted as gaoler and his humane and considerate treatment of the prisoners showed him to be a kind-hearted, feeling man.

About three weeks before his death, he felt unwell but he kept on his duty till he developed high fever.  Even then, he was trying to do his work until Sergeant Mitchell noticed his condition and sent for Dr Corlis, who ordered his immediate removal to the hospital.

When admitted, his temperature was 107 degrees Fahrenheit, so it was apparent that the case was serious.  The matron and nurses lavished every care and attention upon him but even as he was a big, full-blooded man, he did not improve as might have been expected.

 

Margaret (CAMPBELL) NEWTON (more)

Cause of Death: Gastric ulcer; Gastritis

Margaret Newton's husband, William Henry Newton, died on 29 July 1897 at the Railway Hotel, Malvern, Victoria, the premises of his brother-in-law, Duncan Campbell.  Probate on the Will of Henry William Newton, of Menzies, was granted to Margaret Newton and John Kennedy, to the value of £2,206 14s.5d.

Just a few years later, Probate was granted on the Will of Margaret Newton to John Kennedy to the value of £1,371.

Following Margaret's death, David Edwards applied to take over the licence of the Menzies Hotel.

Margaret's father, Lachlan (or Laughlan, as he was Christened), was born about 1831 in Lysmore, Argyleshire, Scotland.  He married Mary Collingwood on 15 August 1852 at Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.  Their eldest son, Duncan, was born in Glasgow in 1854, after which the young family migrated to Australia where the rest of their family of 13 children were born.  Margaret was the sixth child and one of four girls and nine boys.  Her other siblings were: Mary born 1856 in Geelong; William born 1858; Archibald born 1859, died 1860; James Thomas born 1861 in Geelong; John born 1866 in Geelong; Donald born 1868 in Darlington, Victoria; Clara Elizabeth born 1870 in Darlington; Andrew Cecil Collingwood born 1871 in Hamilton; Andrew George born 1873 in Hamilton; Isabella born 1876 in Campbell's Creek; and Colin.

Mary, who was born in 1832 in Glasgow, died 28 May 1922 in Malvern, Victoria, and was buried the following day in the St Kilda Cemetery.

John O'BRIEN (more)

Cause of Death: Fall of Earth

The verdict of the Coroner's Jury at a hearing held at Menzies on 29 January 1898, identified the death as having been an accidental death caused by a fall of earth at the Lady Harriet Gold Mine.

The deceased and another miner named Haigh were engaged in putting in timber to rake up ground which was unsafe, when part of the bricks fell in and crushed O'Brien, killing him on the spot. Haigh received lesser injuries.
O'Brien was a strong, hearty man and was formerly engaged at the Lady Shenton and Wee Laddie, Mulline.

Mark O'BYRNE (more)

Cause of Death: Enteric Fever, Perforation of bowels subsequent to inflammation

The deceased was a Mount Isa prospector who originally came from Tasmania.