Village of the Damned: Picton : NSW

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But even in somewhat more modern times Picton was a dumping ground for murder victims.

Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 6 June 1972, page 9 reported the following.

Body is found

The body of a 45-yearold Sydney man reported missing in Canberra on Friday had been found by NSW police near Picton yesterday afternoon, a Canberra police spokesman said last night.

The dead man was Mr John Anthony O'Brien, of Mosman.

Mr William Douglas Russell, 29, concrete hand, of Officer Crescent, Ainslie, was remanded in custody until June 13 by Mr Nichol, SM, yesterday on a charge of having assaulted Mr O'Brien on June 1 causing actual bodily harm, to allow police to make further inquiries.

Kanacki

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But death happens everywhere. Many do not end up as ghosts.

The South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW : 1900 - 1954), Saturday 29 December 1906, page 2 reported the following.

P I C T O N.

The dead body of Mrs. Mary Noonan was found sitting on a box at her residence, Menangle street, on Monday morning'. The Coroner, Mr. R. H. Antill, held an inquest at the Courthouse on the same day. Ernest Mitchell, aged 13, of Dong Gully deposed that he went to the house where deceased lived, about 9 a.m.

On that day, and found her sitting on a wooden box in a corner of the dining-room,  with her head leaning on the side board ; she was quite stiff and seem  to have been dead for several hours.

Constable Walsh deposed to taking charge of the body and the finding of a bank book with a credit of £40 8s, an old age pension certificate and deceased's marriage lines.

The Coroner found that death was caused by heat apoplexy. ( Most likely heart attack )

Does she still haunt the house keeping a watchful eye on it or has she long passed on? More importantly does the house still exist? Time it appears cleanses all.

Kanacki

[KANACKI]

Suicide was a common form of death in the town. As the following newspaper article illustrates.

South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW : 1900 - 1954), Saturday 11 February 1905, page 6 reported the following.

PICTON.

An inquest was held by the Coroner at the Club Hotel on Saturday, on the body of George Frederick Walsh, who was found dead at his late residence by his wife on the previous evening. Mrs. Mary Ann Walsh, wife of deceased, de posed to her late husband's depressed -state on account of financial troubles.

Deceased went out shooting with Ikey Darlington after dinner. After tea he lit his pipe and seemed more hopeful, when she went out to talk to a neighbor. She returned a little later on and saw smoke in the room. She pushed open the bedroom door, which was latched, and saw the body on the floor, in a pool of blood. Her husband never spoke to her of taking his life. He was 43 years of age and left nine children.

The Coroner brought in a verdict to the effect that deceased died from a gun-shot wound, self-inflicted.

As you can see many of the houses in Picton have a sad story hidden in its past.

Kanacki

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Picton has had it fair share of fatal car crashes.

Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), Friday 22 February 1946, page 5 reportedthe following.

Picton police yesterday found the body of a man who had driven a car  through a safety fence  and had been dead since Tuesday.

He was Harold Vaughan, 43, single, of Manly, Sydney. He had suffered a double fracture of the skull, and his arms and ribs! were broken in several places. Vaughan, who was employed as advance agent for Buddy Williams' Wild West Show was driving from Picton to Maldon. When he failed to negotiate one of a series of hairpin bends. His car crashed , through the safety fence; tore two of Its panels down, and made an almost sheer drop of  260ft.

Vaughan's body, was found- lying several feet from his sedan, which was smashed to pieces. Climb Down Cliff Constable W. A.. Sowter, the Coroner (Mr. E, J. Slatyer) . and three Picton residents climbed down the cliff to the smashed car yesterday afternoon.

They strapped Vaughan's body to a stretcher and climbed with it up nearly perpendicular cliffs to the road. . The trip took them  two hours.  Ants had partly eaten the body. Vaughan will be buried in Manly Cemetery.

Kanacki

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But once again the river a Picton was focal point tragedy.

The following newspaper Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Monday 20 October 1919, page 5 reported.

A body of a male baby wrapped in a blank and weight down was found in the river at Picton. A sad end to a tiny babies life. Was it murder or was it just and unfortunate death of a baby no one wanted known?

Kanacki

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But there is much more to uncover about the dark past of Picton.

Kanacki

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Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), Monday 8 February 1886, page 7 reported the following.

An inquest was held in Whiting's Hotel, Picton, before Mr. W. R. Antill, J.P., coroner for the dis-trict, on the body of a man named Carlos Foss, who died from injuries received by a fall from a window

of the Consumptive Home. Isabella Price said that she had charge of the home. The deceased, who was very bad with consumption, was an in-mate. He was in the habit of being lifted and placed in an iron chair every day. While she was having her breakfast on Friday morning, the wardsman, who was watching him, came and asked her for something soft to lay on bis bed. While they were speaking a fall was heard in the yard at the back, and they found the patient lying on the ground. He was alive when picked up, and he was carried upstairs again.

He was 28 years of age and a native of Sweden. Constable Crawley deposed that he had examined the deceased and did not find any bruises upon him. The distance from the window to the ground was 13ft. The yard was paved with flagstones. Dr. Dalton said that the deceased was in an advanced state of consumption, and appeared to have a suicidal tendency. Some farther evidence was taken, and the jury found that the deceased came by his death by his own premeditated act, and that no blame was attached to any of the officials belonging to the home.

Kanacki

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Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Monday 30 May 1927, page 12 reported the following.

VERDICT OF SUICIDE.

PICTON, Saturday.,

 Richard John Preston, aged 15 years whose was knocked down by a train on May 24 with fatal results, was found by the coroner to have committed suicide while temporary Insane. The Deceased, who had been employed by the Public Works Department at Nepean Dam, was a native of Bourke.

Kanacki

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Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 27 June 1912, page 10 reported the following.

GIRL COMMITS SUICIDE.

PICTON, Wednesday.

The inquest on the body of Dottie Ellis, who died suddenly at Thirlmere on June 15, was held on Tuesday. Mr. W. M. Hamlet, Government Analyst, who examined the stomach of the deceased, said that he had discovered alkaloid strychnine amounting to one-third of a grain. Constable Tait gave evidence of finding poison in bottles in the linen press at deceased's parents' residence. Among deceased's belongings was found a note intimating that she intended poisoning herself. The coroner found that deceased died from the effects of poison administered by herself.

It makes you wonder how many old houses have a dark history virtually unknown to their present owners?

Kanacki

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Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), Wednesday 2 April 1924, page 5 newspaper reported the following.

FOUND HANGED

Prisoner Commits Suicide  PICTON. Wednesday.

Arthur Redden was found hanged in a cell of tho lock-up to-day. On entering the cell tho lock-up keeper found Redden, who was an employee of Avon Dam, hanging, from a. rope made from of strips of blanket. He had been detained under observation as his mind was affected, and was awaiting treatment.

There has been strange reports of ghostly presence in the cell.

Kanacki

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The Picton hotel has a strange story of a crying baby that is heard from time to time.

Daily Express newspaper  (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1919 - 1930), Tuesday 20 September 1921, page 1 reported the following.

PICTON MURDER CHARGE

PICTON, Monday

The body of a newly-born child was found in a drain at the rear of a hotel on Saturday. A man and a girl have been arrested and charged with murder .

A ghost of young baby crying for justice?

For those who cannot see the pictures I suggest signing up to the forum to get an amazing insight into haunted Australia.

Kanacki

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St marks church seems to be a epi centre of alleged hauntings. All places have dark secrets why does Picton have such a dark reputation?

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The town of Picton is one of the most haunted towns in NSW Australia. Located in Picton is a homestead that was built by the Anthill Family called Jarvisfield. It is now known as The Anthill Golf Club.

The Anthill family home was once surrounded by 2000 acres of land. The hill overlooking the property is known as Vault Hill and this is where the Anthill family vault lies.

Major Anthill came to Australia as an aide-de-camp to Governor Macquarie, he was offered the 2000 acres of land after Macquarie’s time was up. Major Anthill developed the town of Picton.

At this location he built a small cottage for his family, it wasn’t until after his death that his son John built the building that is now the golf club and restaurant. The Wollondilly Shire Council now owns the building and leases it to the Antill Park Golf Club.

There have been many reported sightings of ghosts over the years at the location.

For those who cannot see the house now a golf club You can join the forum and get a unique insight into haunted Australia.

Kanacki

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With such a long history of murder and suicide no wonder Picton has a haunt reputation?

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