Biography

Also known as Emiglis Luminate, the deceased had spent 2 years in Queensland before arriving in Western Australia. Emiglio was found in the bush in a dying condition under suspicious circumstances on May 16 and brought, unconscious, into Davyhurst at 9 o'clock on the Saturday night. Shortly afterwards, Doctor Shields examined him and pronounced life extinct. There were no external marks of violence. The case being suspicious, a death certificate was refused and the acting coroner, Mr. B Leslie, J.P., ordered a post-mortem examination, which disclosed an extensive fracture of the skull. As the result of enquiries, suspicion fell on natives camped adjacent. The police had detained a native named "Googlar," alias Jumbo, who broke away from gaol on the night of 19 May by removing an iron bar from the cell ventilator, with which he burrowed underneath the yard fence and escaped. On the final day of the inquest into the death of the deceased, the jury brought in the following verdict: 'That the deceased met his death on May 16, at Davyhurst, through a fracture of the skull, probably caused by a blow from a blunt instrument or stick, inflicted by some person unknown; and although no direct evidence is before us, we are of opinion that grave suspicion rests on the native man Googlar, alias Jumbo, who escaped from custody on May 19.' Finally, on 28 September, Googlar was brought into the Watchhouse by Constable Jones, who had disguised himself as a kangaroo hunter and spent several days around Wilgoine, 75 miles north-west of Southern Cross, where the capture was effected. Googlar was brought before the Court on a charge of having murdered Emiglio Luminati on 16 May. The deceased was a quiet, inoffensive man, who was highly respected. He had spent 2 years in Queensland before arriving in Western Australia.