Biography

Monday 24 July 1905 was the tenth anniversary of the first Warden's Court held at Menzies.  Looking back on the events of that day, Warden F Grill had arrived a few days earlier and taken possession of a small wood and iron building at the south end of Shenton Street.  The courthouse consisted of one room unlined and without a floor and was furnished with a table and a couple of chairs.

During the sitting of the court, one of the numerous onlookers, unable to gain admittance, discovered in an adjacent tent, the body of a man.  His cries drew the attention of others and in a few moments, the courthouse was empty and the crowd had gathered round the tent.  It appeared that the deceased, Phil Bill by name,  had fallen a few nights previously on a stump and received internal injuries, although at the time it was not thought that he was seriously hurt.  His mate had left him that morning to go to work, on his assurance that he was feeling quite well.

A coffin was hastily made from such timber as was readily available, consisting principally of old cases and the Warden read the burial service over his body in a grave in the bush to the north of the town.

Apparently the young man had tripped upon one stump and fell onto another, rupturing his intestines, from the effects of which he died. 

It was believed the young man was a foreigner, hailing from Gippsland, and who had an uncle in Ballarat, Victoria.