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Family Tragedy
Family Tragedy
"Spider" murdered at Highgate Hill
THE BRISBANE COURIER
PAGE THIRTEEN
MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1926
MAN SHOT
MURDER ALLEGED
AFFRAY AT HIGHGATE HILL
William Raper, who until a few months ago, was a car driver on the Supreme Court rank was shot at a house in Blakeney street, Highgate Hill, at about midnight on Saturday. Yesterday afternoon George Ward, who is said to have but recently come to the city from the West, walked into the Criminal Investigation Branch and gave himself up in connection with the affair. He was charged with wilful murder.
It was stated that Raper, in company with a cousin and four other persons, was spending the evening at a house about four doors from Hampstead road. While they were singing around the piano they were disturbed by a loud knocking, followed by kicks on the door. Raper ran to the door, and tried to push away some men who, apparently, were trying to gain admission. Suddenly several shots rang out, and a struggle took place. The men then went on to the road, and in attempting to follow them Raper collapsed . He was carried into the house, where he died almost immediately. The police were informed of the affray, and a strong posse, with Sub-inspector Bergin in charge, proceeded to the scene.
THE BRISBANE COURIER
PAGE ELEVEN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1926
MURDER CHARGE
HIGHGATE HILL
SHOOTING
ACCUSED REMANDED
The man who gave himself up to the police on Sunday. in connection with the murder of William Raper, at a house in Blakeney street, Highgate Hill, on Saturday night, was brought before the City Police Court yesterday. A remand was granted, the proceedings being only formal.
George Ward (29, labourer) was charged, before Mr. H.L.Archdall, C.P.M. with having wilfully murdered William Kirby, otherwise William Raper, at Blakeney street, Highgate Hill, South Brisbane, on or about December 18. Mr. T. McLaughlin appeared for him.
Detective Acting Sergeant Mullaly gave formal evidence, and Sub-inspector Meldon obtained a remand for a week on the understanding that there would be a further remand when the case comes before the court next Monday, a holiday.
THE BRISBANE COURIER
PAGE EIGHT
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1926
REMANDS GRANTED
George Ward, on remand, who is charged with having wilfully murdered William Kirby, otherwise Raper, at Blakeney street, Highgate Hill, South Brisbane, on or about December 18 was further remanded for a week by Mr. H. L. Archdall , C.P.M., in the Police Court yesterday.
THE BRISBANE COURIER
PAGE FOURTEEN
TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1927
BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES
METROPOLITAN COURTS
FURTHER REMAND IN MURDER CASE
George Ward, the young man who is charged with having wilfully murdered William Kirby, otherwise William Raper at Blakeney street, Highgate Hill on or about December 18 was further remanded until Thursday, by Mr. H.L. Archdall C.P.M., in the Police Court yesterday.
Sub-inspector Meldon said that the police would be able to go on with the case then.
Mr. J.R. Gilbert appeared for defendant .
THE BRISBANE COURIER
PAGE NINE
FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1927
COMMITTED FOR TRIAL
HIGHGATE HILL
SHOOTING CASE
ALLEGED STATEMENTS BY ACCUSED
Evidence regarding a shooting affray in a house in Blakeney-street, Highgate Hill on the night of December 18 was given in the Police Court yesterday, when George Ward (29, labourer) appeared before Mr. H.L. Archdall, C.P.M. on a charge of having wilfully murdered William Kirby otherwise William Raper.
Ward, who pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence, was committed for trial at the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court on February 14.
Sub-inspector Meldon conducted the case for the prosecution; Mr. J.R. Gilbert appeared for defendant. No application was made for bail.
“I CAME TO GIVE MYSELF UP”
Detective Acting Sergeant Percival Joseph Mullaly said that he went to a house known as “Wottan” in Blakeney street, Highgate Hill, with Detective Moore, about 12.40 a.m. on Sunday, December 19. In a sitting-room he saw the body of a man known to him as Wm. Kirby, or Wm. Raper, or “Spider” Raper, on the floor. Witness found bullet marks in the walls of the passage and in the door. At the C.I. Branch, about 1 p.m. the following day, defendant walked in and said “My name is Ward.” “Are you the man who shot 'Spider' Raper?”witness asked. “Yes” defendant answered. “I come to give myself up. I did not know I killed him. I did not know anything about it until I was told, and read it in a paper half an hour ago.” Witness asked “Where is the gun you shot him with?” “In my pocket here.” defendant replied. “How did you come to shoot Raper?” witness asked. Defendant replied, “He was living over with us at the house with Howard, Vera Meskell, and me. He had not been treating Vera well lately. They had been having rows. On Saturday night we were all home, and he had several rows with her. About 11.30 p.m. he asked Vera to come out into the street, as he wanted to speak to her, Vera was frightened to go. I said to him, “Are you going to touch her?” “No everything will be all right” he said. He and Vera then went out into the street. When they went out the front door was closed. They had only been out there a minute when I heard Vera scream. I said to Howard, “We'll have to break this down, and bring them inside.” Howard and I went out on to the footpath. I saw Raper with his hand near Vera's throat, and I heard a sound as though her dress was tearing about her neck. I hopped in and pulled him away from her:- He and I then closed, and he tore the shirt off my back. He then let go, and went and pulled a paling off the fence. He made a couple of smacks at me and I closed with him again. I fell, and he started to put the boot into me. Howard then came and pulled Raper off. I got up and ran into the house, taking Vera with me. Howard followed and locked the front door. I heard Raper calling out to Jack O'Dea who was in the house when the row started.”
“FIRED TO BLUFF HIM”
“I heard Raper bumping the front door and calling out. I told him to go away. I then went into the kitchen and got my revolver. It was fully loaded. I fired a shot into the wall near the door; I wanted to try to bluff him. He continued to bang at the door, and I fired two more shots about the door. The door started to give, and Howard and Vera and myself started to back towards the breakfast-room -- a room leading off the sitting room. As we got near the breakfast-room I fired another shot. I saw Raper coming towards me I got into the breakfast-room and pulled the door hard. As I did so I heard something crash against the door. I opened it about a foot holding my revolver in my left hand. I put my hand around the door and fired. I then pulled the door tight and made for the back door. I found that it was locked and the key missing. then jumped through the back window, ran down the yard; got over the back fence into someone elses yard, and got out into the back street. I then made my way up to some friends in Herbert street Spring Hill. About half an hour ago I was getting ready to go to get my things from the house, when I was told Raper was shot. I got a paper and read it myself. I decided to give myself up, as I did not mean to kill him.”
IN SELF DEFENCE
Later in the day witness said to defendant “seeing that you have come in here and given yourself up, would you like to make a written statement of the facts of the case?” “Yes” defendant replied, “I want to clear myself. I did not mean to kill him.” Witness then took a statement from defendant.
Later at the morgue, witness charged defendant With having wilfully murdered Raper. Defendant said “I did not murder him. What I did was in self-defence. It all started over his knocking a woman about. I did not mean to kill him.”
Cross-examined by Mr. Gilbert, witness said that the lock of the front door of the house appeared to have been wrenched off . A square pane of glass near the door in the breakfast-room was broken. Witness did not know that Raper's motor drivers license was refused because he was the associate of thieves. He knew that Raper was the car driver who drove Hood at the time of an attempted robbery at Woolloongabba. Raper, he knew used to drive criminals in his car.
VERA MESKELL'S EVIDENCE
Vera Meskell said that she was a single woman 23 years of age. She knew defendant and knew deceased, as William Raper for four years. She left Raper after a quarrel, about December 8 and went to live at Howard's house in Blakeney street, Highgate Hill.
She rented a room there. On the night of December 18 Raper was under the influence of liquor. Witness was sober.
The girl Bailey came to the house about 8 o'clock. Jack O'Dea came about 10 o'clock. During the evening Raper said to her in the presence of Ward and Howard. “Give me some money” witness refused. “Come into the bedroom.” he ordered. In the bedroom he said to her “If you don't give me that money I'll murder you” “I won't give it to you.” she replied. “Then I'll go and get the mob from Spring Hill and clean the lot of you up,” Raper threatened. Later in the living-room, he punched witness in the face and said “If you don't give me some money to go to town I'll murder you.” He said to Howard, “I want to talk to Vera outside,” and promised that he would not touch her. Ward and Howard advised her to go out with Raper, and she went out on to the footpath. O'Dea and Bailey were there, Raper caught hold of her by the throat and she screamed. Ward came out and said “Don't knock the girl about like that” Raper then pulled a paling off the fence and said, “I'll do for the lot of you.” He made a strike at witness's head With paling and missed. The paling struck her hip. Raper hit Ward across the back with the paling knocking him down. He kicked Ward. Howard came out then and said “For God's sake stop this row.”
“SPIDER IS SHOT”
Witness ran inside into her bedroom. Ward ran into the house, too, and Howard came in and closed the front door. Witness then heard a noise as though somebody was throwing hard and heavy objects at the door. She heard Raper calling “Open the door! Open the Door” She heard Howard, say “I am going for the police.” She saw the front door forced opened a few inches with a paling. Howard and she rushed the door and tried to keep it closed. Then she heard shots. Ward fired the shots to frighten Raper. By that time Howard had left the house. Witness went into her room again and heard somebody calling out “Spider is shot! Spider is shot.” She saw Raper carried into the dining room from the veranda. At this stage witness sobbed convulsively for several minutes, and sub- inspector Meldon did not question her further. Witness told Mr. Gilbert that Raper was fairly drunk when he asked her for money. She was frightened to go outside with him she said, as she was afraid that he might kill her. The previous day she and Raper had a quarrel and he threatened to hit her on the head with a hammer. When he was screwing down the top of a gramophone which he was repairing, witness said to Raper “That is like screwing down the lid of a coffin.” Raper replied, “You'll want two coffins soon.”
Dr. Joseph Espie Dods, Government Medical officer, said a post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of Raper's death was a gunshot wound in front of the right shoulder. A bullet had entered the right chest, perforated the lung and passed through the right ventricle of the heart. Death would have been practically instantaneous. Deceased when hit must have been in a somewhat stooping position with his right shoulder towards the person who fired.
STRUGGLE ON FOOTPATH
John Howard a mechanic, now living at Hollyrood House Stanley street South Brisbane, describing the events that led up to the shooting, said that Raper abused Vera Meskell, calling her filthy names. Witness saw him strike her, later, when he heard Meskell who was in the street with Raper, scream, witness ran out of the house. He saw Raper kicking defendant, who was on the ground. Raper turned around, and struck witness on shoulder with the paling. When Meskell and defendant went inside, witness followed them and closed and locked the door. He heard defendant say, “I'll fire a shot to frighten him.” Ward fired three shots around the door, and witness and Meskell were trying to keep it closed. Saying that he was unable to hold the door any longer, witness left the house, and went to telephone for the police. When he returned he saw Raper lying on the road. He and O'Dea carried him into the house. Nobody besides 'Ward to his knowledge, was in possession of firearms that night.
To Mr. Gilbert, witness said that Raper, when he was trying to force the door, was calling out, “I'll kill the lot of you.” On December 17 witness heard Raper threaten to knock Vera Meskell on the head with a hammer and bash her brains out. In a conversation, later Raper said to Meskell, “You will need two coffins here in a day or two.”
A HAND APPEARED
Gabrielle Ray Bailey, a waitress, 18 years of age, said that when, Ward, Howard and Meskell went inside after the fight on the footpath she stayed outside with Raper and O'Dea. Raper picked up a pot plant, witness did not see what he did with it, but she heard something strike the front door. She then heard three shots fired. Walking down to the gate, she looked back and saw Raper in the sitting room with a pot plant in his hand. A hand holding a revolver appeared around the door between the sitting-room and the breakfast-room . The revolver was pointed towards the floor. She heard a shot and saw Raper stagger out on to-the roadway. Raper fell on the footpath. O'Dea came over and lifted Raper's head. Witness tried to rouse the people in the house next door, but failed. She then went back to Raper. She opened his coat and saw blood on his shirt. She then called Howard, and Raper was carried into the house.
Jack O'Dea (18 a labourer) living at 187 Wharf street, said that he heard three or four. shots fired, and then saw Raper come out of the house and collapse on the roadway.
THE BRISBANE COURIER
PAGE TWELVE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1927
NOT GUILTY
MURDER CHARGE FAILS
“SPIDER” RAPER'S DEATH
The public benches in the Criminal Sessions yesterday were crowded when George Ward stood his trial before his Honour the Chief Justice Hon. J.W. Blair) and a jury, on an indictment that on December 18 he wilfully murdered William Kirby, otherwise William Raper, at South Brisbane.
The dead man was known as “Spider” Raper, who according to the Crown had had his motor car driving license cancelled on account of his association with criminals. While the case was proceeding yesterday, witnesses frequently used the designation of “Spider” when referring to Raper.
The case for the Crown was conducted by Mr. F.W. Dickson and the prisoner was represented by Mr. E.J.D. Stanley (instructed by Mr. J.R. Gilbert). Ward pleaded not guilty.
The facts of the charge as put by the Crown were that Raper and a girl named Vera Meskell, who had been living together as man and wife at Spring Hill, parted, following an argument, whereupon the girl went to live at a house in Blakeney street South Brisbane, occupied by James Howard, and the house in which the alleged murder was committed. On December 8 Raper, with four other men, went to the house to see the girl Meskell.
The prisoner Ward responded to the knock on the door. Raper told Ward that the girl Meskell was his wife, and he wanted to see her. From then on Raper lived at the same house. On December 18 Raper and the girl, together with Howard, went into town. When they returned in the evening Raper and the girl commenced to quarrel. Raper insisted on demanding money from the girl, and because she refused to give him any Raper became angry. Raper then enticed the girl on to the footpath while he could talk to her. As soon as she did screams were heard, whereupon prisoner rushed out and intervened. Raper had the girl by the throat. Plant pots were then thrown, fence palings were used by Raper as weapons, and revolver shots were discharged in rapid succession.
The Crown story then was that Raper eventually forced his way into the house and that in the meantime Ward had been attempting to keep him at bay by firing a revolver. As Raper entered the house again Ward hid himself behind the breakfast-room door and shot Raper, who ran out to the front of the house and dropped dead. Prisoner made a get-away by jumping about 15ft. from the back window. When he heard that Raper had been killed prisoner went to the C.I. Branch and gave himself up.
Acting Detective Sergeant Mullaly recalled visiting Wattan the house where the alleged murder was committed. He described the measurements of the house and detailed the location of various bedrooms, the sitting room, and breakfast-room. He found the body of Raper stripped to the waist, lying fully extended with a wound through the right shoulder. He examined the passageway and the door of the house, and discovered what he stated to be bullet marks. Witness said that prisoner admitted to him that he fired a number of shots at the time and place in question. When prisoner asked witness if he could make a statement to clear himself, he added “I did not mean to kill him.”
When cross-examined, witness said he found out the key of the back door at the time of the occurrence was in the possession of John O'Dea. Witness knew Raper to be a rather powerful man, and one who associated with criminals.
The medical testimony of Dr. J. Espie Dods was that the cause of death was a gunshot wound in the chest.
The witness Meskell broke down when describing that part of the tragedy where Raper was brought into the house dead. She burst into tears, and not until she had been given water was she able, a few minutes later, to proceed with her evidence.
The defence did not call any witnesses but in his address Mr.Stanley submitted that irrespective of provocation, prisoner did not shoot at Raper with any intention to kill.
After a twenty minutes' retirement the jury returned a verdict of “not guilty”.
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