Biography

Patrick McNeil was found in a bedroom of the Rose Hotel, Lawlers, with two knife wounds in his heart. The housekeeper at the Rose Hotel testified that she found some obstacle blocking the door of one of the bedrooms when she had occasion to enter it. She called the barman to assist her and on the door being opened, she saw a man lying face downwards on the floor. O'Neil, the barman, lifted the man up and a knife fell to the floor. It was revealed during the inquest that the deceased had been suffering chest pains for some time and had seen a doctor in Sydney about the pains near his heart. He had apparently spent some time in New South Wales before coming to WA. The deceased was buried in Plot 36, Section C, in the 4th row west.