Crawford Gaol aka Wellington Prison - and an incorrigible rellie

[dragonlady403]

Lu- his father Daniel Murphy specifically mentioned in his will that he was not gifting anything to his son Timothy: 

"UPON TRUST from and after the death of my said wife for such of my children other than my son Timothy Murphy as survive my said wife and me and if more than one then equally between them.

I declare that the reason why I have made no provisions for my said son Timothy Murphy is that during my lifetime his conduct towards me does not warrant me making any provision for him in this my Will."

Will written 21 Sept 1921

[dragonlady403]

Lu, doesn't it seem really weird that he's not front and centre in the penal system records? 

The guy doesn't seem to have been able to get through a week in the military without getting into trouble.  It's an "impressive rap sheet"!

Then he just disappears until a Wgton prison letter surfaces in '32, where he suddenly wants his medals.  I would have thought the Police Gazettes would have been full of his name lol.

[Lucy2]

Hi Carol

Yes, I agree, there is a very weird element to all of this. 

*     Have you any further info on him during his years in Australia ??

Did he appear on electoral rolls  ?       
Was he involved in anything "untoward" during his AUS stay ?   (Any newspaper reports abut him ?)

I've only read a little of his WW1 file -- and just skimmed over the "court martial" stuff.   I probably need to analyse it further ... but my thinking is, with a record such as that whilst in the "care" of the AUS army,  there are bound to have been other instances of unacceptable behaviour, once he was discharged.

     ~  Lu

[dragonlady403]

Yes I agree, he was obviously a chronic alcoholic and had a lot of behavioural/authority related issues.  But he never struck me as a violent man. His court martials were pretty much all being AWOL and silly stuff like using a fake pass to get out of barracks.  And, of course, being drunk.

It appears from his military files he was exposed to mustard gas at least once and maybe even twice.  That can't have helped his mental state.

I don't know much about his life in Aussie prior to enlistment- I had only recently realized who he was because he often dropped the Patrick from his name and there are A LOT of Timothy Murphy's around.

The Aus Army recruitment form essentially asks if they have a police record etc and he said he doesn't.  He was almost 33 when he joined the army and I haven't found any police files in NZ or Aussie for him prior to his joining. 

Mind you I was checking police files for the period around when his letter surfaced from the prison so perhaps I need to try to go further back to his early years.  Will try that.

Carol

[spades]

Hi Carol,

Is there any details of his medal application in his Army personnel file. It might provide an address.

And have you looked for him at Archives New Zealand?
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/en-GB/web/arena

Spades

[dragonlady403]

Hi Spades, I do know he returned home from the war on 18 (or 15 depending on who you choose to believe) May 1918 on the Hospital Ship the Dunlacy Castle.  So, from that I would assume he was injured (or suffering from the mustard gas exposure).  His discharge papers said he was "debilitated" but had almost fully recovered... except for the rheumatism he was complaining of.

He was awarded The Star, The British War and the Victory medals (which I think most servicemen received?)

I don't know much about his life in Aussie prior to the war, other than he was a sheep shearer in NSW. In 1919 (when Tim would have returned from war) this guy was a cork cutter in Victoria and he may be a potential  I will have to check further to see if there is anything else on this one. 
Timothy Patrick Murphy
Gender   Male
Electoral Date   1919
Electoral Place   Moonee Ponds, Maribyrnong, Victoria, Australia

Also, I don't know when he returned to NZ.  The challenge is that he often dropped the Patrick in his name and there seems to be hundreds of Timothy Murphy's between Aussie and NZ:(

I was really hoping his NZ police/penal records would shed light on the mysteries of his life!

Re the new Archives site -0-- to be honest I do everything I can to avoid the new site, I get a headache just thinking about finding my way through it. The older version was SO MUCH easier to navigate and yes I have a RealMe or whatever it is called login.  I'll put my "big girl pants" on tomorrow and have another go at it!!!

Carol

[dragonlady403]

I found an Australian conviction for a Timothy Murphy 10 June 1922 - in Central NSW convicted of 6 months hard labour (with a Patrick Murphy???).  The year of birth fits, as does the general description.

It also states - he has been previously convicted --- which definitely fits.

[spades]

Hi carol,

That last piece of data looks promising.

I suspect you already have, but have you tried the Australian newspaper website, Trove?
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/

Yes, I agree, the Archives NZ search engine is a real pain. I've just had a look for him (search parameters, 'timothy murphy' and 'timothy patrick murphy') but only found two Army records, both for 'Timothy Murphy' but neither of them are your man. The one whose number was 5/80 looks to be the Hokitika bloke.

Regards,

Spades

[Lucy2]

I don't know much about his life in Aussie prior to the war, other than he was a sheep shearer in NSW. In 1919 (when Tim would have returned from war) this guy was a cork cutter in Victoria and he may be a potential  I will have to check further to see if there is anything else on this one. 
Timothy Patrick Murphy
Gender   Male
Electoral Date   1919
Electoral Place   Moonee Ponds, Maribyrnong, Victoria, Australia

Hi Carol

This Timothy Patrick MURPHY - Cork cutter - of Moonee Ponds 
claims to have been born "S. Melbourne" -- he was 25 years and 10 months ( bc 1889) when he enlisted in July ? 1915.   His NoK , his wife Olive MURPHY of 60 Aspen Street, Moonee Ponds.
He was discharged as medically unfit (Muscular Rheumatism) on 10 October 1915.
I'll just go back and get his "vital statistics" ... as now I look back at your Timothy, this chap seems a similar height and complexion

   ~   Lu