The Gun Alley Tragedy: Record of the Trial of Colin Campbell Ross — John Shaqi
The Gun Alley Tragedy: Record of the Trial of Colin Campbell RossBrennan, T. C. (Thomas Cornelius)
History
The Gun Alley Tragedy: Record of the Trial of Colin Campbell Ross
Brennan, T. C. (Thomas Cornelius)
Ross, Colin Campbell, 1892-1922 -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Trials (Murder) -- Australia -- Victoria -- Melbourne
Mr. Macindoe: What did he say when you resumed the conversation?—First
of all he tried to make out that I did not see the girl.
His Honour: Well, what did he say?—He said it was not the child. He
simply said: “You know I did not have that child in there.” I said,
“Gracious me, I looked at the child myself, and I know it was the same
child by the descriptions given,” and for a long while he hung out that
this was not the child.
Mr. Macindoe: How did he hang out?—He said it was not the child. I
cannot tell you exactly every word he said.
This was in the Arcade?—It was in Little Collins Street, just at the
corner of the Arcade.
Well, what then?—I was so sure it was the child, and I would make him
know it was the child.
Will you tell us what he said?—I am trying to explain it.
His Honour: You have been told several times that you are only supposed
to tell what was done, or what was said, between you and the accused,
instead of telling your inferences, or assumptions, or suppositions.
Tell us now what took place—what was said.
Mr. Macindoe: Don’t tell us why he said things; just tell us what
he said.—Well, at last he told me that it was the child. He told me
that the child came to him while he was at the door, on the Friday
afternoon. He said there was no business; there was no one there and
he was standing at his door, and when the child came up and asked him
for a drink he said, “I took her in and gave her a lemonade.” I said,
“When the child came and asked you for a drink of lemonade why didn’t
you take her into the bar? Why did you take her to that little room?” I
said, “I know you too well. I know what you are with little children.”
He said: “On my life, Ivy, I did not take her in there with any evil
intention, but when I got her there I found that she knew absolutely
what I was going to do with her if I wanted her. Assuming that this⸺”
Mr. Macindoe: Never mind the assumption. Did he say what he
assumed?—Well, you cannot expect me to say it just the way he put it to
me.
His Honour: No, it is the substance of it we want.—Well, I am trying to
tell you to the best of my ability.
I am not saying that you are not, but tell us what he said.—He said
that after taking the child in there he gave her a drink of lemonade.
He did not say wine; he said lemonade. And she stayed on there talking
to him for a while. She stayed there until about four. He said a girl
named Gladys came to see him and he told the child to go through to
the little room with curtains and he kept her in there until Gladys
Linderman left, and he then brought her back into the little private
room.
Mr. Macindoe: What did he say then?—After that, he said he stayed with
her during the rest of the afternoon, with the full intention at six
o’clock of letting her go; but when six o’clock came she remained on.
He said that after six o’clock, when Stanley went, he left us in there
together. I could not tell you just exactly what he said that led up to
the⸺
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account