Trial and execution of Frederick Deeming, Melbourne 1892. Questions?

[bitzar]

Frederick DEEMING was hanged at Melbourne Gaol on 23rd May 1892.  He murdered at least 6 people, 4 of them children, and is a Jack the ripper suspect!

My great grandfather, John Henry CHAPMAN was a young Police Officer in 1892, joining Victoria Police in 1888.  He retired in 1925 and the newspaper article at the time mentions that he was one of two officers appointed to take Deeming from his cell to court.

This is the link to the newspaper article when he retired:

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165099177?searchTerm=chapman%20retire

I am struggling to find any mention or proof of this in any news article and it's not in this Police record.  In fact, there probably isn't any mention but I wondered if anyone could triple check.

There are quite a few mentions of him of trove from belting a Publican, Police VFL matches, inauguration of the Police band, and the extradition of a prisoner from Cape town but I cant see anything re the court case.

Many thanks,

bitzar.

[matthewj64]

Very interesting case! I couldn't see anything on Trove, but I wonder if there are any photos or illustrations that may include the police escorts, assuming you know what Chapman looked like?

M

[bitzar]

That's a thought matthewj64.  I do have a couple of pic's of JHC, you wouldn't want to mess with him!

bitzar.

[shume]

This might help with John Henry Chapman
https://www.policemuseum.vic.gov.au/collections
Victoria Police Records of Conduct and Service
Records of Conduct and Service detail the particulars of a police officer’s career during their employment with Victoria Police. The records include personal details, information on rank, where the officer was stationed and comments from superior officers.

The Museum holds the Records of Conduct and Service for Victoria Police from 1855 to 1989. Records dating to 1956 have been digitized.

shume   australia