Biography

On Friday 2 February, the police were requested by an employee at the brewery, to arrest a man named Thomas Francis Gaynor, known as "Soda Water Tom," who appeared to have gone mad and was bruising himself in various ways. Constable McLarty arrested the man on a charge of being of an unsound state of mind and not being under proper control. Medical aid was requisitioned and Gaynor, who was suffering from delerium tremens, appeared to be progressing favorably until about 9 o'clock on Monday morning, when he took a severe fit. Dr Smythe was immediately sent for but, on account of having an urgent case to attend to, promised to attend Gaynor later in the day. The patient continued to take fits and Constables Sartori and Martyn again went for the doctor but were unable to locate him until about 6pm when, under the persuasion of the police and also of Messrs Elliott and Quirk, he visited Gaynor and ordered his removal to the hospital, provided his friends took all responsibility.

Gaynor was therefore sent to the hospital. After his arrival at the hospital, the fits became more frequent and his strength gradually faded. He died at about midnight. The deceased's father, Thomas Gaynor, was born in 1832 in Roscommon, Ireland. He married Maria Dolan on 2 February 1860 at Roscommon, Ireland. Also a native of Ireland, Maria was born in 1840. Their first two children, Patrick Michael, born 19 November 1861, and Elizabeth Amelia, born 28 April 1863, were both born in Roscommon. The young family migrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on 9 February 1864. In Melbourne, Edward James was born 24 December 1865; Mary Jane born 5 June 1870; Thomas Francis born 1874; Bernard Joseph born 20 September 1875; John Albert born 18 May 1877; William born 23 October 1880.

Thomas Francis Gaynor was arrested for assault on the 23 October 1893 while working as a barman at his father's hotel, Crimean Hotel, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria, shortly before he left for Kalgoorlie, chasing gold. On 3 August 1905 , William Gaynor placed an advertisement in The Kalgoorlie Miner asking the whereabouts of his brother, Thomas Francis, who was deemed to be missing. The deceased had lived for 28 years in Victoria before moving to Western Australia.